St. Monica came into the world in the year 331. As soon as she was old enough she was married to Patricius, a pagan citizen of Tagaste, by whom she had two sons, Augustine and Navigius, and one daughter. Although Patricius was a man of high temper she bore all trials with great patience. Her example and gentle conduct exercised such an influence over him that he was finally converted to Christianity. He died the year after his Baptism.

The great cross of her life was the conduct of her son Augustine, who was seventeen years of age when his father died in 371. His mother prayed long and fervently for his conversion. When he left her in Africa to go to Italy, she followed him and found him in Milan, where the words of St. Ambrose had already convinced him of the falsehood of Manichaean doctrines, which he abandoned without being entirely converted. In August, 386, St. Monica had the long-coveted happiness of seeing her son return to God. He was baptized by St. Ambrose on Easter day the following year and soon after, with his mother and some friends, he set out for Africa. But St. Monica’s work was done; her son was converted; the sinner had become a saint. She fell sick on the road and died at Ostia, where they were to embark, in 387.

Lives of Saints, pages 175-176