 When I admitted to her that I was no longer a Manichean, while not yet a Catholic Christian, she did not leap for joy as someone might do when he hears good news he never expected. And why not? Simple. She wasn't at all surprised. It was all just part of God's plan to answer her prayers for his conversion. She was quite certain that you, Lord, who had promised the whole, would give the rest. When Guston observes calm and with a heart full of confidence, she replied to me that she trusted in Christ, which assured her that before she was to pass from this life, she would see me a faithful Catholic. Of course, what she didn't tell her wayward son was that as a result of that conversation, she went to God even more often to pray, weeping, and begging him to hurry up, and she went more often to St. Ambrose to be strengthened. Such faith, such fortitude. What a rock. Take us like Monica, as we intercede for our children and for others.