Hello all, Happy feast day to all born, baptized and married today Happy feast day to all Deacons, Seminarians, Priests, Bishops, Monks, Nuns, Reverend Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. Happy feast day to all named Agnes and parents of all named Agnes Happy feast day to all Virgins and Parents of Virgins Happy feast day to all devoted to Saint Agnes of Rome Happy feast day to the Congregation of Sisters of Saint Agnes Happy feast day to all Catholic Missionaries Happy feast day to all Martyrs Today (January 21) marks the liturgical memorial of Saint Agnes of Rome She is also known as Saint Agnes She can also be referred to as Saint Ines The name Agnes means: chaste It also means “lamb” It can also mean “pure one” According to tradition, Saint Agnes was a member of the Roman nobility She took the (Gospel) as her spouse and she consecrated herself to Him at the age of ten. Saint Agnes was born in Rome during the beginning of the third century. She was born year 291 and was raised in a Christian family. She was brought up as a Christian and grew to be a very beautiful young woman. Catholic History tells us that at the age of twelve, Saint Agnes was already receiving suitors for her hand in marriage. And already by the age of twelve, she had developed a deep spirituality that directed her to devote her life to God as a consecrated virgin. Several young men presented themselves, offering to marry her, whether from lust or pity is not known. Saint Agnes said that to marry anyone would be an insult to her heavenly Spouse, and that she would keep her consecrated virginity intact, she would accept death, and she would surely see Christ. The Roman Prefect Sempronius wished Saint Agnes to marry his son, and on Saint Agnes refusal of his proposal, the Prefect Sempronius condemned her to death. Tradition tells us that as Roman law did not permit the execution of virgins, The Prefect Sempronius stripped Saint Agnes of her clothing and dragged her naked body through the streets to a brothel. Still at a tender age 13, Saint Agnes was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods or lose her virginity by rape. She was taken to a Roman temple to Minerva (Athena), and when led to the altar, she made the Sign of the Cross. She was threatened and later tortured when she refused to turn against God. Various versions of the legend give different methods of escape from this predicament In one of the versions, we are told that as she prayed, her hair grew and covered her body. It was also said that all of the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind Saint Agnes was martyred on the 21st of January 304 She was stabbed her in the throat After her death, the young Saint was buried in her parents household cemetery which was located a short distance from the city limits of Rome. Saint Agnes is attributed with either a lamb or martyrs palm The daughter of Constantine I, Saint Constance, was also said to have been cured of leprosy after praying at Agnes tomb. Her death made a profound impression and she became one of the most widely honored of Roman martyrs and one of the most popular of Christian saints. A few days after Agnes death, her foster-sister, Saint Emerentiana was found praying by her tomb; she claimed to be the daughter of Agnes wet nurse, and was stoned to death after refusing to leave the place and reprimanding the pagans for killing her foster sister. Emerentiana was also later canonized. At first a modest chapel was placed over Saint Agnes’ grave. After Christianity became one of the lawful religions of the Roman Empire, Agness shrine was enlarged and transformed. The shrine, now known as the Basilica of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls, is famous for its mosaics and galleried nave and for housing the relics of Saint Agnes, in an ornate silver sarcophagus solidly encased beneath the altar. Saint Agnes has played a prominent role in Christian art. She has been represented as a young woman bearing a palm leaf or sword and holding a lamb. The symbolism of the lamb is suggested both by her innocence and purity. The Latin word for lamb is agnus. The flower of Saint Agnes is the Christmas Rose. Its delicate white blossoms represent this special patron of purity. Saint Agnes is venerated as a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church A Benedictine convent is attached to the Basilica of Saint Agnes, built over her tomb. Her memorial, which commemorates her martyrdom, is on the 21st of January in both the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and in the General Roman Calendar of 1962. The Congregation of Sisters of Saint Agnes is a Roman Catholic religious community for women based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1858 with Saint Agnes as its patron saint. Saint Agnes is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated by name in the Roman Canon of the Holy Mass The other women commemorated by name along with Saint Agnes in the Roman Canon of the Holy Mass are Saint Agatha, Saint Perpetual, Saint Felicitas, Saint Cecilia, Saint Anastasia and Saint Lucy ------------------------ Let us pray (Oremus): O singular example of virtue, glorious Saint Agnes, by the living faith which animated thee from thy tenderest years, and rendered thee so pleasing to God that thou didst