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ST, AGNES,
Plrgivi and J\£arzyr.
BY
MOST REV. CORNELIUS O'BRIEiW
Archbishop of Hat.ifax.
K
" Nil noli pudicum (.st, quod pia Vi.sen*
Digimris, rtlmo vel pede tangere."
Pkudkntil.s IIym.
Nothing is impure upon ■which tliou dost lovingly (b-ign li> l^tik.
or to touch with thy holy foot.
ISST-
JIALIFAX, N. S. :
Halifax ritiMTiNO (!o., IGl Uoi.i.is STitKii.
a^•a':?a{'» ffl ■ , V ■• tK ■'V^.jff-- ^g^:^^!'. - ~ > ',-if ■-, aur . .i,.«um i
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N the preparation of this short account
of St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr, authen-
tic narratives have been carefully
consulted. Nothing has been taken second-
hand. The glorious example of the lovely
maiden who generously gave up all the goods
of this world, and her own life as well, rather
than offend her God, should excite noble aspi-
rations in every rightly constituted heart.
To young girls she is a model for imitation ;
to all who believe in God and in virtue she is
a noble ideal ; to devout clients she will be a
tender helper on the rough road of life.
That she may be widely known, loved and
imitated, is the object of this work.
HALIFAX,^ BASTER SUNDAY, 1887.
^^
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v's--: .r T3;Sf •■©fjl
The net proceed^ of this Edition
will be given to t!{e buildinq fund
OF St. Aqnes' Church, Halifax.
•■•;f
^t«i- i^itAf ^>«MI
.. » •* 1
JlPpmUJUJlil, -miMliWWM(||pp|lipBi|l I I IJ IIIMIII II III
rTgwnii|j»ii!pi!nwHW?jwjjt'.i»^^ ,'■ i
it. Agnes — Virgin, Martyr.
I DEALS.
We WMW iudji'e of a Jiation bv' tlie cliariieter
fot' its lievoes : and ^ve uiav take the morsiire
[of a mail by his ideals. A Avarlike people
Avill lioiior those Avhose aehieveineiits on the
field of battle have been dai-ing and bi'illiant :
an intellectual one, on the otlier hand, Avill
seek to plaee in niches, in its national temple
of fame, those who in science, art or literature
explored new regions, or invented more suit-
able methods of cnltivatinu* the old ones.
The actions of an individual are corelative
to Ills ideals. Principles tliat guide conduct
usually take concrete foi'm in some personage
icither personally knowji, or of whom wc read.
'Our imaginaticm is impressed with his person-
^»
•^m
9
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
ality ; our heart is won by some special char*
acteristic of his nature ; and he seems an
embodiment of all that is brightest and best
in human nature. We have thus our ideal.
Now, ideas assume, sooner or later, the form
of action ; but this action 2an never be
greater, or more noble, than the ideal model
after which it ir? fashioned. Could we succeed
In giving lofty ideals to mankind, vice and
crime would cease ; mercy and truth would
abound ; justice and peace would meet and
kiss.
Our Divine Saviour gave us Himself and
His Heavenly Father as models. " Be perfect
as your Heavenly Father is perfect," and
" Learn of Me because I am meek and humble
in heart," clearly point out to us our rule of
conduct, or real model in shaping our actions.
Striving to imitate this eternal ideal, men
renounced all worldly goods, all the allure-
ments of life, all the comforts of Jiome, all
the benefits of society, and gave themselves
up to prayer, mortification, and unceasing
labour to subdue themselves, and to attain, in
i
ST. AGNES — MHGIN, MAUTVii.
n
as much as it is possible, the perfection of
God. Who but God can tell the unnumbered
blessings brought down on humanity through
their tears and prayers ? Who but He can
tell the benefit of their example ? One drop
of water set in motion communicates that
motion to innumerable pai'ticles in the lake ;
and the example of one noble fellow-being
stirs up and animates to emulation many
others ; those in their turn react on others ;
the action and reaction will go on till the end
of time. Hence even those who may, in their
foolishness of heart, and in their intellect
warped by prejudice, and blinded by material
comforts, laugh at the ascetics of the desert,
or the monks of LaTrappe, are influenced in
some measure by their example.
But human nature is weak and prone to
discouragement in spiritual things. The infi-
nite distance between us and our Creator casts
us down ; the difficulty of realizing God as a
personal being is a great barrier to our imita-
tion of Him ; and consciou&ness of our imper^
fections dims our hopes of success. Only
4 ST. A<JNKS™VrKOlN, MAItTVR.
uuuih of the loftiest mould have the courage
and perseN^erance requisite to aspire after the
highest model, God. The loving care, how-
ever, of Holy Church has not left us to
despondency. If our God is too far removed
from our weak nature, His sainted ones, flesh
and blood like ourselves, may surely invite
our imitation. Like us, they were subject to
the trials of life, its temptations and miseries.
Passion was not dead Avithin them ; it fought
fiercely for the mastery ; the " body of this
death " under which St. Paul fretted, weighed
heavily on them. But they did not lose
courage ; they did not remain idle ; they did
not expect to conquer without fighting. They
girded on the " armour of faith ;" they put on
the "helmet of truth;" they grasped the
swoi'd of grace and went boldly forth to the
battle. One by one they cut down the ene-
mies that opposed them — these were the same
three who surround us, the devil, the world
and the flesh. In some cases the battle was
short, and the Saints were victors without a
scar. Often, however, the.fight was for years,
ST. A(;nks— Miuax, majitvu.
i}
or even for a whole lifetime, and the Saint,
though victorious in the end, was frequently
wounded and bruisei?, But lie never threw
down his arms ; lie nevdr despaired ; he never
made a truce with the enemv. This was the
secret of his success ; in this he differed most
from us.
Now our Holy Church, tho fruitful Mother
of Saints, in order to encourage lier weakei*
children, is accustomed to remind them of
their heroic brothers in lieaven. Hence from
the earliest days of Christianity the anniver-
sary of a martyr's death was solemnly cele-
brated, their example held up for imitation,
and their praises propagated throughout the
Church. Eusebius,* speaking of the burial
places of the Saints, si\ys : " We are accus-
tomed to honour their sepulchres, to pour forth
our prayers and vows, and to venerate their
lioly souls ; and justly is this done by us."
And nearly a century before that St. Cyprian
had said : " We offer sacrifices as often as we
(De Tnep. Erang. L. xiii.)
"ISli^PPii?
(;
ST. AGNES — VlRCllN, MARTYK.
v^^-
celebratc the pviiision of the iimrtyrs, and their
annual common loration."
We know from autlientic history that many,
even pagans, were led to proclaim theit readi-
ness to die for the true God, from being wit-
nesses of the constancy, under sufferings, of
the martyrs. Whilst the recital of their
glorious deeds may not aftect one as sensibly
as would the sight thereof, still a consideration
of their fortitude and burnin^c love for God
must always move a generous heart to higher
and nobler purposes. This, of itself. Would
be a sufficient vindication of the practice of
the Church in lionouring the memory of the
sainta, and in proposing them as models for
our imitation. Nations have their heroes :
families have their honoured members; so,
too, the Catholic Church has her valiant sons
and daughters, whom vshe delights to point out
to friends and foes. They are her glory and
her pride; they are her testimony before
men ; thej' are visible proofs of her possession
of sanctifying grace; they are at once an
example and a hope to mankind. For if they,
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vST. AGNES — vmOiN, MARTVa. 7
frail mortals, could be so endued by heavenly
strength through her, we, too, may aspire to a
glorious victory over ignoble passions, and
seductive pleasures. We can have the arms
witli which they fought — for faith and trutli
are indefectible in the Church : we can be
strenjjtheneil as thev were — for God's <:frace
flows as freely through the Sacraments now
as then. What -vo require is the will, the
strong, generous, unwavering will to love
our God with our first and best love. If we
have this will the Church offers us, througli
her faith and means of grac(^ tlie weapons
that will make us victors in the iight.
There are any number of saints wlio might
be taken as models. One, however, there is,
tlie spoilt darling, so to speak, of Holy
Cluirch*s children, whose gentle nature, in
tender years, gave proof of firmest constanc}*
and heroic endurance in such a striking man-
ner as to make her a noble ideal of Christian
perfection. Thf name of St. Agn^s, Virgin,
Martyr, has been praised and honoured for
more than fifteen centuries. Her gloiy filled
•4?:.-,
8
St. A<;NES — VIRGIN, MAKTYR.
the early Church, and has coiiie down undi-
uiinishcd to our da\'. After our Blessed Ladv
no nol>ler t\pe ot* womanhood could he pro-
])ose<l to tlie women of to-day. We shall
endeavour to iiive a brief account of the life
and happy death of her whom we commend
to all as a ujodel, an ideal, and a patroness.
- -I'M
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ST. AGNES — VIROrX, MAHTVJt.
II
■^ ;
ST. AGXHS,
The Book of Wisdom tolls \is that 1 if o is
not to be counted by vears, nor venerable old
age by length of time. But the inspired
writer is not speaking after the fashion of the
world ; he is looking at man in his relation to
God, and considering in what measure he has
approached to His Maker by the practice of
virtue. For he adds : '* The understandinfj of
man is grey hairs ; an<l a spotless life is old
aije."* Even in a worldly sense length of
years is not synonymous with amount of life.
The more we think the more we live. Intel-
lectual activity is the true measure of a
*
natural life ; and intensity of love for God
that of a reliLnous one. It is not years so
much as work that count in any service ; not
time but the manner of spending it. Hence
Wis. iv. 8,
1
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10
ST. AGNES— VIRGIN, xMARTVK.
it is that the same inspired writer says,
speaking of the just who die yoting : " Being
made perfect in a short space, lie fulfilled a
long time." In treating of an intelligent
Ijcinjr then, we are not to ask how many vears
did he live, but how much did he do ?
Counted b}' years the life of St. Agnes was
sliort ; measured by a supernatural standard
it reached a venerable old age. She had the
'*grey hairs" of understanding, in that she
placed God before all this world could offer,
and reputed as detriment what many hold
as lucre. She had the old age of a " spotless
life/' for she was the chaste spouse of Christ.
