Tuesday, January 21,
2014
Agnes, Martyr, d. c. 304
Reflection
Agnes was twelve or thirteen, the age of our confirmation
youth, when she was executed for holding fast to her Christian faith. At that
time, a harsh persecution against Christians was carried out by the Romans
under Emperor Diocletian. Because of the persecution, many Christians defected
from the faith, unwilling to suffer the consequences of publicly proclaiming
Christ. Agnes refused marriage, preferring to lead a life of chastity as a sign
of her devotion to Christ. In the persecution, she offered herself as a martyr
rather than succumb to the Roman threats. Her execution was a knife to her
throat, a common practice.
Over her burial site a church was built in her honor some 50
years after her death, under the auspices of the daughter or granddaughter of
Constantine, the Emperor who himself embraced Christianity some 20 years
before.
The name Agnes is similar to agnus, the Latin word for lamb.
On St. Agnes Day each year, two lambs are presented and blessed at the altar of
the church of St.
Agnese fuori le Mura in Rome,
and then tended to by nuns thereafter. Wool from these lambs is harvested and
used to make vestments that the Pope confers to archbishops.
Prayer
Lord God, Thank you for the self-giving witness of your
child and servant, Agnes. Give us a measure of her boldness of conviction to
Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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