One of the beautiful aspects of our liturgical calendar is its parallel couplings. Yesterday and today, we remember Saint Monica and Saint Augustine, mother and son. Less than a month from now, we honor another Mother and Son — the Mother and Son — Our Lady of Sorrows and Jesus in the Triumph of the Cross. In addition we have the dates December 8 and September 8, the conception and birth of Our Lady, as well as March 25 and December 25, the conception and birth of Jesus.

In particular with the coupling of Saints Monica and Augustine over the past couple of days, we have an emphasis on the important role of parenting, in particular parents through their silent lifestyle and prayer being examples for their children. Although Augustine did not embrace the faith in his youth, over the years he did have the example of his pious mother, and eventually, undoubtedly influenced by her, he did give himself over to the Lord.

In our own parish life, it is not until the child is five or six years old that he or she begins formal education in the faith through religious education or parochial school. Those most formative years — 1, 2, 3, 4 years old — are completely under the influence of the family. It is up to parents and uncles and aunts and grandparents and older siblings and cousins to influence the young ones with their pious life, as did Monica influence her son Augustine.