Her pure soul knew no love but that of Him
of whom she could say : " Wlien I love Him
I am chaste ; when I touch Him I am pure ;
when I receive Him I am a virgin." She did
not live for herself but for Christ ; her lan-
guage was that of one inflamed with love for
Jesus, for whom she lived, to whom she com-
mitted herself, with whom she kept faith.
She thus " fulfilled a long time," because she
was made " perfect in a short space," It is
■■
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ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MAllTYK.
11
not uufitting, then, thai she should have
excited the admiration of all ; that the fflorv
of her beautiful life and triumphant death
should have filled the early Church, and her
shrine have become a rest-spot for hearts that
vearn to burst the shackles of the flesh, and
to rise into the pure atmosphere of chaste
love. The glorious child-saint, with all thi^
perfections of womanhood, was faithful to
God under trial, was generous in suffering,
was chaste amid the allurements of her pagan
surroundings, and was constant unto death.
In these is she found w^orthy of praise ; in
these she is a hope and a model for us.
We have no certain dates regarding her
birth or death ; still enough may be gathered
to enable us to fix her ]nart\rdoui about the
year 304. As she was only young when she
suffered, her birth must have been somewhere
near the year 290. In order to understand
some passages relating to her, which seem
inconsistent with her youth, we must bear in
mind that, under the Roman law, the mar-
riaijeable air<? foi* irirls was the twelfth vear.
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12
ST. AGNES— VIKOEN, MARTYK.
Hence a Roman girl of fourteen was, in all
respects of womanly nature, on a piano with
those of seventeen or eighteen in our colder
climate, and changed surroundings. This
must be borne in mind, botli for the intelli-
gent appreciation of her history, an<l for the
due glory of lier victory.
The authorities on wliom we shall relv in
weaving this short sketch of our Saint, are
venerable for sanctity and ](.'ai*ning. St.
Ambrose of Milan, St. Augustine, Pope
Damasus, Prudentius, St. Jerome, and some
others who lived within less than fifty years
of her death. We have also the domestic
history and tradition of the iloinan Churcl).
A few rears after her death Constaiitine trave
peace to Clu'istendom, and a cliurch was
erected over her tomb. From that day to the
present the Romans have celebrated her Feast
as a familv event. Thev lovintjlv treasured
all that related to her. Even in our day,
three vears ayo, thei'c was In-ouirht to lijxht
evidence of the love of the earlv Church for
her tomb, and a proof of the correctness of
-i;>
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tf-
t 2
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR
1.1
domestic tradition regarding it. This con-
sisted in tlio nptnrning of a portion of a
beautiful marble rood screen, with a figure of
the Saii\t in sculptured relief. It evidently
dated from the fourth centurv.
The parents of Agnes were wealthy Roman
nobles, and were Christians. Thus from her
earliest years she was taught to know and
love her God. Although in this she was as
much privileged as the Catholic girls of to-day,
ill many other respects she was at a great
disadvantage. The public life of Rome was,
in her time, pagan. It was a sceptical pagan-
ism that was rife ; it had none of the natural
virtues inculcated bv the reli^ifious observances
of the early days of Rome. The implicit
lielief in and reverence for a Supreme Cause,
and the real devotion to that cause, which
were so characteristic of Romans in the first
centuries of their national historv, had dieil
out. Little bv little the orioinal faith in one
God whom Numa learnt to reverence, proba-
bly from the Jews, and whom he taught his
people to adore, liad been overlaid with error,
•1
/
14
ST. AGNES— VIRGIX, 31AIITYII.
if
f
and poetic fables. As the Romans extended
their conquests they brought back to their
city not only the spoils of the vanquished,
but also whatever of religion and ^earning
they may have had. Thus, by degrees, idola-
try, in all its revolting forms, was introduced.
With its establishment as the religion of Rome
l>egan the decadence of the people. The
religious system inaugurated by Numa, the
good old king, recognized the one true God,
the immortality of the soul, freedom of will,
and future rewards and punishments. Its
effects were beneficial ; it gave a hope to man,
it stimulated virtue, and it was a check to
vice. But the idolatry that succeeded engen-
dered a scepticism like to that so prevalent in
our age ; and, like to it, too, took away all
incentive to self-restraint, extinguished hope,
made faith a mockery, killed charity, and had
no ideal to encourage and to incite to noble
action. Degradation and vice succeeded as a
natural consequence. Even with the leaven
of Christianity at work to-day, we see how
degraded, sensual, how thoroughly animal^
11^
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vST. zVGNES— VIRGIN, MAllTYK.
15
ra^ become when they give up belief in God,
imiiortality, or liberty of the will. How
miidi more direful must have been the eonse-
quetiees of unbelief before the Act of Redemp-
tion had renewed the earth.
Public life, then, in the days of Agnes, was
corrupt and degraded. The atmosphere was
polluted by the ribald jests and vile conversa-
tions of the pagan masses. The sanctity of
home was almost forgotten; the marriage
bond disregarded. Turn where you would
the eye encountered some object to disgust or
shock Christian, aye, natural modesty. The
manly sports of former days had been suc-
ceeded by demoralizing plays and cruel games,
at which human blood alone could satisfy the
brutalized spectators. Society was a festering
mass ; no ordinary remedies could cure it.
Blood, the blood of the innocent and noble of
heart, shed in testimony to the blood of Christ;
could alone, under God, cleanse and purge away
its loathsome impurities. And this remedy
the vice of the times was, unconsciously, has-
teniiig. The hatred^ of our religion whiclx
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10
ST. ACiNES — VIRGIN, MAUTY«.
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exists now, existed then with greater intensity.
Our forefathers in the faith had, for the most
part, to worship God in soeroey. They could
not trust their intimate pagan friends in inan\^
instances ; for sometimes a son bctra^'od liis
father, or a brother his brother. This hatred
of the Christian name, whilst it rendered
difficult the practice of religion, was contin-
ually bringing innocent victims to the
slaughter, whose blood was slowly, but surely,
purifying the city, and pleading for its con-
version.
From this it can be seen that our cr^ntle
Agnes labored under greater disadvantages
than the Catholic girls of this city. She was
like a lovely lily growing in marshy ground.
Stagnant pools of putrid water surround the
frail flower, emitting a poisonous vapor that
threatens to blight and sear it. But tlie deli-
neate plant hedges itself round with the odour
of its own sweetness, and thus protects itself
against the noxious gases that would otherwise
destroy its growth. Not otherwise did St.
Agnes ; the corrupt atmpsphere of the degraded
v^l
v,-_ ,.'^.^V^*iS?^i.■^*J♦;.v•
/ ' "•'■pp
ppff^—
^HBWMMaaiiaappBVB
ST. a(;nes — vrurnx, martyii.
17
city did not infect her soul, or tarnish the
beailtiful bloom of her virgin heart ; for she
siiriVmded herself with the magnetism of
her own p\u'ity, tluis sulxhiing and eonfound-
ino- tl^e nnholy, and ever looking* through that
mediim of magnetic purity to Clu'ist, lier
lieavenly spouse. Hini only she loved ; and
Him <Sn\y, not the dangerous objects around,
she contemplated. She was of those of whom
it is said : " Blessed are the pure of heart, for
they shall see God."
ki.a.f'' -•&:>.w 1 .> ^. ,..-w- Mi^<* AjS^i .IhSj-^A-jtfflL'ft.fSt^. f^<t4n. *JeiMSb*»^ i*.ii. «.
- 'T.f. '■ "rri ^7^■vt '.T7:/" *^* ;/:
18
ST. AGNKS— VIllGIX, MARTYK.
CX'3:-^:pte:r. III.
.V T. A GNES — VIR GIN, \
The great and learned St. Jerome, vriting-
to Demetrias, says : " If the example of men
do not move you, be strengthened and con-
firmed by the blessed martyr Agnes, who
conquered both the timidity of youth and the
tyrant ; and consecrated lior title of virginity
by martyrdom."* This was written within a
century after the death of our Saint, and by
one who had spent years at Rome, and who
was the most renowned scholar in an age
when learned men were plentiful, both in the
East and the West. We shall see later on
how this testimony is confirmed by various
thorities. The young life of the lovely
girl, though short in years, and hidden by her
innate modesty from the public, had not been
allowed to be forgotten. God delights to e^.alt
ui
(Epist. ad Deraetriadeni, No. 5.)
\
ST. AGKES — VIRGIN, MAllTVll.
19
the humble, and to show his eternal power in
the weak.
Nolle and pure lives arc lights kindled by
divine grace in Holy Church. They are not
to be stowed away under a bushel ; they are
placed on a candlestick so that their light niaj*
l)c seen of men. They arc beacons of hope to
the weary and discouraged ; they show the
true path to those who seek in sincerity of
heart; they proclaim the strength, the joy,
the peace that divine grace bestows on all who
live for God in our Church, holding its Faith,
and devoutly receiving its Sacraments.
Hence, though taken away from this earthly
scene, St. Agnes lived on, in her virtues, in the
souls of the faithful, and as an ideal of
wmnanly purity and a model to be imitated
in her gentle firmness and unswerving love
She was true to her name — for Agnes in
Greek meaHs chaste, in Latin a lamb, the
symbol of innocence and piety. She proved
her right to the titk of Virgin, for she conse-
crated it by her martyrdom. And St. Am-
brose, Bishop of Milan,, vvriting to his sister
■11
^1
20
ST. AGNES— VIBGIX, MAKTYK.
on virginity, brings forward Agnes as a true
model. He, like us, celebrated her Feast with
rejoicing, calling it lier natal day, for on that
dav her true birth, viz. : Jier birth for heaven,
took place. He says : " It is the natal Jay of
a Virgin ; let us strive to imitate her chastity.
