One thing about being down; there’s nowhere to go but up. What gives us the strength to “go up”? Perseverance. Athletes have it! Parents have it! Our forefathers had it. Why shouldn’t we as Christians have it?
The fact is we do, but with a vital difference. Some people persevere to gain glory for themselves, while Christians persevere for the glory of God. BIG difference.
Students persevere in school in hopes of enrolling in a notable university and later gaining a high-profile job. There is nothing wrong with that. However, I believe, to persevere without a higher purpose, without God’s purpose, often turns into selfishness.
All the saints had the higher purpose through perseverance. If they were not born with it, they developed it. When we come closer to God, we realize that His plan is the best and we persevere on His timetable in His way. This is how we’ll get the best results.
St. Rita of Cascia persevered. She desired to become an Augustinian nun; however, her parents had arranged a marriage for her. Rita obeyed and married Paola Mancini, a cruel, pagan man. She bore two sons who followed their father’s ways. Rita prayed constantly for her husband’s conversion.
To the great joy of heaven, Paola did convert and the couple enjoyed a peaceful life. However, his past caught up with him and he was murdered. St. Rita could easily have given into despair and negativity. She did not. She prayed all the more.
Another thorn pierced her heart. She overheard her sons talking about seeking revenge on their father’s killer. Her words would not dissuade them. St. Rita knew they would carry out their deed. Rita prayed that her sons would not commit this crime. She asked the Lord to take them home, rather than let them commit a mortal sin.
The Lord heard Rita’s prayers. Soon afterward her young sons died of natural causes. This may seem harsh to us, but I feel Rita knew the reality of hell. St. Rita suffered much after losing her husband and son’s. Some sources even suggest a time of great mental breakdown for poor Rita.
She did not give up. St. Rita resurrected her desire to enter the Augustinian Order. Unfortunately, the sisters only accepted virgins, however, Rita persevered in prayer! After making a novena to her three special saints, Augustine, Nicholas of Tolentine, and St. John the Baptist, she was allowed to enter miraculously.
Rita miraculously entered the locked doors of the convent. When the sisters found her in the morning, they knew definitely that God desired Rita to become a nun. In 1413, she entered the Augustinian order.
Likewise, St. Monica, according to some, prayed decades for her wayward son. He publicly contested the Catholic faith; had a live in girlfriend and bore a child with her. He ran away from his mother and his woman to obtain a higher position. His mother, a very devout Catholic, prayed and prayed for his conversion. She hoped only that he would convert.
I am sure that she cried many heart-wrenching tears for her son, only for him to reject her and God. St. Monica did not give up, though. She knew God’s desire: she knew He would want her son converted. God could have answered at the drop of her first tear, but He didn’t. God might have prevented the sexual sins of her son, but He gave Augustine free will. He waited for the right time — when Augustine found no joy in his lifestyle. It was then that he spoke to the silence of Augustine’s aching heart, “Take up and read,” a child said referring to the bible.
That moment pierced Augustine’s heart. His eyes fell upon these words, “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Now he knew deep in his heart that he must change. First, he became a priest and then a bishop.
Monica could have accepted the son’s wrongdoing. She could have given up her prayers and fasting but she didn’t. Her son was too precious to be lost. Even a bishop told her, “The son of so many tears will not perish.”
In the end, God answered Monica’s prayers in a more magnificent way. Not only was Augustine converted to the Catholic faith, he later became a bishop and doctor of the Church. Although she was not alive to see his first mass as bishop, she was present at his baptism. The mother’s tears were turned to great joy.
The heart-wrenching tears of these mothers were heard in heaven. Why? Because they persevered in prayer and trusted in God’s will. We can choose to persevere for our glory or for God’s. What will you choose?
Copyright 2014, Mary Mitchell
Mary Mitchell
Mary Mitchell, from Chicago, is a devout Catholic who likes to mix the divine truth with humor. She thinks it's the only way we can get through this life! Mary is the mother of three and has been married to her husband, Philip, more than 20 years. She has attempted to live the vows as a Secular Franciscan for about 20 years, but has a long way to go.
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