THE SAINT MONICA SODALITY of MICHIGAN

email stmonicasodality@hotmail.com

Online Petitions here

The next monthly Mass at 

Assumption Grotto Church will have their monthly Mass, First Saturday, June 5th at 4 P.M. (6-5)

Ss. Cyril & Methodius is the fourth Sunday of the month, June 27th at 1:30 P.M. (5-23, 6-27)

 

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit

 

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;

 

Act in me, O Holy Spirit that my works, too, may be holy;

 

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy;

 

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit to defend what is holy;

 

Guard me then, O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy.

 

St. Augustine of Hippo

(A.D. 354-430)

 

The Saint Monica Sodality of Michigan is a spiritual organization whose members consist of dear souls like you who are willing to recite daily the Saint Monica Sodality Prayer (scroll down the page) to pray their loved ones back to the full practice of the Catholic Faith, and also for conversions to the Catholic Church (St. Monica’s son, St. Augustine, wasn’t baptized in the Catholic Church until 33 years of age!).  Whenever possible, you are encouraged to attend a local monthly Mass whose intentions are for the St. Monica Sodality.  It brings you to a church close to home with other dear souls praying for their loved ones, too.  Here are our two locations:

The 1:30 P.M. Mass at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Slovak Church in Sterling Heights is the fourth Sunday of each month. 

 

The 4:00 P.M Mass at Assumption Grotto Catholic Church in Detroit is the First Saturday of each month. 

Petition Slips are found at the Petition Boxes near the entrances of both churches.  Here is where you list those you are praying to return to the Catholic Church.   Once a month your petition slip is removed from the petition box and placed in a covered album that is brought to the altar during Mass.  Eventually all petitions are taken to Rome, to St. Augustine Church in St. Monica’s Chapel.  Her remains are entombed below the altar and your petitions are placed at the foot of her altar.

 

A Statue of Saint Monica

At Sts. Cyril & Methodius a statue of St. Monica is venerated after Mass.  It is a third-class relic, which means it has been touched to a bone of St. Monica.  It is a sacramental.  Sacramental as defined in the Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J,  Modern Catholic Dictionary states:  “ Objects or actions that the Church uses . . . in order to achieve through the merits of the faithful, certain effects, mainly of a spiritual nature.  They differ from sacraments. . . Their efficacy depends not on the rite itself, as in the sacraments, but on the influence of prayerful petition; that of the person who uses them and of the Church in approving their practice. . . (and) draw not only on the personal dispositions of the individual but on the merits and prayers of the whole Mystical Body of Christ.”  Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. International Director of the Sodality located in Chicago, has stated that our prayers, with faith in God and His Saints, can bring answers above and beyond what we have petitioned, even physical healings.  An important action on our part after our prayerful petition, is to seal this exchange with St. Monica by a touch to her statue.    

 

 

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at stmonicasodality@hotmail.com

 

 

 

St. Monica, pray for us!  St. Augustine, pray for us!

St. Faustina, pray for us!

Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!

St. John Mary Vianney, pray for us!

Holy Souls in Purgatory, pray for us!

 

Mission Statement

 

The Saint Monica Sodality of Michigan is an organization of Roman Catholics; clergy, religious and laity who, in imitation of St. Monica, persevere in hopeful prayer for the return of loved ones to the full practice of the Catholic Faith.  We offer support, by prayer and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to those who have experienced the departure of loved ones from the faith.  Through our practice of the faith that includes frequent reception of the Sacraments, and with all humility, we hope and trust in God that our words and actions will also inspire others to embrace Catholicism. 

 

 

TRIDUUM (THREE-DAY) NOVENA in HONOR of ST. MONICA

For an INCREASE of FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY

This Three-Day Novena may be begin three days before or on the feast days of St. Monica August 27  also the Tridentine Mass on May 4th, St. Augustine - August 28, St. Augustine's birthday - November 13, St. Augustine's Baptism - April 24

 

.