Tt is the natal dav of a martvr : let \m offer
sacrifice. It is the natal day of 8t. Agnes ;
let men admire and let not the vouthful
despair; let married women wonder, and let
the unmarried imitate her. But what can we
say that shall be worthy of her? Piety
beyond her years ; virtue above nature ; so
that slie seems to me not to have borne so
mucli the name of a human being as the fore-
shadowing^ of a martvr, indicatino- what she
would l>e."* This is tho testimony of one
who lived shortly after her death; who,
doubtless, conversed with some who knew
her, and who knelt bv her tomb where her
name and her actions were repeated. From
it we can form some idea of her beautiful life,
and of the impression it left on those with
(Do VirgiiiiUus, Lib. I., C. Tl.)
' y, *■■•'. .jy-- . .\ ^/.i . V .■.^i.'-...---^ivi.,At..'.I,- '-.. -.
v>'^^>r
V
+ >« rv^VSf^v
ST. AGNES — VIKGLV, MAKTYR.
1>I
whoi\i sh(3 h^lcl come in contact. All ascribe
to her a double crown — that of chastity and
of martyrdom.
When ^ve speak of her as a virgin we do
not merely mean that she was unmarried : Ave
mean that she cunst^crated herself, body and
»•
soul, to (Jotl l](ir Savioni'. Not only had
earthly love never en;i/aged her mind, noi*
rutfled the calm depths of her tranquil spirit,
but she was resolved that it never should.
Her soul was a sanctuary sacred to God nlone ;
only He might enter therein. Her heart was
a temple dedicated to His service ; in it wor-
ship to Him alone could l)e offered. Her
whole l)eini^ was an altar on which onh' the
pure offerings of chaste love to her Divine
Saviour could l)e lai<l : onh' to Him should
the atlections send up the incense of holy
aspirations. She was a bride beti*othe<l to
Jesus ; His abundant graces, and her pure
love, were the mutual pledges of this mystical
and hcdy union. She aspired to be (me of
that chosen band who shall be near the Lamb,
and follow Him " whithersoever H<'. goeth,"
I
i.iM^' ■.■■■liiiW^LJM V..'.f .'i
/
-<&1
^2
ST. AOXES — VIRGIN, MAKTYI^.
and shall sing a " new canticle " that no one
else in heaven can intone. But to attain to
that she should be a virgin ; she should be
uudefiled ; she should be " without spot before
the throne of God."*
There are those who decr\' a life of celi-
bacy, and call it unnatural, or pretend that it
is impossible. Well, these do not " know the
gift of God." It is not unnatural, it is rather
above nature ; it is impossible, certainly,
without divine grace ; with it there is no diffi-
culty, except that of jealously guarding within
ourself that grace of continence which God
bestows on those whom He calls to lead, on
earth, the life of an angel. Without doubt
pure human love is good ; matrimony is a holy
state, and the one intended for the vast ma-
jority of mankind. This the Church teaches
and defends. She is the upholder and un-
compromising defender of the sanctity of the
marriage tie ; at the same time she extols, as
did Christ and St. Paul, the state of virginity
as higher and holier. A life of celibacy 18
* (Ai>ocalyi>se \iv.)
i'.'uiiji;.-.". . \v
, ;^T 'i sv^fif i'j^wyis^^ -'h
r^<:vj'Vt>:^-^;y,^i^t^"--'
ST. AGNES — VIRGIX, 3IARTYR.
28
certainly not commandea, but it is counseHrd
as being more perfect. To any one who will
f Gael the seventh chapter of the first Epistle
to the Corinthians tliis will be quite apparent.
After giving various reasons in favor of celi-
bacy, to those who have the gift, whilst
leaving freedom to marry if persons so will,
the Apostle sums up : " Therefore both he that
j/iveth his virorin in marriage doeth well : and
lie that giveth her not doeth better."* Thus,
then, in choosing a life of virginity St. Agnes
had the open counsels of St. Paul and the
authority of our Divine Saviour Himselff
on her side.
It is a mistake quite common among the
unthinking that human sympathy is frozen to
death in the breast of a true virgin. To those
who know anything of the religious life this
mistake appeiirs most grotesque. Human love
is restricted ; it may even be said to be selfish,
that is, confined to the immediate olyects
beloved. The love of a mother for her chil*
..■*■.■
•ST
•^ (1 Gor. vii. 38.)
t (i6itt. xix. 12,)
.Jfe
A&«t'B.<i!H^Li.^& -f'i,- \ ''4«J
p .L . ,. -"''^'^ ■^■\u: ■.■^■.\ ■:.,:■ .■'...•::■ ■...'i' , Wv'
24
ST AONES — VIRGIN, MARTYIl.
1"^
dren is beautiful and unselfish in the sense
that she would cheerfully wear out her life
for them ; hut viewed in its relation to man-
kind it is selfish, because concentrate<l on her
own and not extended to them. On the other
hand the true priest, tlie true reli^^ious has
world-wide sympathies. Divine love lias
replaced, or rather elevated and ennobled,
human affection in his heart. He sees a soul
to be saved under the garb of the beggar, as
well as beneath the costly apparel of the
wealthy ; the halt and the blind are as mueli
his bi'others as the strong and vigorous :
loathsome diseases cannot make him stand
aloof from the sufferer, in whom he recognizes
<me redeemed bv^ the blood of the Savii ur.
The l)onds of earthlv ties, alwaA's narrow and
restricted, have been l)roken : freed from them
the virgin soul is linked by the golden chain
of divine charitv to the sori-owful, as well as
to those who rejoice. With these it joins in
smiles of congrattilation ; with those it min-
gles words of comfort with its tears. Take
away celibacy and you deprive the world of
St. Agnes — virgin, martvi?.
its fairest flowo's, vou rob mankind of its
most tender comforter, and you leave a terri-
ble blank on the page of lofty heroism. But
whilst the gospel message continues to l)o
preached there will always be noble souls
enamoured of tlie Virgin Lamb, panting and
aspiring to offer themselves as virgin victims
on tJie altar of His ete\*nal love.
Our gentle Agnes was one of that chosen
band. The unspeakable impiety of pagan
Koine moved lier to sorrow, and made lier
long to sacrifice herself for the salvation of
her fellow-citizens. Innocence, holy purity of
soul and body, was required to stem the tide
of depravity that rolled onward througli
degenerating generations. Hence she vowed
lierself the chaste spouse of lier Lord ; blood,
tho blood of an unpolluted l^ody, was
needed to cleanse the moral rottemicss of
society ; this she was willing, even anxious to
gi\e. Beauty of person, wealtli, i-aiik, youth,
health, all were hers. All tliat makes life
most alluring, and secures for its possessor the
homaofc and ready service of societv, had been
■'*ii^M"'"t'.'-.f^«Va*Pt.'isi,>i'
^.zA ' h ._i.»" ;^".
M
ST. AONES--^VIRGIN, MABTYK.
f
if"
f.
liestowod upon her with/a lavish hand. God
gave her much so that her renunciation of the
world miofht be more meritorious, and thus
ensure for His beloved spouse a higher degree
of glory.
Her childhood was passed in the safe pre-
cincts of a Christian home. Out on the
Nomentana Way her parents had a villa, dis-
tant nearly two miles from Rome. In these
grounds, probably within the enclosure of t})e
liouse, there was a descent to the Catacombs
beneath. These, as can now be seen, were of a
yavy early date, long prior to the da3\s of our
Saint. As a child, the fair Agnes was accus-
tomed to frequent these silent homes of the
dead. Possibh', in one of the chapels of this
lioly ground, she first received her God in the
Blessed Eucharist. As she advanced in vears,
she was obliged, in order to divert suspicion,
to show herself in public occasionally. Her
l)eautv and wealth, to sav nothino- of her
sweet amiability, won her many admirers.
Their sincere praises, equally with their idle
flatteries, were unable to affect her calm self-
>-,*»« •-W»V^^ J^ -1" it..
Sf^. f-f g "-t^+v' "• I f
ST. AONKS — VlllGlN, MAHTYll.
27
unconsciousness, or to trouble the clear depths
of lier holv affections. She was in the world,
but not of it. She walked the streets of
Rouie, but her soul was ever contemplating
the heavenly Jerusalem. Hideous public vice
stalked through the squares, and flaunted
under the porticos of baths, and theatres :
but the modest eyes of the virgin Agnes
looked not on it ; they were gazing far away
through the light of lier own purity, to the
eternal face of her beloved Redeemer. Revolt-
ing songs and speeches filled the air of the
city ; but her ears were closed to them : she
only heard the words of her chasen spouse —
" My beloved to me, and I to my beloved."
Gems and costly ornnments were oftered her ;
but she said she was betrothed to One? to
whom she kept faith. He had enriched hei*
with pearls and precious stones ; He had set a
mark upon her, and she could admit no other
lover. Sweet of disposition, gentle in manner,
tender of speech, modest in every movement,
she lived the life of an angel, in a city of sin
and corruption.
<~.^ «A ..ItmOtL
'V ' "'•3 ^ '
* y fcf "^ i^tnt/jf '
28
ST. AGNES — VTlUaX, MAinVR.
ST. AGNES — MARTYR.
St. Ambrose says that "no oue is more
praiseworthy than tlie one who can be praised
by all ;" and that the one woi'd, niartyi*, is a
sufficient eulog}'. And lie adds that there will
l)e as man;y glorifiers as there are persons who,
ill speaking, proclaim one a martyr.* It is of
our dear Agnes he is writing ^vnen he makes
use of this language. We saw that she re-
solved to li V e a virgin ; we shall see that she
was ready to die a martyr. Our Blessed Lord
told His disciples that they should bear wit-
ness to Him in Jerusalem and Judea, and
throughout the w^orld. This they were to do
by preaching to men His lawS and by testify-
ing to the wonderful miracles by which He
had confirmed His divine mission. They were
also to bear witness to Him by cheerfully
■'■m:
Cx3:.jl.:ptei^ I"V".
■^
^ (l)e Virgin, Lib. I,, C. 2, N. 0.)
■ '■ Il l I I I .^ .1 J i j i .. i' i| ' "I II ,, r^. ' ^.v^..
W^^^
ST. ACjIXES — VIRCJIN, MAllTYJ^.
20
8iifiering death tor the truths He had taught.
