Thought for the Day         27^th August 2020.

The Feast of St Monica, Mother of St Augustine, Archbishop of Hippo---(-332-387ad.)

“He drew a circle that shut me out, but love and I had the wit to win.”

Have you ever almost given up in despair in the hope of helping someone, or felt like ceasing to pray for them because they were never going to change their way of life?

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Monica, Mother of St Augustine and that is just how she felt. She was a devout Christian who prayed, fasted and pleaded for her son to change his wayward style of life. Augustine sailed from his home in North Africa to Rome, without telling his mother. Monica caught another ship and followed him. Augustine was finally converted to Christianity and was baptised.” She never let me out of her prayers.” Monica died in Italy in 387ad. Augustine was ordained priest and became bishop of Hippo---a faithful bishop and teacher.

“Faithful  God, give us the will to persist in prayer, that those who stray from You may be brought to faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN         (Collect for today.)