Brother Knights,
St. Augustine in his book Confessions recounts the last moments of his mother’s life on earth. His mother, St. Monica, was a devout woman who prayed for the conversion of Augustine, who throughout his youth lived a Godless, debauched life. He, of course, had a great conversion, and became one of the great leaders in the history of the Church.
St. Monica became ill in the year 387 as she was traveling near Rome. She and her family lived in the Roman Empire, but in North Africa—not Rome. Augustine and his brother were with her on her death bed, and his brother mentioned to her that he was hoping that she might make it back to her homeland before she dies.
Augustine said that upon hearing this, “she reproached him with a glance because he had entertained such earthly thoughts.” She said to them, “bury my body wherever you will, let not care of it cause any concern. One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.”
St. Monica, a canonized saint in the Church was asking for nothing else on her deathbed, but prayers. She didn’t focus on pleasures and comforts throughout her life, and she was not about to start at the end.
We just celebrated two important liturgical celebrations in the Church. On the feast of All Saints, we celebrate the life of the Church triumphant—those saints canonized by the Church and those who are not officially canonized, but who, nevertheless, are enjoying eternal bliss with God, and ready to listen to our prayers.
On the feast of all souls, we pray for the Church suffering, those who died in God’s good grace, but await purification so that they can see God face to face. As we think about those who have gone before us, we can’t but help turn our thoughts to our own mortality, our own short time here on earth. We should all strive to reach that noble goal of sanctity, that process of purification and conversion, as Monica did. In doing so we are not just turning towards what is more important but in fact more real.
Father Kipper
