St. Monica
The St. Monica Novena honors the devoted wife and mother known for her patient perseverance in prayer and unwavering faith. Through her tears and steadfast love, she obtained the conversion of her son, St. Augustine, and became a model of hope for all who pray for loved ones. This devotion seeks her intercession for strength in trials, trust in God’s timing, and the grace of conversion and peace within families.
Nine days of prayer begin on August 18, leading to her feast day on August 27.
DAY 1
Reflection
St. Monica carried a heavy heart for many years. As a wife and mother, she faced rejection, sorrow, and long periods of unanswered prayer. But her faith did not waver. She prayed persistently, trusted deeply, and surrendered everything to God’s mercy. Her life reminds us that no soul is ever lost to God’s love.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
You knew the pain of watching loved ones walk away from God.
But you never gave up.
With tears and trust, you turned to the Lord again and again,
believing that His grace could reach even the hardest heart.
Please take my intention to God
with the same faith and persistence you showed in prayer:
(Mention your intention silently)
Through sorrow and struggle, you remained faithful.
Pray for me to grow in that same enduring trust—
to surrender every fear, every burden, and every hope
to the heart of Christ.
Help me to walk in holiness,
even when the path feels long and hidden.
Closing Prayer
O God, you are good and your mercy knows no end.
Increase my faith, strengthen my hope,
and fill my heart with your love.
Help me to serve you each day with joy and trust,
using all that you have given for your glory.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 2
Reflection
St. Monica’s strength came not from herself, but from her constant turning to God in prayer. She did not demand immediate answers, nor did she lose hope in delay. Her life invites us to enter into that same quiet trust—to believe that God is working even when we cannot see it.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
You trusted in God’s plan, even when it unfolded slowly and painfully.
You stayed close to Him in prayer,
believing that no prayer goes unheard.
I ask you to bring my intention before the Lord today:
(Mention your intention silently)
Help me to grow in patient faith,
to pray without giving up,
and to trust that God is at work in ways I may not yet understand.
Give me the courage to keep hoping and the strength to keep praying,
especially when answers seem far away.
Teach me to place everything into God’s hands,
just as you did.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, you are always faithful.
In times of waiting, give me peace.
In times of sorrow, give me strength.
May I seek you above all things,
and use each day to draw closer to your will.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 3
Reflection
St. Monica’s faith was not passive. She lived her prayers through her actions—by remaining kind when misunderstood, faithful when ignored, and hopeful when others had given up. Her example teaches that perseverance is not only about waiting, but about loving well in the waiting.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
Your life was marked by quiet strength and gentle perseverance.
You remained steady in faith,
even when the world around you gave you every reason to let go.
Please present my prayer to God today:
(Mention your intention silently)
Ask Him to fill me with the grace to persevere in love,
especially when the journey feels slow or uncertain.
Help me to trust that no act of faith,
no small prayer,
and no hidden sacrifice is ever wasted in God’s hands.
Let my heart rest in His will,
and let my life be a witness of enduring hope.
Closing Prayer
Lord, you know the burdens I carry.
Teach me to remain faithful in prayer,
even when I grow tired or discouraged.
Fill me with your peace,
and strengthen my heart to trust your perfect timing.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 4
Reflection
St. Monica’s love was patient, not controlling. She did not force change in her loved ones—she entrusted them to God. Her perseverance was shaped by humility, surrender, and the quiet confidence that God could work in hearts in His own way and time.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
You longed for the conversion of those you loved,
yet you did not try to force their hearts.
You prayed, trusted, and surrendered them to God’s care.
Help me to do the same today.
I offer this intention into your hands:
(Mention your intention silently)
Teach me to release control,
to surrender those I love into the heart of Christ.
Help me resist fear and anxiety,
and instead grow in peace and patience,
trusting that God knows their path far better than I do.
Let my prayers rise each day with love, not desperation,
and may they be joined to your own in faith.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You see every heart and know every story.
Help me to love with patience,
to pray without ceasing,
and to rest in the knowledge that your grace is always at work.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 5
Reflection
St. Monica understood that real conversion is the work of God, not the result of pressure or persuasion. Her role was to pray, to love, and to remain faithful—even when nothing seemed to change. She teaches us that our prayers have power when they are rooted in trust and offered with humility.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
Your prayers were persistent but never forceful.
You loved deeply, but you let God be the one to move hearts.
You remind us that the most powerful prayers
are the ones that rise from surrender and trust.