St. Monica, pray for us

FIRST DAY

Prayer for Faith

 O glorious St. Monica, transfixed with sorrow when you saw your beloved child Augustine living in the dark and gloomy abyss of error and vice, and straying far from the right path which leads to true felicity in the possession of God and His holy grace, hear our prayer, O afflicted mother.  By that cruel sorrow, which with so much patience you did bear, and by those earnest sighs and bitter tears with which you did appeal to God to change the heart of your prodigal son, and by your wondrous confidence in God, which was never shaken, O grant to us, your children, that we may, like you, place all our trust in God, and in our trials and troubles be ever resigned to His holy will.  While we ask you, O glorious mother St. Monica, to supply for us our special needs, we here earnestly ask you to pray for the erring children of Jesus, so many Augustines, straying from God and hurrying to ruin.  Let that earnest prayer of yours go forth once more for us and for sinners, that we may live in the light of divine grace and be united again thereafter to bless the bounty of a loving God for eternity.  Amen.

 

LET US PRAY.  O God, look graciously down upon Your children who sigh in this valley of tears.  With hope we pray for our daily bread, for the forgiveness of our sins, for the never-failing help of Your grace, and for the faithful fulfillment of Your promises: to find life everlasting and a happy abode with You in heaven, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. 

May God, through the merits and intercession of Saint Monica, increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and enkindle the fire of charity in our hearts.  Amen.

 

Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be. . .     Saint Monica, pray for us.

           

SECOND DAY

Prayer for Hope

O glorious mother, St. Monica, although the many means you employed to accomplish the conversion of your son Augustine seemed fruitless, and for a long time God Himself appeared deaf to your earnest prayer and unmoved by your ever-flowing tears, you never lost confidence in obtaining the long-sought grace for Augustine.  You lovingly and tenderly admonished your erring son; you watched over him ever with all a mother's love, and fearless of danger and heedless of fatigue, followed him from place to place in his weary and wayward wanderings.  In a word, all that a mother's tender love could suggest, all that a mother's anxious solicitude could inspire, all that a wondrous prudence and true wisdom could dictate, you, O great St. Monica, cheerfully did to effect the return to God of your firstborn and darling child.  By all these generous efforts, so happily crowned in the end, hear, O mother, the petitions we make to you.  Pray for us, too, and pray especially for those who are unmindful of and ungrateful to God.  To you, O dearest mother, we are especially dedicated; look upon us, then, as your children, and win for us the grace we need.  Regard mercifully the most destitute among us, that sin being diminished, the number of the faithful may increase, and greater glory may be given to Him who is the best of friends, the truest of benefactors, our first beginning and last end, the source of all our hope, our Savior, our God.  Amen.

 

LET US PRAY.  O God, look graciously down upon Your children who sigh in this valley of tears.  With hope we pray for our daily bread, for the forgiveness of our sins, for the never-failing help of Your grace, and for the faithful fulfillment of Your promises: to find life everlasting and a happy abode with You in heaven, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. 

May God, through the merits and intercession of Saint Monica, increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and enkindle the fire of charity in our hearts.  Amen.

 

            Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . Saint Monica, pray for us.

  

THIRD DAY

Prayer for Charity

 O glorious mother St. Monica who can conceive the consolation that abounded in your heart, so long the home of brooding sorrow, when you saw your child Augustine rising in the light of grace and giving himself generously to God.  When you folded your converted son in your arms and tears of every joy streamed forth to tell the glowing jubilee of your heart, Oh, how in that moment God in his mercy recompensed your years of sorrow and anxiety, your long and weary days of racking suspense.  It was impossible that a child of tears like yours should perish and when your son Augustine heard the call of God he obeyed it, and his life and his deeds flung a luster all their own on you, St. Monica.  O fortunate mother, twice mother of your child, deign to listen to our prayers and present our petitions to God.  Look lovingly, and with all a mother's interest on us assembled here, under your protection, to honor you.  We love you and let us become, as St. Augustine of old, the objects of your maternal love.  Pray that we, too, like St. Augustine, may have strength to cling to God, and triumph over sin and temptation.  By your prayers break the fetters of sin that hold in cruel bondage the souls of your sinful children in this world.  O mother, pray that the miracle of grace in the heart of Augustine may again and again be repeated in these day of universal sin, and that the erring children of Jesus may be led back to the fold so that united here on earth, we may securely go through the dangers of life and be united with you, our mother, in heaven forever.  Amen

