Association Charter:
● Purpose: That our children find a desire to know God and then be brought into union with the Catholic Church through our intercession and that of our patrons. .
● Communication: group emails as needed and appropriate. Weekly updates by the moderator on Thursdays for Friday prayers.
● Patrons: St. Monica, Our Lady of Sorrows, St.Joseph, St. John the Baptist, and St. Philomena.
Member commits to:
● Daily recitation of one Memorare or Prayer of St. Monica for the Association and its intentions (see below).
● Offer prayers every week (suggested on Fridays) for all intentions, if possible by name. The litany to the Sorrowful Mother is a good prayer for Fridays, but there are others.
● One weekly mortification for our intentions.
● Offer friendship and encouragement to other members of the Association.
Memorare:
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Prayers to St. Monica:
Short Prayer #1:
Dear St. Monica, we now ask you to pray with us for all those sons and daughters who have wandered away from God, and to add your prayers to those of all mothers and fathers who are worried over their children. Pray also for us that, following your example, we may, in the company of our children, one day enjoy the eternal vision of our Father in Heaven. Amen.
Short Prayer #2:
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius, and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant us that same fortitude, patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for us, dear St. Monica, for all of our children who have fallen away from the faith and grant us the grace to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. We give thanks to our Father in Heaven Who looked with mercy upon your tears over your wayward son. His conversion and heroic sanctification were the fruit of your prayers. Amen.
Long Prayer:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, under the weight of our heartful burden, we turn to you, dear Saint Monica and request your assistance and intercession. From your place in heaven, we beg that you will plead before the Throne of the Holy One, for the sake of our children who have wandered from the faith, and all that we have tried to teach. We know, dear Monica, that our children belong not to us, but to God, and that God often permits this wandering as part of one’s journey toward Him. Your son, Augustine, wandered, too; eventually he found the faith, and came to believe, and in that belief became a true teacher. Help us, therefore, to have patience, and to believe that all things — even this disappointing movement away from the faith — work ultimately to His own good purposes. For the sake of our children’s souls, we pray to understand and trust in this. St. Monica, please teach us to persist in faithful prayer as you did for your son’s sake. Inspire us to behave in ways that will not further distance our children from Christ, but only draw them gently towards His marvelous light. Please teach us what you know about this painful mystery of separation, and how it is reconciled in the reorientation of our children toward heaven.
O Saint Monica, lover of Christ and His Church, pray for us, and for our children, that we may acquire heaven, joining with you, there, in offering constant and thankful praise to God, Amen.
AVE MARIA!
A Precious Offering (by St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars):
O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, we beseech thee, by the inexpressible tortures thou didst endure at the death of thy Son, offer to the Eternal Father, in our stead, thy beloved Son all covered with Blood and Wounds, [for the graceful conversion of our sons and daughters to the one true faith, their return to the bosom of Holy Mother Church, and that our children may glorify thy Son in heaven with thee for all eternity.] Amen.
+JMJ+
†The Ecu-Men† 