As we celebrate the life of St Monica Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (23: 23-26) in which Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of the Law.

Fr Paul says Monica was born at Thagaste in Africa of a Christian family. She was married young, to Patricius, and among her children was Augustine. He had a brilliant intellect and uncertain morals and a wayward spirituality. So, with many tears she prayed unceasingly to God for his conversion and her prayers were answered shortly before she died. She had a deep faith and outstanding virtue and is a wonderful example of a Christian mother.

On this day Fr Paul invites us to ask, ‘St Monica…Pray for us!’