Prayer to Saint Monica for children

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Under the weight of my bodily burden, I turn to you, dear Saint Monica, and ask for your help and intercession.
From your place in heaven, I beg you to watch over my son [NAME], who has lost his faith and everything we have tried to teach him.

I know, dear Monica, that our children do not belong to us, but to God, and that God often allows them to get lost so that it may be part of their journey toward Him.

His son, Augustine, was also lost; but he found faith and came to believe, and in that belief he became a true teacher.

Help me, therefore, to have patience and to believe that all things—including this disappointing move away from faith—happen according to God’s purposes.

For the sake of my son’s soul, I pray that I will understand and trust this. St. Monica, please teach me to remain faithful in prayer, as you did for the sake of your son. Inspire me to conduct myself in such a way as not to alienate my son from Christ, but only to gently lead him toward His wonderful light.

Please teach me what you know about this painful mystery of separation, reconciliation, and reorientation of our children to heaven.

O Saint Monica, lover of Christ and His Church, pray for me and my son [NAME], that we may gain heaven, join you and offer constant and grateful praise to God.

Amen.