Monica (or Monnica) (331 387) is a Christian saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo, who wrote extensively of her virtues and his life with her in his Confessions. Monica was of Berber descent. She was born in Roman Africa. Her parents brought her up as Christian and married her to an older pagan man named Patricius, a curialis of Thagaste (located in modern-day Souk Ahras, Algeria). He was a man of kindness, but also a man given to violent tempers and adultery.
Monica bore three , among them Augustine. Augustine made her very happy with his successes as a scholar and teacher, but he also made her very ashamed with his debauchery. For ten years, Augustine lived with his mistress and subscribed to Manichaeism. Monica sent Augustine to a bishop to be convinced of his errors. The bishop, however, was unable to prevail, and he advised St. Monica simply to continue to pray for her son.