In August 2023, Lisbon, Portugal, hosted the 2023 World Youth Day, bringing together hundreds of thousands of young adults for a spiritually powerful event.
However, this highlights a common issue in the Catholic community where many parents and grandparents feel sadness that their own children or grandchildren have strayed from the faith, reflecting a broader trend of religious disaffiliation.
St. Monica's story, who lived over 1,600 years ago, offers inspiration to these grieving families. She was the mother of St. Augustine, and despite facing significant challenges, she never gave up on praying for his conversion.
Eventually, Augustine returned to the Church.
To address this issue, a new book titled "What Would Monica Do?" by Patti Maguire Armstrong and Roxane Beauclair Salonen offers practical advice, prayers, and reflections on St. Monica's life. It recently won recognition at the 2023 Catholic Media Association's Book Awards.
Monica's experiences parallel those of modern parents, dealing with family members who have left the Church. Her unwavering faith and reliance on prayer resonate with today's struggles. St. Ambrose's advice to "speak less to your son about God, and more to God about your son" holds meaning for these families.
Armstrong and Salonen also emphasize the importance of forming a supportive community, such as their private Facebook group, "Catholic Parents: What Would Monica Do?," where individuals facing similar challenges can share resources and provide encouragement.
Their advice for parents includes surrendering to God, acknowledging grief but not dwelling in it, embracing inner growth, loving deeply, and maintaining an eternal perspective.
They stress that children have free will and cannot be controlled, urging parents to seek forgiveness for past mistakes and trust in God as they deepen their own faith.
Ultimately, the book is about finding hope and grace in the face of loss, whether it's the loss of faith in a loved one or other personal hardships. With support from God, the Blessed Mother, and the saints, parents and grandparents can navigate these challenges and help their loved ones rediscover their faith.