Chaplet of St. Monica

History:

Based on Lectionary Lessons.

Medals/Beads:

C  X  0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Method:

On the Cross: 
She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: "O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head." In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD." - 1 Samuel 1:10-11,20
Invitatory: 
O Lord, who through spiritual discipline strengthened your servant Monnica to persevere in offering her love and prayers and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son: Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
Cruciform: 
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD. - Psalm 116:17
Week Beads:
1st: I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";
2nd: "I said in my consternation, "Everyone is a liar.
3rd: What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
4th: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
5th: I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
6th: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.
7th: O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.
--Psalm 116:10-16
Final Cross: 
Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favorably on his people!’ This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. - Luke 7:11-17

Chaplet of St. Monica

History:

Composed by M. Kadala and R. Eicher.

Medals/Beads:

This chaplet comprises a medal and 32 beads --- one for each year St. Monica wept and prayed for the conversion and salvation of her son, Augustine.  There are two beads on the pendant, and six groups of five beads (one large and four small).

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M  0 0  X ( ................................ X
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Method:

Begin on the medal with the prayer of St. Monica:
O holy Monica, by your burning tears and unceasing prayers, you did save your son from eternal damnation. Obtain for us the grace ever to comprehend what is most conducive to the salvation of our children, so that we may effectively restrain them from the way of sin and lead them by that of virtue and piety to heaven!
On the first pendant bead, pray
Our Father
On the first pendant bead, pray
Come, Holy Spirit
On the loop:
For each group of five, on the large bead, pray one of the petitions below, followed by Hail Mary on each of the four small beads:
1. I join my tears to yours --- against the spirit of Despair, toward the spirit of Hope --- Saint Monica, pray for me (us) in the Holy Name of Jesus!    4 Hail Marys...
2. I join my tears to yours --- against the spirit of Anger, toward the spirit of Love --- Saint Monica, pray for me in the Holy Name of Jesus!        4 Hail Marys...
3. I join my tears to yours --- against the spirit of Blame, toward the spirit of Forgiveness --- Saint Monica, pray for me in the Holy Name of Jesus!    4 Hail Marys...
4. I join my tears to yours --- against the spirit of Suspicion, toward the spirit of Trust --- Saint Monica pray for me in the Holy Name of Jesus!    4 Hail Marys...
5. I join my tears to yours --- against the spirit of Doubt, toward the spirit of Faith --- Saint Monica, pray for me in the Holy Name of Jesus!        4 Hail Marys...
6. I join my tears to yours --- against the spirit of Fear, toward the spirit of Peace --- Saint Monica, pray for me in the Holy Name of Jesus!        4 Hail Marys...
Returning to pendant, on the 1st bead pray:
Saint Monica, Exemplary mother of the great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven.  Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.  Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.
On the next pendant bead, pray:
O great Saint Augustine, take our children under your protection!  To our efforts in their behalf, join your intercession for them with God.  Exert all your influence and, with the compassion of your loving heart, intercede with the Most Holy Trinity for them.  Permit not that our children, sanctified in the waters of baptism, should through mortal sin be banished from the presence of God and suffer eternal punishment.
On the medal:
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us and on our children!  Lord, graciously hear us!  Amen.

Novena to St. Monica

Daily Novena Prayer
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.