 

LET US PRAY.  O God, look graciously down upon Your children who sigh in this valley of tears.  With hope we pray for our daily bread, for the forgiveness of our sins, for the never-failing help of Your grace, and for the faithful fulfillment of Your promises: to find life everlasting and a happy abode with You in heaven, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. 

May God, through the merits and intercession of Saint Monica, increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and enkindle the fire of charity in our hearts.  Amen.

 

            Our Father. . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . Saint Monica, pray for us.

 

 


       

2007/2008

 

November 2007

December 2007

January 2008

March 2008

April 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008

September 2008

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008

 

2009

February
March
April
May
June
September
November
 
2010
January

 

IN MY DISTRESS I CRIED UNTO THE LORD

St. Monica, pray for us

 
 
The Assumption Grotto Shrine monthly Mass is First Saturday of each month at 4 P.M.

The Ss. Cyril & Methodius monthly Mass is the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m.

 

                                               

THE BEGINNING of the ST. MONICA SODALITY in Michigan

 

The Saint Monica Sodality of Michigan, at this time, consists of two local chapters  of the St. Monica Sodality, the international organization that was formed in 1995 out of St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church in Chicago, IL. Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R. is the director of the Sodality, as well as pastor of St. John Cantius. 


 THE LOCATION OF THE TWO LOCAL CHAPTERS IN THE DETROIT METROPOLITAN AREA THAT OFFER MONTHLY MASSES ARE:

 

The Assumption Grotto Roman Catholic Church,  a national shrine, located in Detroit (directions).  This first chapter started in November of 2003 with encouragement from the pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone.  The monthly Mass for the Sodality's intention is First Saturday at 4:00 p.m.  The person of contact is Mary (313) 885-6910  St. Monica Sodality at Assumption Grotto is First Saturday of each month at 4:00 P.M.


 

The second chapter started in January of 2004 at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Slovak Church in Sterling Heights (directions) was welcomed by the pastor, Fr. Ben Kosnac.  Their monthly Mass for the intention of the Sodality is the Fourth Sunday of the month at 1:30 p.m. St. Monica Sodality at St. Cyril, is the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 P.M.


 

Both churches offer Confession and recitation of the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the St. Monica Sodality Prayer.  During Mass a covered album, with petition lists and photos for those being prayed, is brought to the altar where your petitions are united with the most sacred offering of Christ.

 

On a table near the entrance, both churches have Petition Slips at the St. Monica Sodality Petition Box to write the names of those who are no longer practicing the faith. Just place the slip in the box and take a St. Monica Sodality Prayer Card.

 

 

 THE SAINT MONICA SODALITY PRAYER

 

Please recite this prayer DAILY for your intentions and in union with all those also saying this prayer:

 

Eternal and merciful Father, I give You thanks for the gift of Your Divine Son Who suffered, died and rose for all mankind.  I thank You also for my Catholic Faith and ask Your help that I may grow in fidelity by prayer, by works of charity and penance, by reflection on Your Word, and by regular participation in the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist.

You gave Saint Monica a spirit of selfless love manifested in her constant prayer for the conversion of her son Augustine.  Inspired by boundless confidence in Your power to move hearts, and by the success of her prayer. I ask the grace to imitate her constancy in my prayer for [name(s)] who no longer share(s) in the intimate life of Your Catholic family.  Grant through my prayer and witness that (he/she/they) may be open to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit, and return to loving union with Your Church.  Grant also that my prayer be ever hopeful and that I may never judge another, for You alone can read hearts.  I ask this through Christ, our Lord.  Amen. 

