THE SAINT MONICA SODALITY of MICHIGAN

Online Petition and Conversions Form Here

	"And I, when I be lifted up, I will draw all men to Myself" John 12: 32   "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life" John 3: 14-15 (Numbers 21: 9)
The Saint Monica Sodality here in Michigan is a local chapter of the Sodality that began out of St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Chicago in 1995.  Our next monthly Mass is at Assumption Grotto Shrine, First Saturday, May 3, at 4 P.M.  The Sts. Cyril & Methodius Mass is the fourth Sunday of every month the next Mass will be April 27 at 1:30 P.M.    At Assumption Grotto   A Mass of Thanksgiving, requested by the St. Monica Sodality, will be offered on Thursday, April 24 at 7:30am, which marks the anniversary of the Baptism of St. Augustine.  He attributed the grace of his conversion to his mother, St. Monica, and her faithful prayer, penance, and sacramental life.  All are welcome               yOur prayers are being answered !!! tens of Thousands Joined the catholic Church in the united states during the Easter vigil holy saturday !!! Many Feel They Have Found a Home WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH, 2008 (Zenit.org).  Tens of thousands of Americans joined the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Holy Saturday through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Many of those in the RCIA program participated in the Rite of Election with their bishops at the beginning of Lent and were baptized, confirmed and received Communion for the first time at the Easter Vigil Holy Saturday. Many more, who already have been baptized, embraced full membership in the Catholic Church. The numbers vary across dioceses. The Diocese of Orange, California, for example, baptized more than 650 people and welcomed more than 500 others into full communion at their Easter Vigil. The Archdiocese of Detroit registers some of the largest numbers with 589 catechumens received full initiation and 497 candidates from other Christian traditions were received into full communion. Although technically not part of the RCIA, 289 baptized Catholics also received confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. In Ohio, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati welcomed 437 catechumens and 541 candidates for a total of 978 people; another 65 candidates were brought into the Church at other times during the year. Most of those coming into the Church through the RCIA program are adults, but in some instances children are part of both groups, usually as members of a family that enters the Church together. According to early figures from the 2007 Official Catholic Directory, last year almost 64,500 adults were baptized in the Catholic Church and nearly 93,000 came into full communion. These numbers are supplemented by the baptisms of infants that occur in parishes throughout the year. It is estimated that more than a million infant baptisms will take place in the U.S. during 2008. The Search is Over The backgrounds of the people seeking to be baptized or to enter into full communion by receiving first Communion and/or confirmation vary, but many express the sentiment that they are coming home. Mark Ma, a second year student at the University of Virginia, who has a major in economics and a minor in philosophy, was born in Beijing, to agnostic parents. A self-defined hard-line atheist through high school, he started talking to Christians of different denominations, read a few Christian works and began to pray. After soul searching and historical research he found his home in the Catholic Church. In another instance, when Kimberly Grub moved from Texas to Rhode Island, she decided to embark up on something she’d been wanting to do for a long time -- get closer to God. Feeling the discomfort that comes in moving to a new place, she found comfort and community at St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown, and became a member of the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is an ancient rite that was reinstituted in the Church following the Second Vatican Council. It is the usual means for adults to come into the Church.   To All Fellow Prayer Warriors:   How good our God is to answer our prayers, and to let us see the great work He is doing!   Dear souls are converting to the Catholic Church, returning to the Catholic Church, and bringing their families with them!  The Archdiocese of Detroit was mentioned worldwide.  Since the beginning of two Detroit area chapters of the Saint Monica Sodality in November of 2003 and January 2004, God has wrought miracles of conversion.    At St. Cyril & Methodius Roman Catholic Slovak Church, the church was bursting at the seams and had to be enlarged!  Baptisms take place almost every week, including adults!   The Assumption Grotto Shrine has added the Tridentine Mass and even offers it during the week!  Many souls are returning to the Faith through these two churches and many more souls are now drawn to the Catholic Church throughout Michigan and the whole country.  Holy Mother Church opens Her arms to us wherever we may be in our search for the Truth, and invites us into the fold.    It is also predicted for 2008 that more than a million infant souls will be baptized into the Catholic Church just in the United States alone!  To say that souls are pouring into the Catholic Church would not be an exaggeration.   What a contrast to the vision given to the children at Fatima where poor souls were pouring into Hell.  We, who are faithfully living out our state of life in our daily duties, and persevering in prayer, are making a difference!  Practicing our Catholic Faith, which includes uniting our daily trials to Jesus' passion, frequenting the Sacraments and praying the St. Monica Sodality Prayer daily, is answering Our Lady of Fatima's request to pray for sinners, to save souls!    Through our Savior Jesus Christ, His Most Holy Mother, and the intercession of St. Monica and her son, Augustine, our prayers and offerings are being multiplied just like the fishes and loaves of bread (Matthew 14: 14-21).  They become graces that are poured out not only on our loved ones but loved ones throughout the world.  People unknown to us are benefiting from our prayers and sacrifices, including the many people who have no one to pray for them.    May we continue to be faithful and persevere in the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, for God in His lovingkindness has poured out His mercy upon us: O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, we trust in You!

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 

The next Mass for Assumption Grotto Roman Catholic Church is First Saturday, May 3, 2008 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. The person of contact is Jerry (586) 731-1065. 

St. Monica Sodality at St. Cyril, is the fourth Sunday The next Mass is April 27 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.

Online Petition and Conversions Form Here

 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. 

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

St. Augustine - August 28, St. Augustine's birthday - November 13, St. Augustine's Baptism - April 24

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. . .

            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 heart 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. . .

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

 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.

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

 Contact information

stmonicasodality@hotmail.com

2007