Fr Paul reads from Matthew’s Gospel (25: 1-13) in which Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. After the Gospel, Fr Paul shares a little about the life of St Monica, whose memorial we celebrate today.

Fr Paul says, Monica was born at Tagaste in Africa to a Christian family. She was married young to Patricius and one of their children grew up to be St Augustine.  In his early days, Augustine had uncertain morals and a wayward spiritual life, which is basically a polite way of saying he was playing around and he had turned away from Christianity.

Monica, his mother, with many tears and as mum’s do, prayed unceasingly to God that he would come back to the faith and her prayers were answered just before her death.

We celebrate today that Monica had a deep faith.  She had outstanding virtue and is a great example of a Christian mother.

As we do in the tradition of our Church, Fr Paul says, we ask St Monica, Pray for us!