 Printed with Diocesan Approval, Diocese of Cleveland 1986

 


 

 

WHO are St. MONICA and St. AUGUSTINE?

 

St. Monica was born of devout parents who educated her in the Catholic Faith in Tagaste, North Africa (now known as Algeria) around 332 A.D.  She was given in marriage to Patricius, a pagan Roman official of violent temper.  Their first child was Augustine born in 354.  They also had another son, Navigius and a daughter, Perpetua.  In time, her pagan mother-in-law would come to live with them.  St. Monica exercised much patience and prudence in dealing with her husband and his mother.  They, and Augustine, would convert through her virtuous life which gave them a living example of the Way of Christ.

 

Even as a child Augustine showed signs of possessing a great intellect so he was sent to the best schools to train him in the disciplines necessary for a promising career.  His search for knowledge and truth took him down many different paths, most were scandalous to his virtuous mother and brought her great sorrow.  She continually offered prayers and tears for her son to find his way to the Truth he was so desperately seeking.

 

For years she begged clergy to convince him to turn away from his way of life.  She was told by one bishop that "the heart of this young man is at present too stubborn, but God's time will come".  When she persisted the bishop dismissed her with the words, "Go now, I beg of you; it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish". 

 

And so it was to be, to the joy of St. Monica who would witness St. Augustine's baptism in answer to her years of prayer, fasting and tears.  This was the second birth of her son, and the most important for it brought Life to his eternal soul.  In 387, she could now rest from her labors and

await him in their Heavenly home.

 

Her perseverence in prayer and sacrifice won for him the grace of conversion.  This is why we have her as our intercessor with God for all those who have gone astray.  If her life of prayer brought about the conversion of her son, who became a priest, bishop and Doctor of the Church, how much more powerful are St. Monica and St. Augustine's prayers for us today! 

 

August 27 is Saint Monica's feastday, August 28 is Saint Augustine. 

 

 

PRAYER to SAINT AUGUSTINE

Written by JOHN PAUL II

In November 2004 Pope John Paul II received the relics of St. Augustine at the Vatican.  The initiative marked the celebration of the 1,650th anniversary of the birth of the bishop, philosopher and theologian, as well as one of the most influential Fathers of the Church of the West.  The Holy Father was so moved when viewing the relics that he composed this prayer to St. Augustine:

"Great Augustine, our father and teacher, knowledgeable in the luminous ways of God and also in the tortuous paths of men; we admire the wonders that divine grace wrought in you, making you a passionate witness of truth and goodness, at the service of brothers.

At the beginning of the new millennium marked by the cross of Christ, teach us to read history in the light of Divine Providence, which guides events toward the definitive encounter with the Father. Direct us toward peaceful ends, nourishing in our hearts your own longing for those values on which it is possible to build, with the strength that comes from God, the 'city' made to the measure of man.

May the profound doctrine, that with loving and patient study you drew from the ever living sources of Scripture, enlighten all those tempted today by alienating illusions.

Give them the courage to undertake the path toward that 'interior man' where the One awaits who alone can give peace to our restless hearts.

Many of our contemporaries seem to have lost the hope of being able to reach -- amid the numerous opposing ideologies -- the truth, of which their innermost being still keeps a burning nostalgia.

Teach them to never cease in their search, in the certainty that, in the end, their effort will be rewarded by the satisfying encounter with the supreme Truth who is source of all created truth.

Finally, St. Augustine, transmit to us also a spark of that ardent love for the Church, the Catholic Mother of the Saints, which sustained and animated the toils of your long ministry.

"Have us, walking together under the guidance of legitimate Pastors, reach the glory of the heavenly Homeland, where, with all the Saints, we will be able to join the new canticle of the everlasting alleluia.  Amen."

..... Pope John Paul II  November 2004

2009 ELECTION: A Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters.  (An excellent explanation of moral guidelines for the Catholic voter.)
http://www.ewtn.com/vote/brief_catechism.htm

 

2007

email stmonicasodality@hotmail.com

Questions or problems with the website