This would be the grand test of their sin-
cerity, and a proof! beyond contradiction of
their love. " Greater love than this no man
hath, that a man lay down his life for his
friend,"* are the words of eternal wisdom.
How great, then, must be the reward, how
dazzling the glory of one who lays down one's
life for God. This is what the martyrs did.
Clu'ist shed his blood for our redemption ;
and many of the faithful in return shed
theirs to bear witness to Him. Very shortly
after the Ascension of our Saviour the glorious
St. Stephen eiiriched the infant Church witli
his blood. Stripes and blows, and persecu-
tions of various kinds were the lot of the
early believers. A vicious world hated their
doctrine, and raged against themselves. The
pure morality of the gospel was a rebuke to
the licentiousness of the age, hence the unholy
sought to destroy it by torturing and slaying
its professors. In vain. The blood of martyrs
* (John XV. 13.)
I
.1
I
,1
#
m
-f.
^.^i
J'^^s t f . "lift, w
■."'■■' 'f- f.'"*^;^^.*'.' r-';'.;vX'.v,*^'
30
•ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYH.
was the fruitful seed that brought forth
innumerable souls to God. You cannot kill a
true principle. Men die, but principles live
on. The word of God once sent forth by our
Lord could not be stayed by the efforts of
man, nor be rendered unfruitful by the malice
of demons. It was confirmed in the soul of
tlie child by the blood of the martyred parent,
and was propagated by tlie testimony thus
publicly given.
We need not pause to consider the various
persecutions that raged against the Church.
For three centuries the record of our holy
religion is made up of short intervals of peace,
violent persecutions, dying slowly away, the
glorious triumphs of many, occasionally mar-
i-ed by the lapses of a few. Before the days
of St. AgneS three general persecutions had
swept over the Roman Empire. Many thou-
sands had fallen, noble victims to their devo-
tion. During the first years of the reign of
Diocletian there was no general persecution.
He appears to have been averse to it, and to
have been gradually spurred on by some of
■■*7;-^'3a
■r.'i>xi;u y-i-s.r.'.";:'5'<^
,W
ST. AGNE8 — VIRGIN, MARTYR. ;U
Im.LL*
his colleagues in the Empire. It is true that
the acts of souie Saints place their martyrdom
in the earlier years of his reign. But we
must bear in mind that these sporadic out-
bursts of furv mav have been the work of
some over-zealous, or envious officials, in vir-
tue of an unrepealed, though dead law, of a
former Emperor. That this must have been
the case, we have pi-oof in the History of
Eusebius. According to him, and he was a
contemporary author, in the first years of the
reign of Diocletian, the devil, who had received
power to persecute tlie Saints, appeared to be
asleep, — the name of the Christian Religion
was esteemed, — new Churches had to be built,
and old ones enlarged, the Prelates w^ere
honoured by the Governors of Provinces, and
the wives and children of liigh officials were
instructed in the Christian Religion.*
But this bright picture, whilst true of the
eastern part of the Empire., does not correctly
represent the state of the western world at
... j;
I
■|!
lli.st. Lib, 8 and 0.
■ ^^■^^^ .•^i'-ykn'i-L f.: ■^^.S'^.'l'iff ■'?: i"":' f': ■:'^;-(rt\.iS^i'Jti/;i:^r,?'4ji;-l.:.ifc:.Jti);ff r%, ^^-^^ '■:£.'. . ■_'.T^\»^.L\-iirv,?/,i^'.;'-L'jv, .■..■^■■^;l-_'.^^ii-vc-'''jts"^ !x.i.-:j'-,S^y.r^.* ■^.:'
V-'>S J,-y-,^«r7-;.S3-',^ ,-^^^/;-,-^^^;iTp-'-v,.T;:-., -|^*?_r- >,^ ^..■■. ^^■^'' ■ \^-_
82
ST. AGNES— VIRGIN, MARTYR.
-1
that date. It seems quite certain tlmt inauy,
l>oth in Gaul and in Home, suffered for the
faith about, or sliortlv before, the; time 8t.
Agnes was l)orn. Dui'ing tlie years of lier
vounof life, the rumblini»* of the coming storm
was heard. Isolate*! martvrdoms were tak-
ing place in various parts of tlie Empire.
Tlie passions of tlie pagan mob were being
aroused ; tlie thirst for blood was increasing ;
the old blind liatred of Christian itv was burst-
ing forth, and gathering strength. Many
Christians were wealthy, and greed of accjuir-
ing a sliare of tlieir riches prompted some to
denounce them ; wliilst private spite, or desiru
of revenge, urged on others. Hence tlie
Christians well knew tlie deceptive nature of
any apparent calm. They lived in the con-
tinual presence of danger, none the less real
because impalpable. At any moment they
might be called upon to chof^se l)etween apos-
tasy and torments. It was not so much death
they feared, as the inhuman tortures, inge-
niously devised, and prolonged not to death,
but only to bodily prostration, in the hope
Hialikii i^iilX^i^' IJ'JLKiuK"
r"r>
■.■,r ips,.:,-., / ■...
ST. AGNES — VIllGIX, MAKTYR.
33
i'm
that courage and constancy might fail. It
was not th^ath tlic v^irgins ot* Clu'ist dreaded ;
it was the exposure to tlie danger ot* contami-
nation to wliicli they were frecjuently suV)-
jected, in tlie fiendish hope of defiling theii*
consecrated virgiiiity. Well the pagans knew,
as our modern pagans know, tliat Catholic
maidens value chastity more tlian life.
It was then in the midst of a corrupt city,
in this atmosphere of dread, and with a possi-
bility, nay even a probability, of subjection to
trials worse than deatli, that St. Agnes passed
her few vears of earthlv existence. Was she
happ\^ ? Who can doubt it, for all her
thoughts and aspirations w^erc of heaven ; all
the longings of her young and loving heart
W'cre to be with her spouse in glory. For her
death would be a welcome friend who would
lead her into tlie presence of her Beloved.
No transitorv t>ood ccjuld move her from her
holy purpose ; no dangei's daunt her soul, in
w^hich the firm resolution, the unwavering
courage of the lion, were veiled and made
amiable bv the <:^entleness of the land). And
2
h i^Ui^H^ i::^y^:?*'>-"i?»'4i' i'tii^
■■--.yi;:^--'
..3 ■.,.v^.^..^y5j.V^i^:^;.;!fi^>.=
tU
ST. AGNES — VlilGIN, MAllTYK.
yet, in her sweet luimility, tear was not
iinkuown ; not tlie fear of torture or death,
not the fear of «nfterinu\s aii<l caUiiiniv, hut
tlie ]ioly fear lest sIh* )iiii>lit, hv an a- frailty,
render lierself unworthy of tlie martyr's palm,
or dhn on(5 slio-ht leaf in tlie virgin's lily
erown. Hence her fervour in prayer, lier assi-
duity in fulfilling her duties, her frequency of
receiving the Sacraments, her careful vigilance
in guarding against occasions of, or tempta-
tions to sin. The public games of Eome were
probably not so dangerous to young girls as
the rinks and ball rooms of to-day. They
were not exposed to the indiealthy excitement
now so connnon ; and the Roman amusements
took place in the broad light of day. Still St.
Agnes guarded herself against these, and
sought for pleasure and recreation in less dan-
gerous places. She was gay and cheerful at
all times. This is the blessed privilege of the
pure of lieart. A soul unclouded by sin
always gleams thi'oagh a face bathed in sun-
shhie. The clu'onic, artificial smile of tlie
" society " girl, compared Avitb this, is as the
t
■ -jS^-' ■■.'A;r>/'-,-^.- ■: ". ■■'■"''jjf/ ,.v.^=^:^'
ST. A(JNi:s — viu(;ix, martvr.
:3o
A'
l)hosphorescent glow of decajdng wood to the
beams of a siuinner .sun. One is all wanntli
and brightness, glad in itself ai'id dittusing glad-
ness on all objects around ; the othri* is cold
and evanescent, l)orn of, and endeavouring to
iirraee with mimic iioht, the drv rot that is
defacino' all its ori^dnal l)eautv.
A sermon, attril>uted ))V manv to 8t.
Aml>rose, speaking oi Agnes, says, tliat the
life and examples of holy ones are wi'itten so
that each one, in any state, and of any age,
may find a model. He further says : " Maid-
ens, draw near this maid (Agnes) and learn
what flames of love for Christ she kindled in
her heart in her tender years. She protests
that she will keep faith to her lover, and w^ili
desire only Him wlio gave His life for the
love of all. Learn, ye virgins of Christ, the
love glowing in the breast of this maiden, and
I'ejecting as dross the riches of this w^orld.
* * * Brou^dit face to face with one
tr^nng to win her by flattery, she refuses ;
she despises his threats, awaits the kindling of
the fire, and smiles, No transitory crood can
%,,Mi
.Lt'l' -Iji^^xdiS'-M . li-'J
■, , -SJfJ- !>••,"--
m
ST. A(;INES — A'rUOlX, MARTYR.
'M,
ctaiiii her liearfc, and whilst she loves chastity
so much slie does not fear opprobrium, nor the
flames, nor torments, nor the executioners."*
Our Saint, then, desiring the glory of bearing
witness to Christ by a martyr's death, strove
to render lierself worthy by bearing witness
to Him in her dailv life, by imitatino- His
purity, His humility, and His obedience.
(StT. xlviii., Tom. 4 E<lit., .Mi<j;n<\)
I
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M\
>:
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•^'''^-' '■ -•'^— - ■■■■ i ;"-|[V'Hir i ■
'"■;;-;;**«>'■(-*■' ■'.S7'*r^-;<i[ ;s-r')^#*T^TV''^'i'*'"jSv^.^"'^-*-T";*-^,'' 'li.-^^^Tl'i.'^iv^-v?' .'_
'•,^?'y"l^,' 'V; '< y-;
ST. AGNES — VIUOIN, MAllTYU.
m
TNB INNER LIFE OF ST. AGNES.
