Few saints in the Church's history have had more appeal than the valiant St. Monica who spent almost a lifetime storming...

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MY BROTHERS, REMEMBER MONICA

Few saints in the Church's history have had more appeal than the valiant St. Monica who spent almost a lifetime storming heaven with her prayers for the conversion of her rrant son, Augustine. Now the details of her life are brought sharply into focus for modern readers in Patricia McGerr's absorbing novel, My Brothers, Remember Monica. The title is taken from a passage in St. Augustine's Confessions in which he exhorts his readers to ""remember Monica"" in their prayers. Monica as a young Christian girl in North Africa marries the Roman pagan, Patricius, and sees him converted to her faith on his death bed. Her continuing struggle to rescue their eldest son -- the brilliant, ompestuous Augustine -- from a life of sin and heresy is played out in the turbulent days of the early Church. Novelist McGerr (Martha, Martha) recreates the empo of the times as Monica follows Augustine from Tagaste to Carthage to Rome and Milan in her never-ending quest to win his soul for God. The love and care she gives his son, Adodatus and the provisions she makes for the welfare of his mistress seem logical solutions to situations that have often proved riddles to hagiographers. My Brothers, Remember Monica is indeed a satisfying story.

Pub Date: March 12, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Kenedy

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1964

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