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Ostia

A place in the history of the Church

The ancient port of Rome, at the mouth of the Tiber River.

What happened here

  1. Monica and Augustine: while they waited for the ship to go back to Africa, mother and son talked about God by a window that looked out on a garden.
  2. Monica’s death: St. Monica died in Ostia at the age of fifty-six. She asked to be remembered at the altar of the Lord.
  3. Her remains: in 1430, Pope Martin V had her remains brought to Rome.

Today

The ruins of the ancient city are near Rome, close to the sea.

Source: St. Augustine, Confessions IX, 10-11; Roman Martyrology, August 27; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “St. Monica”; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Ostia and Velletri”

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