Our outward life, our manner of acting in
our intercourse with others, is easily known
bv our friends. It falls under their observ^a-
tion, and we cannot, even if we would, deceive
them in this reoard. The motiv^es, however,
that prompt our actions, the principles tliat
underlie our conduct, may be hidden from
their knowledge, and may be quite at variance
with our external life. The world is full of
hypocrites ; some unoonsciously so, others so
of a set purpose, and others again l)ecause of
easv-u'oino' ij:ood nature. It is onlv in the
perfect Christian that the outward life is a
rue reflection of the inner. But in the per-
^Jct Christian not all the inner life is i-eflected
in action. There are waves that never i-each
the shore : theie are thoughts too sublime to
l)e winged with wt)rds ; emotions too exquisite
for expression; lights and shades of feeling
:]S
ST. ACJNES — VllUiTN, MAHTYH.
too delicate for other canvas tliaii tliat of tlio
pure soul in which they are engendered. Tho
copy can never equal the original ; the shadow
must be always fainter than the real. Beau-
tiful, then, as the outward life of St. Agnes
was, it fell far short of that inner one which
was lived for and witli lier God. Outward
pietv without inner sanctitA' is Inpoerisx' ;
exterior cleanliness (imoid of interior purity
is a wliited sepulchre filled witli dead men's
lunies : ceremonial observance uninformed bv
the spirit of true devotion is (mly a hi<leous
skeleton of religion. By contemplating the
iimer life of St. Aij^nes we ma\' learn man^'
salutary lessons.
How shall we attempt to miveil, for consid-
eiation, tliis sanctuary of the soul of oui*
gentle Agnes i We find wi-itten over the door
" sncred to God," and our liand trend)les as we
stretcli it forth to draw aside the curtain.
But if it l)e " good to liide the secret of a
king," it is " honourable to reveal and confess
the works of God."* And this soul of Agnes,
(ToIh'us xii. 7.)
\ :;f
f^
'.\^..i&„
■^<M
'''ff^^>^-'f'^i*'^-T*''V^''^'^--'~^-'-''f''^^-'-' '.' . y'^^^Trv^'.vi'PT"."!-';! ; '--■"■;"' "'■;■ '
ST. A(;NKS — VIHGIN, MAllTVK.
• >'/
-m
{KloriMMJ with manv vi]-tnes. riclv in ^ood (lords,
and beautified l>v urace, is ;i noble uork of
His. He is tln' author of its existeiie*', and
the sauetitiei' of its esst^nec From Him is the
i)eaut\' of its flowers, and to Him does their
perfume ascend, (jrazing* on its beauty, liear-
ino' the soft music of its words of rapt love,
l)reatliino- its o<lour of sauctitv, our hearts will
1)0 raised in tenderness towards tlie author of
this work : our weak nature will ])e encoura<^ed
bv the sii»ht of the perfection to which fidelitv
to God can lift it u]^, and St. Aoncs will seem
to stretclv fo}t]i liei* puj'e liands to hel}) us on
(»ur wearv road.
Tlie i»reat cliarm in the character of our
Saint was her modestv — refined, thouuli feai'-
less : )*etirini2", but couraueous. Slie avoided
dangei's, but wlien, against lier will, she had
been brouglit face to face with them, she was
not weakened bv terror. ({ii'din«'- on the
armour of faith, al)andoning- herself to (jrod,
lier protector, she contennied tl)c devices of
her tem])ters. Hei' r/assionateh' tender love
I. » ••
for Jesus, her chosen spouse, was at once the
m
MBt-,. - .;jrji " ~r
V, -;^ .j.^
, r-"-^*. r>^*HLi^ 7-Ti*'~*.'-C »IV>A«. Iljj^'^'^-* ■■
40
ST. AGNES — VIRGIX, MAKTYE.
cause and tlve promoter of this modesty ; lier
great faith in God was, for lier, its certain
sliield in time of trial. >She was His; He
would protect her in unsought dangei-s. This
was hei* unshakeable trust ; this the source of
}>x'r lofty courage. Her own words as i-elated
in her acts heautifully express this. When
threatened In' tlie iudi»e with worse than death
if she did not sacrifice to the idols, she replied :
" If thou didst know mv God thou wouldst
not speak thus. Hence I, because I know the
power of my Lord Jesus Christ, securely
despise thy thieats, believing that I shall
neither saeritice to thine idols, nor be brought
to shame bv others : for I have with me an
angel of die Lord who guards mv bodv. For
the only Son of God, whom thou knowest not,
is to me as a wall that cannot be cast down ;
He is a sentinel Avho never sleeps, a defender
A^Olo never grows weary."*
But in order to have this unswerving- confi-
dence she knew it was necessarv to belonir to
4
(S. Aiiil». Tr.iii. 1, p. 7:J1>, Edit. Mi'.'iin.)
ST. A(jlNES — VIllGIX, MAllTYll.
41
her spouse body and soul, in thought as well
as in deed. That she did thus belong to Him
we have her own words in the acts just quoted,
in which she says : " (io<l sent His angel wlio
clothed nie with this gannent of mercy, and
protected my body, which was consecrated
and offered to ( -hi'ist fVom the verv cradle."
Her cliarmino* modesfcv" of maimer was not,
then, a mere outward mask ; it was the l)eau-
tiful soul, revealino- its chaste love throui»'h
the bodv consecrated to (Christ, that shone on
all, delijihtino- tlie virtuous and abasliino- the
vicious. It feared notliing except sin ; its only
love was God and tlie salvation of souls. It
need not surprise us to learn that she appeared
more like an anyel winoino- its tiiuht to heaven
than a mortal destined to die. Walkino-
througli the streets she gave edification by her
deportment, rejoicing and strengthening the
hearts of her Christian friends, who saw in
her the power and triumph of maidenly
purity, and impressing the pagans with a
sense of awe and reverence tliat made tliem
yearn for an uiilvnown good, To }lQ^Y nuinv
42
ST. AONKS— VnuaN, MARTYR.
was she the iiistruuieiit, in God's luiiiJs, of
energizing tliat grace of pi*ayer, given to all,
and of movinor their wills to use that grace in
aspirations to a God whom, as yet, they knew
not. Who can tell tlie nnnibers slie disposed
to accept jox'fuliy the truths of Christianity,
as from the imirr sanctuary of her soul, glow-
ino- with <aaierous lo\ e, she diffused an air of
heaven around, (juelling the grossness of theii"
nature, awakening the latent nobility of their
])eing, and flashing a light into the darkness
of their un<lerstanding.
Hei* disposition was genial and kindly: her
conversation ahvaxs edifving, cn en wlien she
could not converse on holy things in the pres-
'iice of pagans who might betray her. She
knew how to speak of the world, and on
subjects of daily occuiTcnce, without woun<ling
charity, or forgetting the pi-esenci^ of her
Spouse. In dress slie avoided all unnecessary
oivnaments : and whilst neat in everytliing, she
]'ejected with horror sucli adornments of her
person as weie not in conformity with Ghris-
tian modesty. We need not stoj) to ask how
St. AGNES — viiujix, MAirrvu.
4:^
n
ail
slie wuukl act it* slic, wejv livini'" in our <lci\'.
She would iM-'ViT f'ojm?t that tlie laAVs of
modesty do not clian<>e ; that fashion is not
synonymous with propi'iety ; and tliat custom
cannot excuse anv foi*m of dress wliich viohites
the instincts of maideidv delicacv. Her oen-
tie spirit would he arouscul to l^oly indignation,
her pure womanhood would feel itself outraged
hv certain forms of evenino- costume which
some women affect to consider in keeping with
modesty, l>ecause in touch with fashion. We
can assui'e our readei's that many men of the
w'orid look upon some of those dresses — or
]*atlier undresses — as most unseemly.
This chai'actei'istic of maideidy modesty
Avas with her to the end. So mucli did .lesus
love it in her that He performed a stupendous
miracle to shield it from outward profanation,
as Prudentius and Pope Damasus attest.
Perhaps no more l)eautifully expressed, • or
truly poetic sentiment, can be found in the
whole range of literature than the last strophe
of the hy an of St. Ambrose on our dear
Agnes, wherein he speaks of the survival in
44
ST. AGNES — VIKGIX, MARTYR.
death of that charming modesty so conspicuous
in life. He says, after telling she had been
given her deatli wound : " In death modesty
survived ; covering her face with her liand,
hending lier knee slie came to the ground,
falling in a modest posture."* It was tliis
quality of soul, this habit of mind, and out-
ward expression in word and act, that is so
praised l»y Prudentius, the poet, by St.
Ambrose and 8t. Augustine, the great and
holy bishops, and which has been innnortal-
ized bv the Church in the Office of her Feast.
It would seem to be worthv of imitation bv
the o'irls of our da v.
An ardent love for (Jod, and that i>'enerositv
wliich is boi'u of love, and endues with heroism
in suffering for the Beloved One, was another
chief trait of her character. To her it seemed
notliing to suffer for one who loved her with
His.eternal love. The authors already^ referred
In iiiorte vivebat itiulor,
VultiuiKnie t(!xerut niami,
Torram g('mifl<^x(> i)ctit
Lapsu vcrocumlo cjxleiis.
I "1" ■
-St. Ami.. Toin. 4, p. 1211. Edit. Mii,'iio.
#:
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
45
m
m.
Ill m
m
to speak of this generous disposition, and
glorify it in one so young. In the hymn
quoted above St. Ambrose tells us that her
parents, terrified at the persecution, sought to
shelter their darlinj*' bv increased bolts and
bars; but her "faith, which nothing could
restrain, opened the doors of her prison." As
we shall see later on, she suffered with alacritv,
with joy, with thanksgiving.
Fair in person, amiable in manner, gentle in
action, endowed with wealth and rank, modest
in heart and soul, filled with generous love for
her God, bringing a breath from heaven
Avherever she appeared, w^ith calm trustfulness
in her chosen spouse, in whose j^resence she
lived, young in years, but with the glorious
old age of a " spotless life," and the venerable
gray hairs of " understanding," this is the
picture of St. Agnes, as presented by those
who must have conversed with manv who
knew her. This was the Lady Agnes who
walked the streets of Rome in the year 804,
but whose heart was in the heavenlv Jeru-
salem.