Today, I entrust this intention to your care:
(Mention your intention silently)
Help me to let go of fear,
to stop grasping for control,
and to rest in the knowledge that God is always near.
Teach me how to be faithful in prayer,
even when I see no signs, no changes, and no answers yet.
Give me the grace to walk by faith, not by sight.
Closing Prayer
Lord, I believe in your goodness, even when I feel uncertain.
Strengthen my heart with your peace,
renew my hope daily,
and help me to persevere in love and prayer.
You are always working—help me never to forget that.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 6
Reflection
St. Monica’s strength came from prayer, but also from her deep relationship with God. She did not treat prayer as a last resort, but as a constant lifeline. Even when tears filled her days, her faith gave her peace. Her example reminds us that the fruit of prayer is not just in the outcome—but in the nearness of God we experience along the way.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
Your heart was broken many times,
but you never let go of the One who held you.
You turned to God in sorrow, in silence, and in tears—
and He strengthened you day by day.
Please pray for me as I offer this intention:
(Mention your intention silently)
Help me to stay close to God,
not only in my need but in my love.
When I feel discouraged, remind me that I am never alone.
When I grow weary, ask God to renew my strength.
Teach me to live with peace in my heart,
even as I wait in hope.
Closing Prayer
God of mercy,
You see every tear and hear every cry.
Draw me closer to you in prayer,
and help me find rest in your presence.
Give me the grace to be faithful,
just as St. Monica was faithful.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 7
Reflection
St. Monica waited for years—not days, not weeks, but long, quiet years of faithful prayer. Her story reminds us that God’s timing is not our own, but it is always perfect. While waiting can be painful, it is never wasted when united with God. In the hidden places of silence and surrender, He is preparing something greater than we can imagine.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
You waited with patience and trusted with courage.
Even when nothing seemed to change,
you believed that God was still at work.
You did not let delay become despair.
Please pray for me today as I bring this intention before the Lord:
(Mention your intention silently)
Help me to wait with faith,
to surrender my timeline,
and to believe that God’s plans are better than my own.
When I grow restless or discouraged,
remind me that His grace is never late.
Teach me to wait well—
with peace, with hope, and with unwavering trust.
Closing Prayer
Lord, in the waiting, help me to grow.
In the silence, help me to listen.
May my heart remain steady in faith
and joyful in hope,
knowing that your love never fails.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 8
Reflection
St. Monica’s faith was rooted in love—not only for her family, but for God above all. Her prayers were not just requests; they were acts of love and trust. Her devotion teaches us that prayer is not about controlling outcomes but about surrendering everything into the hands of a loving Father.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
Your love was steadfast,
not because your life was easy,
but because your heart remained anchored in God.
You trusted His goodness even when the road was long
and the answers unclear.
Today I place this intention before the Lord,
asking you to pray with me and for me:
(Mention your intention silently)
Help me to pray with love,
not fear.
Help me to hope with confidence,
not anxiety.
Teach me to love those I pray for as you did—
gently, patiently, and without giving up.
May my prayers become acts of trust,
offered not just with my lips, but with my whole heart.
Closing Prayer
Loving Father,
You are always near, even when I feel far from you.
Teach me to pray with a heart rooted in love.
Purify my desires,
strengthen my hope,
and help me to become more like you in how I wait and how I love.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
DAY 9
Reflection
St. Monica’s prayers were finally answered—but not before years of struggle, tears, and patient hope. Her faith bore fruit in God’s perfect time. Her life is a witness that no prayer is wasted, and no soul is beyond the reach of grace. As this novena comes to a close, we are reminded to keep praying, keep loving, and never give up on the work God is doing—seen or unseen.
Prayer
Dear St. Monica,
You saw the fruit of your long years of prayer,
not because of your strength,
but because of your faith in God’s mercy.
You teach us to hold on—not with desperation,
but with peace.
Not with fear,
but with trust.
Today, on this final day of the novena,
I lift up this intention one more time:
(Mention your intention silently)
I entrust this prayer fully to the heart of God,
believing that He hears, He cares,
and He will act in His perfect time.
Help me to remain faithful,
even when I don’t see the outcome.
May I live in peace, knowing that grace is always at work.
Closing Prayer
God of mercy,
thank you for hearing every prayer of my heart.
Give me the grace to keep walking in faith,
to trust your plan,
and to pray always with love,
as St. Monica did.
Amen.
St. Monica, pray for us.
Click here to find more Novenas.
Copyright 2025. Lori Giovannini - The Happy Catholic Woman. All Rights Reserved.
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook