St. Monica Prayer
O God, the comforter of the afflicted, and help of such as put their trust in thee, who with an eye of mercy didst regard the pious tears of holy Monica, for the conversion of her son Augustin: grant, that by the prayers of both these thy servants, we may heartily bewail our sins, and find favour by thy grace.
Through Christ our Lord, who with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God, world without end—Amen.
About this prayer
Historical collect · Roman Missal (1843)
This collect addresses God and recalls Monica’s tears for the conversion of her son Augustine, spelled “Augustin” in this 1843 English edition. It asks for repentance and grace through the prayers of both saints.
The source abbreviates its ending as “Thro’.” Here it is expanded using the usual conclusion quoted in the same book, pp.96–97. This is a historical reading for private prayer, not the current liturgical translation. The connected novena is a separate historical devotion from Bogotá, 1837; it is not supplied by this missal and does not repeat this collect.
Does this prayer promise someone’s conversion?
No. It recalls Augustine’s conversion and asks God for repentance and grace; it does not promise a particular outcome.
Text & sources
Historical collect · Roman Missal (1843)
The Roman Missal, translated for the laity (1843): St. Monica collect
Collect pp.579–580 (PDF694–695); usual conclusion pp.96–97 (PDF103–104); title/copyright PDF8–9
View source
The Roman Missal, translated into the English language for the use of the laity, Eugene Cummiskey, Philadelphia, 1843, pp.579–580 and 96–97. Public-domain evidence is recorded for the United States only; no worldwide licence or rights in modern translations are claimed.
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