:i
"'"^
40
ST.
AON
,,,«„viuc;iN, Mv.n-vn.
1
,,^;,yTA'/;0.1/ 0/.- ST. AGNES.
chiiptev, are— li^t. i- 1 , ^^^ ^^.^^^ j,„t a
the tiiuc of ^^g"^\ '^"',,,,.0 ccnue thither at
native ot Ro,uc, he '^^^ j^is fifth year,
a very early age, r^^ ^^^ j,, ^s
IX-aicated t(, t'^'--;^-^^*^^ ";^.^^i,,i,,ticallci>o
hovhoodJle^vastramea^ c^^^^ ^^..^,^ ^,^^.
ledge, and ^va^ *''"''' fi,;,nTst have conversed
,ets of the martyv. He ^^' ^^^^,^ ,,.,,^
with luany who '>f >"^^^ ' ^^, adorned the
'-'^ -^r th u - tin ":rUe sla.s, in
catacombs AMth ;^'^"' . . and amongst
honour oi \aiiou^ ^ T^i^ere cau^)^
others, lie celeb. attU ^^ j ^^.^ verses.
The stob m«y b. »«•" ;, Tillcmo»t, »!»
TiS'.
.li.^^
,.-'■(■■ 'I •-•-4"4'-«7'",<;'-c "T' r-v<^y;'"'-ff, '■•':•
*-T;'^'^,-'"'V"^"';
*■.,% "-y.;t. 5 '■■■*«; ff^—rv :
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MAUTYR.
47
jible.* There is no doubt, now. 2nd. St.
.mbroso. He, als(), must have spoken with
hose wlio liad known oiir uentk' Aonos. Wo
A'o an undonbted woi'k of Ins, " Do Virgini-
is," tVoni whicli alone wo shall cjuote in this
lapter. :h'd. Prudentius, in '' Pori Steph-
lon," hvmn I3th, in some editions, 14th.
[o is the (Christian Poet of the early ages,
native of Spain, he spent some time at
)me, and in all probability gathered his
^formation regarding St. Agnes from eye-
•^itnesses. 4tli. St. Augustine, who lived at
[le same period as the oth* r three, and must
Lve known, intimately, the histor\^ of Agnes,
sermon 27'S, C. G, lie speaks her praise,
[hese grave and, practicalh% contemporary
uthorities are surely sufficient to put l^eyond
he possibility of doubt, or cavil, the wonder-
iil storv of Aonos' trials, sufferino-s and
L'iumph.
There is, moreoxor, a hymn on St. Agfles,
Ixlwavs attributed to St. Ambrose, and no
(Tlllcinonl, vol. v., \kv^v ;i44.)
u
p
1 1
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN. MARTYR.
reasonable objection can be offered against its
authenticity. Also, a sermon on our Saint,
which the editor of Migne rejects, although
he admits linding it in three manuscripts, all
bearino- the name of Ambrose as its author.
Why lie should rc^ject it, is a puzzle to a care-
ful reader. It is quite in keeping with his
gemtine work, although more extended ; its
style and sentiments are thoroughly Ambro-
sian. It is in accord with the verses of
Damasus, regarding the subjection of our
Saint to the test of fire. For our own part,
we ai'c convinced that it is the work of St.
Ambrose. This sermon is not to be con-
founded with an epistle attributed to St.
Ambrose, in which are very fully narrated her
various trials. The epistle, although in har-
mony with known facts, is not from the hand
of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. It is a later
compilation from ,'incient documents. Its
rejection, however, nmst be sustained by other
reasons tlian the very futile ones often
advanced. These are chiefly two. The epistle
speaks of Constantia, daughter of Constantine,
>-.,
"T^|f5i^??P^^'
V5>?v *VT«v /^^"y- "-J:^^^, -^T
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
40
laving, after her cure at the shrine of Agnes,
remained in virginity, and by her example
lany others took the veil. It is pretended
*st tliat nol)le ladies, ai that time, did not
'corne nuns in Rome, A single sentence
^•om 8t. Jerome is th<^ sole support of this
Assertion, so contrary to. well-known facts. It
\s true, St. Jerome says, " no noble w^omen,"
>tc., follow^ed the monastic life ; but this is
to be restricted, like his famous expression of
['all the w^orld" finding itself Arian. Both
)ropositions are too sweeping in their gene-
ralitv. At tlie time Jerome wrote that " no
loble women" at Rome weiv followino- tlie
nonastic life, Pope Damasus was writing tlie
epitaph of Ins sister, Irene, in wliich he tells
lis she " had vowed herself to Christ durino-
r ~
[ife, so that holy chastity might obtain for liei*
virgin's crown.'* The other reason is
lat Constantia was espoused to (iallican.
L'ue ; ]>ut it is not proved that they were
[terwards marrie<l. We know, moreover,
(Cnnneu xxi, Kdit. MIljih',
IV
ST. A^"^*"
^oues, ao\vua^»^-, ^Ut»uoh
: enuinc souve.s tivst n " ^^^ ^^ j,,,g luU
J'eTeva^ P-ec«t 7^;^.^,^ about to
lU aud uM'st violent - ^^ ^^ ^^,, to
vSv hop. to otVaee tW. -^ ,^____to aostvoy
Ic avU of saWat... ^ ^ V, his pvide and
,^,, „,y have hoped t« ;" ^. tu,. awvoa'^h-
i,>o; storm ■.Wu(rtlu>><^.
ST. A(tNE.S — N'lUGlX, MARTVK.
51
u»* lull
,t now
bout to
nst tW^
aid ^^^'
rist,— to
^^Acstvoy
vicar of
Kvido ana
;t heaven,
Wkepv'iar,
I appvoaeli-
r-upvayevs
1(1 alnisdecM.ls. Faithful vin-ins like Au'iies
i\ tli(,'ir lamps always trimmed • thev wei'e
er listening for the voice of the Bridegroom,
ke a spirit from heaven, Agnes moved
ongst the Christians, when they assembled,
assist at Mass, in the catacond)s. She spoke
ouragingly to the poor an<l lowly, and her
rds fell as sweetest nuisic on their ears;
smiled serenely on her, companions, and
ir fears vanished before the l)eam of calm
tidence that ixleamed in her tender eves :
spoke with grave accents of i-espect to
old, and wavering hearts grew firm witli
w-l)orn courage. Her pure voice rc^se above
e others, in the pleading invocations of our
)ly Church for grace aud perseverance, and
nv a hardene<l heart softened, and manv a
1 seared b\' sin felt the refreshing; dew of
l^ine grace, and sought i-econciliation in the
V Sacrament of Penance,
atan was filled Avitli wrath at the sin-sub-
g power of Agnes ; he hates most those
do most good. The edict of persecution
t foi'th, and <leath oi* apostacy, wer(» the
?K'^-?T*5"??wT'
''^;"'wm
52
St. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
i
alternatives for the accused. A certain young
pagan had seen and loved Agnes ; he sought
her liand in marriage. But she had given her-
self to Christ, and could not admit any other
lover. 8t. Ambrose relates, that when urged
by many to marry ]n*m, slio r(3plied, " tliat
would be an injury to my spouse." It is iiot
certain, from St. Ambrose, tliat tliis young
man denounced her to the tribunals as a
Christian, although it seems to be insinuated.
In any case she was denounced. In time of a
general persecution, one thus accused, was
summarily dealt with. Agnes was brought
before the judge, and as Prudentius tells us,
she '• was tried bv manv arts, — now bv the
bland words of the judge, — now by tlie threats
of the cruel torturer. But she remained stead-
fast in her firm purpose, and, ready to die,
willingly offered herself to be tortured." Let
us endeavour to idealize this scene. Here is a
young girl, tenderly nurtured, of gentle man-
ner, of refined feeling, with all the weakness
of human nature, with all the natural desire
of life connnon to the vouni'' and healthv,
7^i'^i^°^'T^r«5>^'~^f'-^Wv;^'='v'""-'
ST. AGNES — VIRGIX, MARTYU.
5.*^
^gi>en tlie alternative ot* sutterings and death,
)j* to deny lier God. She is human : she is at
m age when, as St. And)rose says, "girls fear
)he stevrn eonntenanee ot* tlieir parents."
jiMTy t'aees surrouml her: liarsli voices
ilvreaten lier : tlie bloody instrnuierits of tor-
ure seem to ghire at her. She is in the power
f these lieartless nven : the soft voice of the
l<lge pleads with lier to save liei'self. After
jl, what is she asked to do ^ To cast a grain
incense on the tire before the statue of
inerva. If she will but do tliis, she nu)\'
hvalk away unliarmed, live in the honour of
tlie Emperor, enjoy her wealth and station in
life. Tt seems a liai-ndess act: and so mnch
[depends on it. But Agnes had long Kwrnt
[that no ])ain is too great to bear for (Jod ;
Jiat no earthly good is to be pui'chased by the
smallest sin. To her God was the ioy of her
leart, the life of her soul : and to offend Him
^ould be the direst of evils. No ; come what
^ould, she would never renounce her Faith.
IFearlessly she stood," says Ambrose, "in the
j-^r; ' *^t;f1'
,^,r^'"'^^^-^j7 '^'*^~V^^y^''
.U
St. A(iNES— VlHCaX, MAKTVR.
midst of tlu' cruel (.'xoeutioners, knowing little
ot* death, but ready to die."
