Today is feast of martyrdom of this young saint. It’s a remarkable story… maybe one for our time… not giving into the pressure of powerful people coercing you. But, it’s also on a personal level a beautiful story about my wife. She always wanted to know who her personal guardian angel/saint was. She prayed and asked for many years for this saint to be revealed to her. Several years ago, she was graced to go on pilgrimage to Rome for canonization of Padre Pio. She was rooming with another pilgrim and the night before the canonization in hotel room, my wife awoke to the most beatific scent of fresh flowers. Almost causing her to sneeze …. She was wide awake and she then heard in her mind, “I am Agnes”. My wife in her mind..said “who”. And she heard again… “I am Agnes- you always wanted to know my name “. My wife first chuckled.. as she was never expecting am Agnes (she never heard of this name). But she was just so happy to finally know her guardian saints name! Now, her roommate woke and my wife said do you smell the flowers (scent was still there). And roommate said no… and in fact… below them outside was where the garbage was gathered. Of course, her roommate was a wonderful woman who immediately said even though she could not smell it, that is was a gift to my wife! I’d like to end here, but it goes on a bit…. You see my wife birthday is Jan 22nd . And as note St Agnes feast day is today… the eve of her birthday. When my wife was in her mom’s womb, it was discovered that her mom had a life threatening heart defect that would require surgery. Doctors recommended she end her pregnancy. Her mom immediately refused and said it’s God’s hands. She elected to have the surgery while pregnant putting both her and my future wife at great risk. But it was an absolute firm decision and thanks to God all went well. So, here’s the connections.. St Agnes (see below sermon from St. Ambrose) stood up to pressure to confirm…and gave her life. And my wife born on Jan 22nd which several years later turned out to be when the terrible SCOTUS ruling legalizing abortion in the US came out. I see my dearly departed mother in law brave decision connected to St. Agnes who years later revealed her self to my wife- who was born on the day this country started the culture of death. She is a sign of life… and I’m certainly happy for that. Now all these year later… 4 children of our own and 6 grandchildren (and counting ) … none of this would have happened without St Agnes and my saintly mother in law. St Agnes pray for us! Second Reading From a treatise On Virgins by Saint Ambrose, bishop Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr's crown Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve. The cruelty that did not spare her youth shows all the more clearly the power of faith in finding one so young to bear it witness. There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Though she could scarcely receive the blow, she could rise superior to it. Girls of her age cannot bear even their parents’ frowns and, pricked by a needle, weep as for a serious wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She stands undaunted by heavy, clanking chains. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Dragged against her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord in the midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs. A new kind of martyrdom! Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown; unfitted for the contest, yet effortless in victory, she shows herself a master in valour despite the handicap of youth. As a bride she would not be hastening to join her husband with the same joy she shows as a virgin on her way to punishment, crowned not with flowers but with holiness of life, adorned not with braided hair but with Christ himself. In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. The crowds marvel at her recklessness in throwing away her life untasted, as if she had already lived life to the full. All are amazed that one not yet of legal age can give her testimony to God. So she succeeds in convincing others of her testimony about God, though her testimony in human affairs could not yet be accepted. What is beyond the power of nature, they argue, must come from its creator. What menaces there were from the executioner, to frighten her; what promises made, to win her over; what influential people desired her in marriage! She answered: “To hope that any other will please me does wrong to my Spouse. I will be his who first chose me for himself. Executioner, why do you delay? If eyes that I do not want can desire this body, then let it perish.” She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck. You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned; his right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl’s peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and to religion; Agnes preserved her virginity, and gained a martyr’s crown. Responsory ℟. Let us keep the feast of blessed Agnes, and recall the kind of suffering she endured:* in the full flower of her youth she died, and found life. ℣. She chose to love the Author of life alone;* in the full flower of her youth she died, and found life. Let us pray. Almighty, ever-living God, you choose what is weak in the world to shame what is strong. Grant that, as we celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Agnes, we may follow her example of steadfastness in faith. 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. Amen. Let us praise the Lord. – Thanks be to God.
