St. Agnes of Montepulciano

Feast Day: April 20
Born: 1268 :: Died: 1317

This saint was born at Gracchiano-Vecchio, Tuscany in Italy to wealthy parents. When she was only six she began pleading with her parents to let her live at the nearby convent. Finally, when she was nine years old, she was allowed to join the convent at Montepulciano.

Agnes was very happy with the sisters. They lived in quiet prayer and worked hard. Even though she was young, Agnes understood why the sisters lived and prayed so well. They wanted to be very close to Jesus.

As the years passed, St. Agnes received her training as a novice. She was such a good nun that the other sisters were pleased to have her. Agnes prayed with all her heart. She set a very good example of holiness and some young women came to join them. Agnes and the sisters belonged to the Order of Preachers, called Dominicans.

When she was about forty years old, Agnes was made superior or "prioress" of the convent. She tried to be fair and honest with each sister. She kept reminding herself that everything she did was for Jesus. She believed that Jesus was really in charge of the convent. He was taking care of them.

Mother Agnes performed hard penances by sleeping on the ground with a stone for a pillow and living on just bread and water. She was kind and gentle even when she didn't feel like it. God filled Agnes with joy and gifted her with many spiritual favors. He even let her hold the Christ Child in her arms.

Agnes was sick a lot of the time, but she was patient even when she was very ill. She never complained or felt sorry for herself. Instead, she offered everything to God. The sisters were very sad when she was dying. "If you loved me, you would be glad," Agnes said. "I am going to enter the glory of Jesus."

St. Agnes died in 1317 at the age of forty-nine. Her tomb became a place of pilgrimage where people came to pray to this holy woman and to seek her help. Among the pilgrims was the famous St. Catherine of Siena. St. Agnes’ body is incorrupt to this day.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: April 20, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, hope and light of the sincere, we humbly entreat you to dispose our hearts to offer you worthy prayer and ever to extol you by dutiful proclamation of your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

Welsh Cakes

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Easter: April 20th

Friday of the Second Week of Easter (Optional Memorial of St. Beuno in Wales)

The Church in Wales is celebrating the feast of St. Beuno, one of its greatest saints. He was a wonder-worker and aristocrat, monk and master of monks, patriot, challenger of tyrants — that was the medieval picture of the man which is reflected in his Life, and which survives, carved in stone on the fourteenth century pulpit of the Black Monks of Shrewsbury.

St. Beuno
Abbot of Clynnog, d. 660(?), was, according to the "Bucced Beuno", born in Powis-land and, after education and ordination in the monastery of Bangor, in North Wales, became an active missioner, Cadvan, King of Gwynedd, being his generous benefactor. Cadwallon, Cadvan's son and successor, deceived Beuno about some land, and on the saint demanding justice proved obdurate. Thereupon, Cadwallon's cousin Gweddeint, in reparation, "gave to God and Beuno forever his township", where the saint (c. 616) founded the Abbey of Clynnog Fawr (Carnarvonshire).

Beuno became the guardian and restorer to life of his niece, the virgin St. Winefride, whose clients still obtain marvelous favors at Holywell (Flintshire). He was relentless with hardened sinners, but full of compassion to those in distress. Before his death "on the seventh day of Easter" he had a wondrous vision. Eleven churches bearing St. Beuno's name, with various relics and local usages, witness to his far-reaching missionary zeal. — Catholic Encyclopedia

Patron: Diseased cattle, sick animals, sick children.

Symbols: Restoring the head of Saint Winifred.

Things to Do:

Read about the history of Shrewsbury Abbey.