We know from Pop(^ Daniasus that she was
subjected to the Hanies ; and this throws liglit
on the passage in St. Anibrose, in which lie
]-eters to this trial. We gather from l)oth
that she was taken before the altar of* the
fal
se isoi
Is, and, refusing' to sacrifice, was hei-
o
self placed in the flames. But that (lod Avh
preserved the tliree Hebi-ew boys in the Chal-
dean furnace, preserved our Agnes in the
nndst of this tire. She stood, as St. Anda-ose
attests, ' in the midst of the fianu's, and even
in these sacrilegious fires forme<l Avith her
outstretche(l arms the sign of her victorious
Lord." \ es : it was a iinracle : fait the juiii
f Ood is not shoi'teued. Auues, with ev
o
es
upi
aised to heaven, and arms formino- a cross.
stood unhai-med in the nndst of the flames,
praying to her God, whose angels Avei'e pro-
tecting her from evil. " Behold," she said, " 1
am suffused with the heavenly dew of the
Holy Spirit ; the fire dies out around me : tho
flauic is divided, and the heat of this IjuiMn'm*
/
*7'-'*',"?f-ff''?''' •' '''?""^" '-^
ST. AfiNES — VnUJrX, MARTVH.
oo
is turned aoainst those who ai*e feedino- it. 1
bless Tliee, adoi'able Father, who dost permit
iiie to come to Thee inti-epidly, in the midst
of the flames. Beliold, wliat f liavi^ believed,
I now see : wliat T ])a\ e hoped for, I now
liold : Avliat I luive <k'sired, I now end)race."
Tliese ai'(^ the words of lier prayer as i*ecorded
in tlie epistle attributed to 8t. Ambrose ; and
we can see liow appropriate they were. God
would not permit the fire to sear a ]iody so
pni'e ; moi'eover, He wished to sliow His lovini;"
care for tliose who trust perfectly in Him.
Tlie fires died out around tlie youthful viroin,
but tlie hatred of the pei-secutors was un-
([uenched. They wei*e l>affled, laughed at,
oN^ercome hv a child : but maHce sui>m'sted a
more outraocous torture.
The V saw deat^^ ^A no terror for Aunes :
they had proved that the thi'eat of pmilsh-
|meiit by fire had not appalled her, and that
ni unseen power protected her. They knew,
lowever, that a Christian \ iriiin valued some-
hino- moi*e than life. Tliev woidd torture
[ler throuu'h her modest v : they would bi*in<»"
.,«4»|^#.
W--^
r>G
ST. A(iNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
the blush of shame to a cheek that blanched
not in the presence of rack, or burning coals.
The}' would expose lier to the scot!', and jeer,
and contumely of the basest of mankind.
This, Prudentius tells us, was tlie wicked sen-
tence of the exasperatcMl judge, unless she
'• bowed her head to the altar, and asked pai--
don of Minerva/' Did the noble girl tremble {
Did she liesitate for an instai^t ? Did she lose
confidence in her spouse, and entertain, even
for a moment, the thought of escaping this
new danoer In' renouncinof her Faith ? Oh,
there is no cowardice in the love of Aonos.
The lion's couraoe is behind the i^-entleness of
the laml), nurtured and confirmed by her trust-
ing love for Jesus. Her reply was worthy of
herself, and that is sa'^ Ine: much. " Christ is
not so unmindful of His own as to desert us,
or to suffer us to lose our pi'iceless pearl :
He watches over tlie pure, and will not permit
their chastitv to1)e stained. You inav imbrue
your sword in mv blood, if vou will, but voii
shall never defile my virginity." Pi'udentiiis
hei\ describes the visible protection of the
ST* AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR,
.•)7
Almighty as displayed in regard to Agnes.
Her confidence was not misplaced ; Christ
does not desert tliose wlio reallv love Him :
He is the strong guardian of tlie pure, when
they have not souglit tlie danger themselves.
He can and will, when necessary, protect, even
hv miraculous means, the innocence that has
ft.
])een consecrated to Him, and never witli-
di-awn. '' Triumphantly the virgin went,
siniiino' a sacred son*** to God the Fathei* and
to Christ, " as relates Prudentius. The worst
resource t'aik^d : Allies had )*eceived a ne>v
H'lorv, avid Satan had suftered another defeat.
One would think that seeing thus the pro-
tection accorded our Saint her persecutoi's
Avould cease, and let her depart in peace.
Manv hearts indeed melted : manv souls
acknowledged the true God, and sought
admittance into the fold of Christ. Her
])lood, however, was asked for; the cruel edict
of persecution exacted apostasy or blood.
Apostasy could not be wrung from Agnes :
torments and itinominv had been l^«<saved in
vain, tlie sword must do its woi'k. St. Am-
,d
«*.,*•
..■^•
p-"t
1 ■!
y — "
,.^l^, ■^■■fc-. ■ "-,■.;
!'\';,i";;rr'"''»' j'^ry";';'''.':''''j'»'i.''/.;-\'^'^;.r;v5'p5?;^?#''^>i'^i^^
ST. A(JXES — VIKGIX, MAUTYK.
In-ose vividlv Jesci'ibes the scone: "With a
luoic joyful ste]^ <h*(.l slie go fortli to the place
of jiuiiishiiu'nt than others to tijeir weddiii;^*,
hasten inu" alonu', lier liead not adorned with
coils of hail, but Avith (/hi-ist : not cnnvned
with Hovvei's, but with virtue's. All wept ; slje
aloiu^ was tearless. Manv wondered tliat slie,
who had scarcely tasted life, should l)e so
reach' to cast it awav, as if she had finished
it. * * * * How the executioner strove,
now to terrify, now to persuade her by soft
Avords : liow manv besought lier to niarrv.
'' This," she said, '" would be an iniui'V to niv
spijuse, to look upon another as pleasing. Let
Hin» who first chose me receive me. Whv <lo
\'ou delay, executioner .'' Let this body that
can be lo\'ed by eyes that please nu.' not, perish."
She stood : she prayed : she Ijent her neck.
The executioner trendjled as if he were the
condennied : his right hand shook, his face
blanched at the si<»ht of another's dano-er,
whilst the gii'l did not fear for her own. You
have thus in one victim a double martyrdom,
'■m ;
'"nfXJlfiT-'?:;*-- -^'iv^cy-
ST. .UiNKS — VFROIX, MAirrVH.
5!)
of chastity and of faith. She rt'iiiaiiied a
virgin, and she won the martyr's pahn."
Pope Damasus says tluit when the sentence
of deatli had l)een announced 1)V tlie bhire of
trumpets, of her own accord slie went to meet
her fate. And Prudentius speaks of her joy
at seeing the executioner, for slie said : '' This,
this, I confess, is a lovei' who j)leases me ; J
shall go Torth to meet him. * * * Eter-
nal Rider, open wide the gates closed formerl}'
to mortals ; call to thee, O Christ, my lonoino-
soul, a virginal victim, and one of faith
divine." With such love in her heart, with
these holy aspirations on her lips, the pur(^
soul went forth to the bosom of its (Jod.
i
w-'X
I
I!
■■4F
V it',
ii'&xki*Z-%r
T
V»?J>T5'.^?''".ty'"ff"^'?C»^f^>'T?i'S1!»J!W
ii t
i'A)
ST. A(;\Ks — vriKux, MAirrvn.
THE SHRINE OF ST. AGNES.
Tlio beautiful lit'o oi Ai»iies was iiloriouslv
oiultxl. We could uot wisli it to liave l)een
otherwise. She tauglit us liow to live uncou-
taminated in an atmosphere ot* iuipiety ; she
showed us liow to unite graet^ful manners witli
charming modesty ; she gave an example of
the lovable chai'acter that arises from a happy
mincjlino' of s^entleness in action with un-
daunted resolution in principle ; she made us
realize that youth counted b\' years may have
the venerable <«:rav hairs of understandino',
and the honoured old age of a '' spotless life."
Having given \is these valuable lessons how
to live, it was only natural that she should be
called upon to teach us ho\v to die for God.
The close of her short earthly career was what
all deaths are — a compendium of her life. In
it we see ardent, tender love for her spouse,
perfect confidence in His protecting care, and
; in«-,Vr;,'^-«i-ir'?ni, ■
ST. AdNKS — VIIKIIN, MAllTYli.
01
sweet modesty triumphant to the end. She
had fought bravely the good fight ; slie harl
kept the faith ; she liad been true to her
phghted troth with our dear Lord. We can
feel the beauty of the closing scene, as well as
the liarmony of the preceding years. Those
wlio witnessed her death mioht well fancy
CJ I.
they saw lior diseml^odied spirit soaring aloft,
as Prudentius sinos, Jiemmed round by ano-els
as it moves on its brilliant path ; looking down
on the world beneath its feet, on the lower
darkness, and passing the sun's orbit in its
coui'se, until it arrives at its heavenly home,
there to receive its double crown.
The martyr's death gives no cause for
mourning; it is always celebrated by the
Church as a birthday. The Te Deitm is sung
in action of praise. Tears are out of place at
the burial of our Agnes. Her noble parents
lovingly cared for her holy body, assisted b}'
admiring friends. To them she was not dead,
she only slept, whilst her spirit hovered near
to bless and console them. Tenderly they bore
the sacred remains to the villa of her parents,
.am-.
'
•: .^ p ■ '■(■^''^^'^'■^''.'^^Jf.f.^ci.'^^
{\'2
ST. A(^XES — VllUaX, MAIITVH.
a mile bevoiid the NoKieiitana (Jate. Tlu le
she vv^as laid "in peace" in her narrow cell,
near the inoutli of the catacomb that has since
borne her name. It became at once a sacred
f^pot, — a shrine of grace, — a resort for tlie
pious. In her acts we arc tolvl how the crowd,
a few days after lier death, wei-e praying at
her tomb, when tliey wei'c set upon by tlic
pagan mob, and liei fostei'-sistei', Emerentiana,
was murdered at her feet. 1'h() first victoi"\'
of a Diartvr is to win the orace of martyrdom
for others. Aii'nes was dead : a oreat light
had o'one out of the lives of manv : all missed
her graceful form at the Mass in the cata-
combs, where they now regularly assembled.
But she who had been a support to them in
life, was now transformed into a model for
their imitation. In her they saw all the best
qualities of a noble Christian nature, sancti-
fied and elevated by grace, and tlie practice of
loftv virtues. She was an ideal fitted to win
generous hearts, and to incite to emulation.
As such she was not dead, and the liolv bond
of " C 'Ounnunion o^* Saints " united lier to tlieiii.
(0^;<■■^m!■i^;i^^l^ . , ■,■.■
ST. AGNES — VIllCUN, MAUTYJ{.
().']
