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Today dear Father, we pray for all mothers in a very special way as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Monica, mother of your beloved servant St. Augustine.
We pray with St. Monica for all mothers that they may truly be like the five wise virgins in today's gospel who brought extra oil for their lamps: a lot of good works and a lot, lot more of prayers when loved ones have fallen away from faith in you.
We pray for mothers like St. Monica for the grace of holiness expressed tremendously in the virtues of patience, charity, and humility.
Like St. Monica, may mothers win over their wayward husbands, teaching them how to "disarm" and "tame" their abusive and temperamental spouses, remaining sweet and loving yet firm even under pressures and sometimes duress, in imitating Jesus Christ in humility and patience.
Most of all, dear God, we pray for mothers to be persevering and wise in dealing with their problematic children who have succumbed to the evils of the world; You know very well, God, how so many mothers cry and suffer in silence today for their sons and daughters who have fallen to atheism and modern paganism and pseudo-spiritualities, consumerism and materialism, promiscuity, early pregnancies, separation and same-sex relationships; substance abuse and alcoholism and other Godless ways of living. We pray for mothers who are sick, those taking care of a sick loved one, mothers forgotten by children left to spend old age in foster homes; and mothers suffering with anxieties and depression or themselves have lost faith in you.
God our Father, so many mothers have already suffered so much; please ease their pains and loneliness. Through the intercession of St. Monica, grant their prayers and wishes before they meet you in eternal life. Amen.
