Friday 27th August, 2010 St Monica – Gospel is from Matthew 25:1-13.

Saint Monica (331 - 387) She was born at Thagaste in Africa of a Christian family. She was married young, to Patricius, and among her children was Augustine. He had a brilliant intellect and uncertain morals and his wayward spiritual career saw him at one time a Manichee and then a Neoplatonist. With many tears she prayed unceasingly to God for his conversion and her prayers were answered shortly before she died. She had a deep faith and outstanding virtue and is a wonderful example of a Christian mother.

Daily Novena Prayer [maybe pray this for safe return of our military personal]

Dear St. Monica, once the sorrowing mother of a wayward son, please present our novena petitions before God in whose presence you stand. Remember, dear St. Monica, the joy that flooded your heart when Augustine, the son of your prayers and tears, turned his life over to the Lord. Obtain for us, if it be His holy will, the graces we request through your intercessory power, that we may experience the happiness of answered prayer. Amen.

Now, about today's Gospel: If you had one wish that would turn true regardless of what you asked for, what would you seek? Power? Fame? Money? An end to world poverty?

The answer that our all-powerful, all-knowing God came up with is that he decided to send his Son so that he could let us know how much he loved us. He entrusted his Son to our care and we responded by crucifying him. No wonder so many find the cross such a stumbling block to belief! What God could be so mad?

It is staggering, but it is true—God’s answer to all our problems is before us in the breadth of the embrace of the man who hung on the cross all those centuries ago.