Saint Monica of Hippo

Mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo

AD 322-387

Born: Thagaste, Northern Africa (Souk Ahras, Algeria)

Berber

Died: Ostia Antica, Italy

Patron Saint of mothers, alcoholics, wives, and conversion

An unwavering heart, the life of Saint Monica reaches the pinnacle of devotion to a God that saves. Her relentless prayer life which interceded not only for her own peace within a volatile pagan marriage, but also for the salvation of her wayward son, is an upmost example of tenacity and endurance.

Shown within the foliage of the backdrop are two different nations. Italy being represented by trees bearing the long limbs of the cypress on the left. On the right are the tropical palms of Northern Africa, Saint Monica’s homeland, which she longed to return.

In the tears streaking down her face and across her Berber traditional dress lies the sacrifice of her yearning to be heard by a God who loves and delivers. In the bottom left corner are broken jars of clay which would traditionally hold wine. One broken symbolized her ability to overcome her addiction to wine. And the other, a new jar of clay, restored and perfected.

Saint Monica is a life lived outside of cultural norms even within her own pagan household. She admiringly did not relinquish the souls of her children to a enticing world of monotony.