Augustine's Mother - 02

As a widow, Monica made great sacrifices for the education of Augustine.

 

To her distress, however, she witnessed the rejection by Augustine of all that she held dear.

 

Augustine moved in with a girl who as his concubine was to bear him a son, Adeodatus.

 

They never married, but stayed together for over fifteen years.

 

The distress of Monica was aggravated by the cynical attitude of Augustine towards her advice.

 

For a time after he returned from his studies in Carthage, she refused him, his concubine and their son a place in her home - but more because he had joined the Manichean sect than because of his concubinage.

 

Only a memorable dream altered her decision.

 

In this dream, she saw a radiant being approach her as she lamented the spiritual ruin of her son.

 

The angel bade her to be consoled, for where she was, there too her son should be.

 

Augustine suggested that this might indicate that his mother's belief might end. But she instantly rejoined that the words were not "Where he is, there you shall be."

 

This was nine years before his conversion.

 

About the same time she received consolation from a bishop. He was wearied with her entreaties that he should reason with Augustine on her behalf.

 

Finally he told her, "Go, I beg you. The son of so many tears cannot perish." By the time these words proved true, Monica had been praying for the baptism of Augustine for seventeen years.

 

(Continued on the next page.)