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823. S. MONICA AND PATRICIUS.-----S. Monica may serve as a model for persons whom God calls to manage a household. Patricius, her husband, was a pagan, and gave himself up to all the impetuosity of his passions. Monica's great care was to gain him for God. For that she labored by her submission, her mildness, her patience. She was most careful never to make him any hasty or unseasonable reproaches. She never complained of him; on the contrary, she hid his faults from all her acquaintances. By this truly Christian conduct she succeeded in gaining her husband's heart; he esteemed, he admired, and respected her. She often addressed fervent prayers to the Lord for his conversion; they were at length heard. Patricius allowed himself to be instructed in the Christian religion, and was converted. He received Baptism, and thenceforward he became chaste, modest, meek, worthy, in short, of having S. Monica for a wife.-----Godescard
825. EXAMPLE OF PRUDENCE.-----In
1836, Miss S. B. was on the point of contracting a brilliant marriage,
when she learned that her
intended husband not only did not approach the
Sacraments, but even allowed himself at times to ridicule religion. She
turned to God for guidance, and then announced to her family that the
marriage
would not take place. She hastened to return the valuable presents she
had received, and all the efforts of her friends to make her reconsider
the matter were of no avail. After that, she married a man of little
fortune
but great virtue, and her marriage proved a most happy one.-----Guillois
826. S. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND.-----S. Margaret was married and crowned Queen of Scotland in 1070, being then twenty-four years of age. The marriage was solemnized at King Malcolm's royal castle at Dunfermline, built in the midst of a beautiful plain, surrounded with woods, rocks, and rivers. Malcolm was rough and unpolished, but neither haughty nor capricious. Margaret, by the most tender complaisance, and the most condescending and engaging carriage, always full of respect, gained so great an ascendancy over him as to seem entirely mistress of his heart. She softened his temper, cultivated his mind, polished his manners, and inspired him with the most perfect sentiments of all Christian virtues, so that he became one of the most virtuous kings that had ever adorned the Scottish throne. And so much was the king charmed with her wisdom and piety, that he not only left to her the whole management of his domestic affairs, but followed her prudent advice in the government of his kingdom.-----Butler
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