The Society of St. Monica was founded in the 1980s by Father Dennis McNeil, who today is pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Euclid, Ohio.
He calls it “an organization with no meetings or dues.” Its purpose is to pray for the return of fallen away Catholics to the practice of their faith. It's secondary aim is to provide support and sometimes fellowship for Catholics whose loved ones have wandered away from the Church.
The requirements for membership are simple: to recite daily the society's prayer for fallen away Catholics, and to remember at Mass society members around the world four times a year — on the last Sundays of March, June, September and December.
The Society of St. Monica has adherents in every state and in many other countries as well. In some areas, independent parish chapters have formed, and these meet for prayer and fellowship.
Connie Limtiaco has run a St. Monica group in St. Edward's parish in Newark, Calif., for nine years. One of her adult children had left the Catholic Church for a Protestant sect.
Her son has not yet returned, but, “I believe God works in mysterious ways. Maybe he's using my situation so that so many others are now being prayed for. Other people in our group have gotten their children or relatives back through praying to St. Monica. I just have to keep praying and never give up, just like she did.
Prayer of the Society of St. Monica
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 St. 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 (N.), who no longer shares in the life of Your Catholic family. Grant that through my prayer and witness (he/she/they) may be open to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit to return to loving union with Your people. 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.
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Two sons have left the family, the youngest following the eldest by a few years; what started as poor life choices on the part of the older son, who is also a tremendous influence on the younger, has now become a disease so-to-speak. No arguements or conflicts just 2 caring parents who stand by in amazement as the 2 sons we adored and raised have systematically eliminated us from their lives. Communication is nonproductive, no answers forthcoming. We can only sit by and watch believing this is what they wish or they would not act the way they do. We have a loving and wonderful daughter, son-in-law who remain very close to us and are hurt as well since the 2 sons do not communicate with their sister either. There is jealousy, the daughter’s life style more closely matches ours. Her choices are consistent, wise and decisions have played out successfully for her and her husband. They have 2 beautiful little daughters.The boys live rather bohemian lifestyles, as they wish. But, their father and I do not judge and have said virtually nothing as they make their way in their own style. in fact, we have tried to enjoy the diference and variety that their choices bring to life as if we would not have these experiences if it were not for this boy who loads his property with ever conceivable piece of equipment, fixer uppers! Their choices however, are often so hurtful it’s unbelievable especially in the ways we are both eliminated from the most important things in their lives. For instance, We do not see our grandchildren anymore and they are young, we have no holidays together, mothers day Fathers day: what are they? Christmas was still on the agenda this year as long as we did not insist on attending Mass which has been our tradition for generations. We respected their objection and attended alone on Christmas AM. Anyone reading this is probably nodding their heads thinking “yup, hovering, interfering, overbearing parents of adult childen.” But this is just not the case. They are both now married to women who absolutely hate our family, want nothing to do with us or their sister. The young women were both raised Catholics but neither one practices. The eldest son’s wife is divorced and will not attend church nor does she inspire her children to do so. The younger daughter in law (youngest son’s wife) is just weird, holds grudges, does not speak, one word answers, never acts as if she enjoys anything, has never said thank you for gifts, nothing we give them is ever used and we are told all sorts of excuses: too big, too pink, too small, wont’ work…although we have continued to provide financial assistance when they’ve asked us because we do not want their dear little kids to suffer from lack of heat or electric, for instance. Their father and I are sick at heart. WE feel that our family is destroyed without any good, bonified reson. It’s not as if we had a big arguement or hugh disagreement. We did not. They simply do not like us so we look only to God above for answers about how to continue in this new way, strength to bear the hurting and peace to go on in these later years of our lives without our 2 boys and their families.
Our kids would rather go the easiest way possible in life. Who9 wants to get up early on a Sun. morning. (of course Sat. evening is an option)
Our kids hear the same message from us- some hear and some choose not to hear. We must never give up but pray as St. Monica did.
God Bless America!
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