merit the martyrs crown: obtain for us the grace to keep our holy faith inviolate with us, and to profess ourselves Christians sincerely in word and work; may our open confession of Jesus before men cause Him to bear a favorable witness to us before His eternal Father. Amen. O invincible Martyr, Saint Agnes, most renowned, by thy confidence in Gods help, when, being condemned by the impious Roman prefect to see the lily of thy purity stained and trampled in the mire, thou didst not despair, still trusting firmly in the God who giveth His angels charge over them that trust in Him: We beseech thee by thine intercession to obtain for us from Almighty God the forgiveness of all our sins and the sure confidence that He will bestow upon us life everlasting and the means necessary to merit it. Amen. O sweet Saint Agnes, we earnestly implore thy compassion and commend ourselves to thy prayers. O noble virgin, thou didst despise all earthly things and prefer the love of Christ to the glory of the world. Death was welcome to thee, and the holy angels were waiting for thy soul to convey it into the joys of Paradise, where, adorned with the martyrs palm, thou didst arrive at the nuptials of the heavenly Spouse. We too seek Him; deign to intercede for us that He may grant us health of mind and body, restrain the temptations of the devil, extinguish the desires of the flesh, give us time for true repentance and amendment of life, grant us the remission of all our sins, together with grace to make a good end and a happy death. Amen. All-powerful and ever-living God, You choose the weak in this world to confound the powerful. When we celebrate the memory of Saint Agnes, may we, like her remain constant in our faith. Amen. O Almighty and everlasting God who dost choose the weak things of the world, to confound the strong, mercifully grant, that we who celebrate the solemnity of blessed Agnes, Thy virgin and martyr, may experience her intercession with Thee, we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. O God who each year dost gladden us by the feats of blessed Agnes, Thy virgin and martyr, grant we beseech Thee, that while venerating her memory, we may ever strive to model our lives after her holy example, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen. Saint Agnes is regarded as the patron saint of young women She is also the special protectress of bodily purity. Saint Agnes is the patroness of affianced couples She is also the Patron Saint of all betrothed couples She is the Patron Saint of all those who have the virtues of Chastity She is also the Patroness of crops and gardeners She is the Patron Saint of all engaged couples She is also the Patron Saint of Girl Scout Saint Agnes is the patroness of the “Children of Mary” She is also the Patron Saint of girls She is the Patron Saint of rape victims She is also the Patron Saint of Virgins --------------------------- Prayer Saint Agnes Sweet Agnes, holy child all purity, O may we be pure as thee; Ready our blood to shed; Forth as the martyrs led; The path of pain to tread; And die like thee. O gentle patroness, of holy youth, Ask God in His infinite mercy to bless all those who love truth; O guide us on our way; Unto the eternal day; With hearts all pure and gay; Dear Saint like thine. Look down and hear our prayer from realms above; Show us thy tender care; And guiding love; O keep us into thy sight; Till in the unclouded light, O heavens pure vision bright, We dwell with thee! ----------------------------------------- Reflection: (Words of Saint Agnes) Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve. - Saint Agnes --------------------------- Let us pray that by the spiritual maturity, intercession and martyrdom of Saint Agnes of Rome, we may in this group find the spiritual motivation to win our souls for God. Amen Summary of the life history and martyrdom of Saint Agnes can be viewed by clicking the image of the Martyr in our group’s photo section Saint of the day, would be communicated to you as promptly and consistently as humanly possible, by Gods grace. May we all in this group and beyond this group, Christians and non Christians alike, Catholics and non Catholics alike, be saved from the fires of hell and lifted up into heaven after our stay here on this exile. Amen May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the consecrated virginity, martyrdom and intercession of Saint Agnes and other Saints and martyrs before and after her and through Gods Divine Mercy strengthen our souls, open out the way for us all, and above all, intoxicate us with HIS love. Amen May Christ make us into blazing fires to enkindle the earth with the heavenly fire HE brought us. Amen Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we give you our lives and our salvation Jesus we love you, all we have is yours, yours we are and yours we want to be, please do with us whatever you will. Amen Jesus, Mary we love you, please save our souls. Amen God bless you and grant your heart’s desire. Amen Saint Agnes of Rome, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us. Amen. -------------------------------- For a brief on our Saint of today, please click the link below: https://youtube/watch?v=_AWUBNetiAA
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 01:15:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015