Prayers to St. Agnes of Rome
O glorious St. Agnes, you served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific Vision in heaven because you persevered till death and gained the crown of eternal life. Remember now the dangers that surround us in the vale of tears, and intercede for us in our needs and troubles. Amen.
Let us gain courage for our own battle
by honoring the martyrdom of the glorious virgin Agnes.
St. Agnes, vessel of honor,
flower of unfading fragrance,
beloved of the choirs of Angels,
you are an example to the worth of virtue and chastity.
O you who wear a Martyr's palm
and a virgin's wreath,
pray for us that,
though unworthy of a special crown,
we may have our names written in the list of Saints . Amen
Saint Agnes is one of the best known and honoured of the Roman martyrs. She suffered martyrdom during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian in 304 or 305. She was only twelve years old. Her name which means 'lamb' or 'victim' in Latin, and 'pure' in Greek, is still invoked in the First Eucharistic Prayer for Holy Mass.
The stories of her martyrdom date from the 5th century, about one hundred years after her death, so there are not many details known about her life. It is certain though that young noblemen of Rome, attracted by her youth, wealth and beauty, courted her, asking her hand in marriage. She declined all their offers, saying that she had chosen a Spouse who could not be seen with mortal eyes. Hoping to change the young saint's mind, the suitors accused her of being a Christian.
Saint Agnes was brought before a judge, who at first treated her gently and kindly, because of her young age. In spite of his kindness, she refused to offer incense to the goddess Minerva. Then the judge tried to frighten her with threats of torment. She was shown terrible fires, and tools of torture but remained calm and steadfast in her loyalty to Christ.
Finally, angered by her stubbornness, the judge ordered that she be sent to a house of prostitution, a rough and immoral place. Here, the sight of the saint struck respect and awe into most, but one youth, bolder than the rest, attempted to molest her. He was 'struck down, as if by lightning' and fell to the ground, blind. Throughout this ordeal Agnes remained chaste and pure, still a spotless spouse of Christ.
The most influential of her suitors was angered by this event, and convinced the judge to order Agnes executed. Spectators wept to see the young and beautiful virgin, hampered by fetters, joyfully making her way to the place of execution. The executioner had secret orders to make one last attempt to persuade her to deny Christ and live. Again, Agnes refused.
Finally, with a trembling hand, the executioner beheaded this most famous of martyrs. Agnes went to meet Jesus, who she loved more than life. She was buried on the Via Nomentana, just outside of Rome, and the Christian emperor Constantine erected a church in her honour about the year 350.
For centuries, an annual celebration blesses two lambs at the altar in this church where her relics lie. The lambs are then sent to a cloister and raised. Their wool is used to make the palliums sent by the Pope to archbishops. The palliums are worn around the archbishop's shoulders as symbols of the sheep carried by the Good Shepherd.
O glorious St. Agnes, you served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific Vision in heaven because you persevered till death and gained the crown of eternal life. Remember now the dangers that surround us in the vale of tears, and intercede for us in our needs and troubles. Amen.
Let us gain courage for our own battle
by honoring the martyrdom of the glorious virgin Agnes.
St. Agnes, vessel of honor,
flower of unfading fragrance,
beloved of the choirs of Angels,
you are an example to the worth of virtue and chastity.
O you who wear a Martyr's palm
and a virgin's wreath,
pray for us that,
though unworthy of a special crown,
we may have our names written in the list of Saints . Amen
Saint Agnes is one of the best known and honoured of the Roman martyrs. She suffered martyrdom during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian in 304 or 305. She was only twelve years old. Her name which means 'lamb' or 'victim' in Latin, and 'pure' in Greek, is still invoked in the First Eucharistic Prayer for Holy Mass.
The stories of her martyrdom date from the 5th century, about one hundred years after her death, so there are not many details known about her life. It is certain though that young noblemen of Rome, attracted by her youth, wealth and beauty, courted her, asking her hand in marriage. She declined all their offers, saying that she had chosen a Spouse who could not be seen with mortal eyes. Hoping to change the young saint's mind, the suitors accused her of being a Christian.
Saint Agnes was brought before a judge, who at first treated her gently and kindly, because of her young age. In spite of his kindness, she refused to offer incense to the goddess Minerva. Then the judge tried to frighten her with threats of torment. She was shown terrible fires, and tools of torture but remained calm and steadfast in her loyalty to Christ.
Finally, angered by her stubbornness, the judge ordered that she be sent to a house of prostitution, a rough and immoral place. Here, the sight of the saint struck respect and awe into most, but one youth, bolder than the rest, attempted to molest her. He was 'struck down, as if by lightning' and fell to the ground, blind. Throughout this ordeal Agnes remained chaste and pure, still a spotless spouse of Christ.
The most influential of her suitors was angered by this event, and convinced the judge to order Agnes executed. Spectators wept to see the young and beautiful virgin, hampered by fetters, joyfully making her way to the place of execution. The executioner had secret orders to make one last attempt to persuade her to deny Christ and live. Again, Agnes refused.
Finally, with a trembling hand, the executioner beheaded this most famous of martyrs. Agnes went to meet Jesus, who she loved more than life. She was buried on the Via Nomentana, just outside of Rome, and the Christian emperor Constantine erected a church in her honour about the year 350.
For centuries, an annual celebration blesses two lambs at the altar in this church where her relics lie. The lambs are then sent to a cloister and raised. Their wool is used to make the palliums sent by the Pope to archbishops. The palliums are worn around the archbishop's shoulders as symbols of the sheep carried by the Good Shepherd.
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