St. Augustine: “You were in me deeper than my depths and higher than my peaks”

Marry by order

Love is not a feeling, but a choice. Now many books and articles have been written about this, but Saint Monica had to discover this truth on her own: she was married off without even asking her opinion. IV century - that’s how it was accepted then.

And the problem was not that the girl did not meet her future husband before the wedding, but that he was not a Christian. Or, as they would say now, he was an unbeliever. That is, she was forced to live with a person of a different worldview, who looked at everything that is important for a person in life in a completely different way.

Lovers are not those who look at each other, but those who look in the same direction. The author of this aphorism is unknown, but one thing is certain - Monica was completely deprived of this joy. Nevertheless, “...she calmly endured his infidelities,” recalls Augustine, “she and her husband never had any quarrels about this.”

Such circumstances could cause stress and unbearable suffering for many. Monica thought differently. Living with an unbelieving husband is not a problem, but a task, and Scripture has recipes for solving it. “You also, wives, be subject to your husbands, so that those of them who do not obey the word may be won without a word by the lives of their wives when they see your pure, God-fearing lives,” teaches the holy Apostle Peter. That's exactly what Monica did. She never contradicted him, knowing his hot temper. “She served him as a master and tried to win him for God,” writes St. Augustine. In the end, she won. The patrician was baptized. But between these two events - the wedding and the baptism of the husband - lay many years of marriage, the birth of three children, countless infidelities of the husband and the same countless prayers of the wife for him.

In Monica's case, the task of converting her husband to faith was complicated by at least two circumstances. The husband did not see any problem in the fact that he “went to the left.” And, apparently, he didn’t even hide them, since his son talks about “betrayal.” To become a Christian, he had to be convinced that such behavior was treason and should be abandoned once and for all. But the most difficult thing is that Monica herself needed to find the strength to forgive her wandering husband. She succeeded in both.

The only source of information about the life of Saint Monica is the memoirs of her son Augustine. He does not give detailed descriptions of how she brought her husband to faith. But we can highlight several rules for the life of a saint that give some idea about this:

- never reproach your husband for his shortcomings, no matter how terrible they may seem

- sincerely obey him, considering herself his servant

- under no circumstances reproach him for anything, even if it seems quite fair

- always pray for him

It doesn't look like Monica is happy in her family life. In fact, a significant part of the years allotted to her (and she lived for 56 years) were stressful situations and mental trauma. It's not just that the husband cheated. Most likely, he raised his voice to his wife more than once. He had someone to follow by example. In other families with which Monica and Patricius maintained relationships, husbands even beat their wives, and no one considered this a particular tragedy. At least, Augustine remembers that his mother’s girlfriends walked around with bruises. But Patricius did not raise his hand against Monica, although, as his son recalls, he was a very hot-tempered person. Now they would say that the saint had emotional competence - she knew the feelings of her loved ones, her own, and knew how to use this knowledge for the benefit of the whole family.

A separate story is Monica’s communication with her friends. Women often complain to their friends about their lives, including about other friends. Monica listened patiently to their complaints, but never supported their grumbling or judgment. “My mother told each friend what contributed to the reconciliation of both.”

If Monica lived today, she would fill the halls for trainings on personal growth and the art of communication. Faced with a huge number of stressful situations, she calmly resolved all these situations, skillfully ending each conflict with peace. But her main victory is saving her son.

Sandro Botticelli. Saint Augustine the Blessed in prayerful contemplation. Fresco. OK. 1480

Blessed Monica. Mother of Blessed Augustine.

Mother's Prayer

Patricia and Monica had three children - two boys and a girl. The eldest's name was Augustine. The boy grew up and began to lead a far from pious life. He lived with his girlfriend, as they would say now, in a “civil marriage.” They had a child. Further - worse. Augustine fell into the Manichean sect, and, being carried away by their teaching, managed to lure his friends into this organization.

What could Monica do in such a situation? Urge your son to improve, order prayer services? She had two simple methods: she prayed herself and asked priests she knew to convince her son of the truth of Christianity. One of the priests answered her: “the son of such tears cannot die.” In other words: you cry so much for him that he will definitely become a Christian. “In conversations with me, she often recalled that she accepted these words as if they had come to her from heaven,” writes Augustine.

How did Saint Monica pray? Did you order magpie in seven churches? Have you read the akathists? No, of course, all this did not exist in her time. But one thing we know for sure is that Augustine was in the sect for 10 long years. All this time, the mother did not lose hope. And, in the end, Augustine became an Orthodox Christian. His mother died in the year of his baptism. She was then 56 years old, her son was 33 years old.

At first glance, this is not the strongest result of missionary work: in 10 years there was only one convert. But let's remember who this man became - one of the greatest saints of the Christian Church, equally revered by both Orthodox and Catholics. His Confession still remains one of the most powerful Christian books. In it, among other things, there are the following words: “Yes, if I am Your worthy son, Lord, it is because You have given me Your faithful servant as a mother.”

The miraculous power of mother's prayer

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“A mother’s prayer will reach you from the bottom of the sea” - this proverb has long become a byword. It was not said for the sake of a catchphrase. This is a truth that is relevant at all times, confirmed by countless examples of the amazing power and effectiveness of the prayers of millions of mothers.

