FEAST OF THE DAY
St. Agnes was born of a noble Roman family during the beginning of
the third century. She was brought up as a Christian and grew to be
a very beautiful young woman. By the age of twelve, Agnes was
already receiving suitors for her hand in marriage, but refused each
one who came to her because she dedicated her virginity to God.
Several of the suitors who Agnes turned away became bitter at her
and turned her in to the authorities as a Christian. The political
atmosphere at the time was very charged, and the Diocletian
persecution was well under way. Agnes was arrested and brought
before a judge who tried to frighten her into denying up her Faith.
The judge was unsuccessful and decided to throw Agnes into a
house of prostitution to await her death. All who came to look lustfully
upon Agnes lost their sight, but many had their sight restored by her
intercessory prayers.
At last, Agnes was sentenced to death. She was beheaded, and her
body was taken away and buried in a catacomb that later came to
bear her name. Under the reign of the Emperor Constantine, a
basilica was built in her honor near her tomb and her relics were
placed under the altar.
St. Agnes, whose name means both purity and lamb, is the patron of
Christian virtue confronted by political and social violence. Agnes is
one of the most popular saints of the early Church, her life was
commented on by many of her contemporaries and her name is
mentioned it the First Eucharistic Prayer. In iconography, Agnes
many times is represented holding the martyr's palm and
accompanied by a lamb representing her sacrifice for the faith and
her name. St. Agnes is one of the four virgin martyrs whose feasts
are celebrated during the winter to serve as lights for the faithful in a
season of darkness.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
This is a virgin's birthday; let us follow the example of her chastity. It
is a martyr's birthday; let us offer sacrifices; it is the birthday of holy
Agnes: let men be filled with wonder, little ones with hope, married
woman with awe, and the unmarried with emulation. It seems to me
that this child, holy beyond her years and courageous beyond human
nature, received the name of Agnes (Greek: pure) not as an earthly
designation but as a revelation from God of what she was to be. -St.
Augustine
TODAY IN HISTORY
1276 Pierre de Tarantaise elected Bl. Pope Innocent V
1522 Adrian Florensz Boeyens elected Pope Adrian VI
1998 Pope John Paul II visits Cuba
TODAY'S TIDBIT
The feast of St. Agnes is the traditional day for the blessing of the
pallium, the stole woven from lamb's wool that shows the office of a
metropolitan.
INTENTION FOR THE DAY
Please pray for an end to abortion and that all people may develop a
greater respect for human life in all its forms.
| Friday, January 21, 2005 St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr (Memorial) |
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Prayers offered up for the pre-born.