ST.  AGNES

  

INTRODUCTION

Today - January 21st - is the feast of St. Agnes - a well-known early Christian martyr - whose dates are around 291-304. 

She became well known down through the Christian centuries.

Many babies were given her name at baptism.  If you’re as old as I am, you too know someone named, “Agnes.”

 Many churches were named after her as well.

Hey, we want to give people a good name and have an advantage and example for goodness and holiness to be present in their lives.

An interesting sidebar is the practice of taking wool from a  sleep this day - and to use it to make the so called “pallium” - a cloth pendant given to new archbishops by the pope.

FOUR GREAT WINTER WOMAN MARTYRS

Agnes  is also one of the 4 great early Christian woman martyrs of the winter months.  Cecilia [November], Lucy [December], Agnes [January], and Agatha [February].

Agnes - meaning lamb - is often pictured with a lamb in her arms.

She was a young teenage girl - who declared her Christian faith - and was murdered  - martyred.

The legends are many  - men lusted after her - one became blind - prayed to her - and was healed.

PATRON SAINT OF PURITY

The history of the Catholic Church has stories and examples of many saints and martyrs - who challenge us and are example of particular virtues.

Agnes is one to pray to for chastity - holiness - and strength with sexual temptations.

There is also the legend and the tradition for young single women to pray to St. Agnes for a good husband to be.  We see that in the long, long poem by John Keats, The Eve of St. Agnes.

CONCLUSION

So that’s a few words about St. Agnes.

There is more - check her out in stories of Saints - Virgins and Martyrs.