Holy maternal love is capable of overcoming any obstacles, achieving the impossible and creating real miracles.

A mother's word has special power. There is nothing brighter and more selfless than a mother’s love. From the first day of birth of a child, the mother lives by his breath, his tears and smiles. The child needs the mother.

This is the meaning of her life. Love for her baby is as natural to her as the blossoming of gardens in spring. Just as the sun sends out its rays, warming all living things, so a mother’s love warms a child. The mother introduces the child to life. She puts into his mouth the native language, which has absorbed the wealth of the mind, thoughts and feelings of the people.

It fills him with spiritual strength and helps him comprehend eternal values.

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The relationship between parents and children is modeled after our relationship with God, our Heavenly Parent.

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Therefore, the Lord gave parents special power over their children:

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Children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord (Col. 3:20).

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The commandment to honor parents is not only a prescription, non-observance of which is a sin. The Lord connected our longevity on earth with its fulfillment: Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12).

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The Holy Apostle Paul says that this is the first commandment with a promise (Eph. 6:2). A sad fate awaits a son or daughter who offends parents and openly disregards their authority and power. The eye that mocks the father and neglects obedience to the mother will be pecked out by the crows of the valley, and the eagle's chicks will be devoured! (Prov. 30:17).

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The special power of maternal prayer is associated with the power that the Lord God gave to the mother over her children.

One of the most edifying examples of great maternal love and prayer for a spiritually perishing son is the prayerful feat of Monica, the mother of Blessed Augustine, who was ten years in captivity of the disastrous false teaching of the Manichaean sect. The son she begged for not only escaped hell, but also became a saint.

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In his “Confessions,” Blessed Augustine dedicated the most touching words to his mother: “You stretched out Your hand from on high and “drew my soul” from this deep darkness, when my mother, Your faithful servant, mourned me before You more than the mothers of dead children mourn . She saw my death by virtue of her faith and the spirit that she possessed from You - and You heard her, Lord; You heard her and did not despise the tears that streamed the earth in every place where she prayed; You heard her” (Confession. Book III. 11.19).

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Mother's prayers for children

A mother’s prayer is the strongest and most powerful, which can save her children from illness, misfortune and reckless actions. “A mother’s prayer will reach from the bottom of the sea” is a truth that is relevant at all times, confirmed by countless examples of the amazing power and effectiveness of the prayers of millions of mothers.

Holy maternal love is capable of overcoming any obstacles, achieving the impossible and creating real miracles. A mother's word has special power. There is nothing brighter and more selfless than a mother’s love. From the first day of birth of a child, the mother lives by his breath, his tears and smiles. The child needs the mother. This is the meaning of her life.

Love for her baby is as natural to her as the blossoming of gardens in spring. Just as the sun sends out its rays, warming all living things, so a mother’s love warms a child. The mother introduces the child to life. She puts into his mouth the native language, which has absorbed the wealth of the mind, thoughts and feelings of the people.

It fills him with spiritual strength and helps him comprehend eternal values. Many good believing mothers have had to worry about their children dying in the whirlpool of a vicious, dissolute life. Some had to spend many years in sorrow, humbly waiting and hoping. Their holy tears and prayers were not in vain.

When children are ill, you can pray not only to Christ and the Mother of God, but also to numerous Orthodox saints.

Among them, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Martyr Tryphon, Great Martyr Panteleimon, Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, Saint Matrona of Moscow and many others are famous for their special help.

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If prayer doesn't help

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Sometimes the help expected from God never comes, as if He does not hear prayers. But in any case, there is no need to despair.

From the point of view of the Christian meaning of life, it is better for some people to die in time and be saved for Eternal Life than to survive, but then destroy their soul.

Nothing happens by chance with God, and He takes a person to Himself at the moment of his best spiritual state and greatest readiness for salvation in Eternity. Or when the spiritual decline becomes irreversible.

And it also happens that God, seemingly for years, ignores the pleas of a mother asking him to help her child in trouble, but in the end the story has a good ending. And the reason for “deafness” turns out to be God’s desire to correct a person, for whom premature indulgences can only do a disservice.

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A mother's prayer for her child

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, hear me, your sinful and unworthy servant (name). Lord, in the mercy of Your power, my child (name), have mercy and save him for Your name’s sake. Lord, forgive him all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that he committed before You.

Lord, guide him on the true path of Your commandments and enlighten him and enlighten him with Your light of Christ, for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body. Lord, bless him in the house, around the house, in the field, at work and on the road and in every place of Your possession.

Lord, protect him under the protection of Your Saints from a flying bullet, arrow, knife, sword, poison, fire, flood, from a deadly ulcer and from vain death. Lord, protect him from visible and invisible enemies, from all troubles, evils and misfortunes. Lord, heal him from all diseases, cleanse him from all filth (wine, tobacco, drugs) and ease his mental suffering and sorrow.

Lord, grant him the grace of the Holy Spirit for many years of life, health, and chastity. Lord, give him Your blessing for a godly family life and godly childbearing.

Lord, grant me, Thy unworthy and sinful servant, a parental blessing on my child in the coming mornings, days, evenings and nights, for Thy name’s sake, for Thy Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen. Lord have mercy. (12 times.

) O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your shelter my children (names), all youths, young women and infants, baptized and nameless, and carried in their mother’s womb. Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and obedience to their parents, pray to my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation.

I entrust them to Your maternal supervision, for You are the Divine protection of Your servants. Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Your mercy on my children (names), keep them under Your roof, cover them from all evil lust, drive away from them every enemy and adversary, open their ears and the eyes of their hearts, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts. Lord, we are all Your creation, have pity on my children (names) and turn them to repentance. Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my children (names) and enlighten their minds with the light of the mind of Your Gospel and guide them on the path of Your Commandments and teach them. Savior, do Your will, for You are our God.

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Daily prayer for a child:

Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Your mercy on my child (name), keep him under Your roof, cover him from all evil lust, drive away every enemy and adversary from them, open his ears and the eyes of his heart, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts.

Lord, we are all Your creation, have pity on my child (name) and turn him to repentance. Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my child (name), and enlighten his mind with the light of the mind of Your Gospel, and guide him on the path of Your commandments, and teach him, O Savior, to do Your will, for You are our God.

Don’t forget to contact your child’s Guardian Angel.

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Prayer to the Guardian Angel for children

Holy Guardian Angel of my child (name), cover her with your protection from the arrows of the demon, from the eyes of the seducer, and keep her heart in angelic purity. Amen.

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There is also a parental prayer “For the blessing of children”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless, sanctify, preserve my child with the power of Your Life-giving Cross. Amen.

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There is also a special maternal prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

O Most Holy Lady Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your shelter my children (names), all youths, young women and infants, baptized and nameless and carried in their mother’s womb.

Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and in obedience to their parents, pray to my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation. I entrust them to Your maternal supervision, for You are the Divine Protection of Your servants. Mother of God, introduce me to the image of Your heavenly Motherhood.

Heal the mental and physical wounds of my children (names) caused by my sins. I entrust my child entirely to my Lord, Jesus Christ and Your, Most Pure, heavenly protection. Amen.

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Prayers for a child's health

Prayer to Jesus Christ for children (Prayer for protection) Lord Jesus Christ, let Your mercy be on my children (names), keep them under Your roof, cover them from all evil, take away every enemy from them, open their ears and eyes, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts.

Lord, we are all Your creatures, have pity on my children (names) and turn them to repentance. Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my children (names), and enlighten their minds with the light of the mind of Your Gospel, and guide them on the path of Your commandments, and teach them, Father, to do Your will, for You are our God.

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Prayer to the Trinity for children

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O Most Merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Soul, worshiped and glorified in the Undivided Trinity, look upon Thy servant (her) (name of the child) who is overcome by illness; forgive him (her) all his (her) sins;

Give him (her) healing from illness; return him (her) health and bodily strength; Give him (her) a long and prosperous life, Your peaceful and most worldly blessings, so that he (she) together with us brings grateful prayers to You, the All-Bounteous God and my Creator. Most Holy Theotokos, through Your omnipotent intercession, help me to beg Your Son, my God, for the healing of God’s servant (name). All saints and Angels of the Lord, pray to God for His sick servant (name). Amen

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Prayer to the Mother of God for her children

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Oh, Mother of Mercy! You see the cruel sorrow tormenting my heart! For the sake of the sorrow with which You were pierced, when a terrible sword passed into Your soul during the bitter suffering and death of Your Divine Son, I pray to You: have mercy on my poor child, who is sick and fading, and if it is not contrary to the will of God and his salvation, intercede for his health bodily with Your Almighty Son, Physician of souls and bodies.

O Loving Mother! Look how my child’s face has turned pale, how his whole body is burning from illness, and have mercy on him. May he be saved by God's help and serve with the joy of his heart Your Only Begotten Son, his Lord and God. Amen.

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Mother's prayer for her son's health

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Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. I trust in you and ask for my own son. Deliver him from illness and disease and cure his sinful soul from the wounds of mistrust. Let it be so. Amen.

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Mother's prayer for her son's well-being

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Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. I beg you for the well-being of my son and his deliverance from death sentences. If he has sinned, forgive him and send down Orthodox blessings from heaven. Thy will be done. Amen.

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Mother's prayer for her son's marriage

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Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. Help my child in a righteous marriage that will benefit his sinful soul. Send down a daughter-in-law who is modest and who reveres holy Orthodoxy. Thy will be done. Amen.

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Mother's prayer for her drinking son

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I beg you, Lord God, and ask for holy absolution. Help my drinking son get rid of his craving for alcohol and protect him from imminent death. Thy will be done. Amen.

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Orthodox prayer of a mother for her son

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This is a prayer that should be read as often as possible. Its text is characterized by the universality and compassion of a loving mother. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. Grant my son good health, reason and will, strength and spirit.

Protect him from harmful influences and guide him on the path leading to Orthodoxy. Thy will be done. Amen.

And when you feel maternal grief, remember that you have 5 Orthodox prayers through which we communicate with God.

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