She co\iI<l pray for them, and 1)l' tlie ])lea(ler
(►f their cause at tlie Saviours feet. In the-
cruel (1m;s of pej'secution th<Mi U])on tJjeni tliey
could ' k to lier example, and gain strength
tl
I
irouiih her intercession.
''i^
ri
)us nei
li
torn I
M'caiiie a sanctuary and a place of ])ilgi*iinage
Ahout tift\' veai's aftei* lier death Prudentiu.^
write
T
Tlie tond) of Ai»iies, the nohle \y\y\
tlie ilhistrious martyr, is at Kome. Buried
there Avithin sight of its towers, tlie >irgin
watcJies ovei- the safet\' of tlie Komans, and
also protects pilgrims who supplicate with a
pui-e and faithful heart.'
one
^1
J)j
vmasus also
has put on record the sentiments of the age,
as well as jiis own, when he wrote : *' Oh illns-
trious \ ii'gin, venerated 1)\' me, holv beauty,
and swi'et linage of purity, I pray thee he
favourahh^ to tlie prayers of Damasus. " And
St. Augustine* in his seivmons extols her., say-
ing: "Blessed is St. Agnes whose passion
celebrated to-da\'. She was what she was
, a vij-oin. Amn's in I^atin signiti<'s ;i
JS
VAX
llrd
(S.T. :j7;!.)
04
ST. AGNES— AMHG IX, MARTYR.
lamb; in Greek chaste. She was what she
was called ; hence she merited to he crowiied.'
A holy lite is never spent in vain. Thiviv is
in human nature noble instincts, even wbcn
degraded bv sin. Weeds ma\' urow tliick and
(Umk in the soul and choke, for a time, man's
l)etter nature, l>ut a generous act of heroism
seldom fails to awaken a sentiment of admi-
ration, and a desire of emulation. Hence,
though the persecutors succeeded in taking
the life of our Saint, she lived as a model in
the hearts of the faithful, and has been,
through all ages since, the ideal maiden of
song, and story, and Church history.
When peace had been restored to the Church
and Constantine liad broken the shackles of
oppression, Christian piety soon disphiyed
itself in its works. Jn the jov of oeneinl
peace and security the victorious victims of
persecution were not forirotten. (Jver the
remains of Agnes a public church took the
place of the underground oratory <lui'ing tlie
reign cf Constanthie. With a sliojit change
of form, and somewhat enlarj»e<i, it exists now,
bf •^
m
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MAUTVl^.
65
and is looked upon as one of the most inte-
resting of all E-onie's churches on account of
the preserv^ation of the form into which it was
reduced by Pope Synnnachus in 498. In order
that the sacred remains of the virtiin martvr
should be immediately under the high altar,
the earth was excavated to the depth of the
coftin, thus briML!;in<4' the Hoor of the church
several feet l>elow the level of the surrounding
soil. You enter b\' descendiiii]: a lon^' Hij^ht of
marble stairs, Avhich leatl to the atrium of tho'
church. The nave is separated from the aisles
by graceful marble columns of various (juali-
ties, and finished in different styles. Over the
top of the circular arches that spring from
these columns a second tier of smaller pillars
arise and support the roof. The ceiling is flat,
andvichly finished in car\ed woodwork, pro-
fuselv adorned with u'old. The vault of the
apse, or tribune, s both interesting and beau-
tiful. It is covert I with mosaic work repre-
senting St. Agnes between l\ipes St. Synnna-
chus and Honorius, and is of the time of the
lattei' pontirt* ihM). It is, conser|uontly, more*
.«■
()0
8T. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYII.
than twelve hundred years old, and speaks to
us in the same mute language as our churches
of to-dav, and it tells of the same faitli and
hope, of the same form of worship, and the
same devotion to the Saints. Standing in
such a place one realizes, more fully than else-
Avhere, the unbroken line of our Church's
history, its unchangeable faitli, its continuity
of devotional practices, the heroism of its
Saints and Martvrs. One can look back
through the restless years of our century,
back through misty years of centuries long
dead; away beyond the beginning of the cru-
sades, beyond the civilization of England, to
the first ages of the new-born Churcb, and
find, amid all changes and dissolutions of
states, tlie Roman Catholic Church always tJie
same. Almost every pontitl*, from Sylvester
in the time of Constantine to tlie late Pius
IX., had a tender care for the tond) of Agnes,
and for tlie beauty of the church. Why i
Because slie died for the faith of which they
were the guardians ; she was one of the fair-
est children nurtured at the breast of Holv
■.^fii^,"^^^.^^;^^;..'. . *.::^. .^y^.-f- -'.
yvrzf;
ST. MINES >'IU(;iX, MAKTV1^
(i7
I
Church, and they, its head on eartli, should
embahu her niemorv in tlve liearts ot* the
faithful. Here we can look upon material
proofs of the gran* I unity of our faitli, its
identity with that of tlie earh' niartvrs, its
indestructil )le power. But even as many
remained blind to the witness borne l)\' Aones
to our faitb ; so many, jilas ! (Mlucated in pre-
judice, deceived by false \'ersions of history,
and unwilling* to face manfullv the stern looic
of facts, turn away their eves from evidences
such as these, and do not see, because they do
not wish to see, the light.
Beneath the high altar repose the remains
of the gentle Saint. A rich canopy, or bal-
dacchino, supported by four porphry columns,
form a fitting cover for the chastely designed
altar. Many lamps, set in silver sconces, burn
day and night around the shrine, typical of
her virtues, which outlive the grave, and shed
a sweet light over the rougli places of life,
revealing a path whereby virginal modesty
may safely walk.
The Feast of our Saint is celebrated on 21st
08
ST. AGNES— VIRGIN, MARTVll.
January, the anniversary of her precious deatb.
It has ever been a family festival with the
Romans. Old and young, the wealthy and
the poor, all endeavour to visit her shrine on
that glad day. It is in the heart of the short
Roman winter; yet it is always bright and
cheerful. There is no gloom in the air; no
Vn'ooding sadness lianging over the ruins that
mark the site of the ancient villa of Amies.
Death has no victory over the pure ; it cannot
dim the after-glow of their example, nor rob
them of the admiration of the just.
During the celebration of High Mass on tlys
day two snow-white lambs are brought up to
the altar, at the offertor}^ and blessed by the
officiating Cardinal. Then they are handed
over to the care of the Nuns in a neighboring
convent, who tend them until their wool is
shorn. From this wool is made the Palliums
sent by the Pope, as the badge of jurisdiction,
to Archbishops.
How beautiful and how expressive are the
ceremonies of Holy Church ; how instructive
in their symbolism. Here, on the Feast of the
&~ ■
'-."Iff"^'''-. ■">7' "•■'''■.•^ i^T''-"*.' ' . "-'"'jft"; '.
ST. A(;NES— \']1U;[N, MARTY1{.
00
4
gentle virgin whose name, as St. Augustine
says, expressed what slie really was, viz. :
chaste, these lambs, the chosen symbols of
purity, ai*e blessed, and the stuff' woven from
their wool made into a l)adnfe of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction, a reminder of the spotless purity
of the Church, as well as of wluit the wearer
should exemplify in his conduct. This cere-
mony proves better than words the peculiar
glory of St. Agnes in the Church's touching-
symbolism.
The catacomb adjoining this church can be
entered from the sacristv. It was a favourite
burial place after the interment of Agnes.
Descending into the earth you can pass along
narrow passages, cut out of the soft rock, that
intersect one another like streets in a city.
On each side of these passages tondjs have been
hollowed out, tier above tier, like shelves.
Here the dead were laid to rest, and the
entrance blocked up with a slab of marble, or
with l^rick. Now and then vou can read a
name cut in the slal), or seratched on the
mortar. The trade mark, too, is sometimes
'^<'^/-:*-'-'-''v-.\Y'r^r}2'.^^l'^i^^'^^^
70
ST. ACJNKS — VIIKIIN, MAHTVlt.
seen on a brick. But most interestino- of all
are the small vials oceasionallv seen attached
to a gi'ave ; they are discolored with the blood
of a martyr, and were affixed as a mai^k to
his tomb.
Opening out of the main passage, or gallery,
are laroe rooms hewn out of the rock, and
letaining traces of ornamentation and paint-
ing. They were used as churches in time of
pei'secution. Tlie place for the altar an<l the
credence table are there ; the Bishop's chair
and the seats at each side attest the uses for
which this underofround room was desiscned.
We have paintings on the wall of Christ and
some of the Apostles ; the Good Sheplierd ;
Moses striking the rock ; and the Blessed
Virgin with the infant Jesus.
These oloomv recesses were the homes of
the most noted Christians in the days of per-
secution, and their burial place after death.
In them they set up an altar, and the Adora-
ble Sacrifice of the Mass was otiered, shorn,
doubtless, of mari}^ ceremonies, but substan-
tially identical with our Mass to-day. Those
.,/ ^' .■•■tjl:;-' ■il^lCw*'. ]^'.''t-'Mt?:}'r)i'A'i:.i'.'^t,'^.'j,-.' •£
' ^•»?i^'S'"^?"'^'(''-?'v ., •>-^;r'" ^.
ST. AGlNES— VillGiN, MAUTVK.
71
moimiiiuuts arc there to give witness in an
unbelieving age that the Church of the Cata-
combs is i<h3ntical in faitli, in worsliip, and in
obedience to tlic Roman Pontiff, witli the free
and widespread (-atliolic Clurrch of to-day:
and that St. Agnes, tliouglv separated from us
bv more tlian fifteen centui'ies, is but our dear
dead sister of \esterda\'.
•*9
i"^'«4 lb* iifth
■ ■€'ff''/"'~7^-<i-.K-'- - ;.V'; ';:;r^>'.*' .'';v','^'\;v7?J?^:'.-^''"'^''-y.
7:1
ST. AGNES — VIHCMN, MAHTYK.
fOOTPRINTS OF ST. AGNES.
->y
The desire of fame, and the ainbiti(jn of
heiiio' enrolled in a nation's catalotiiie of heroes,
have been powerful motives in inspiring men
to deeds of valour and arduous enterpris(\^.
It is an honoural>le position indeed, an<l one
not unwortliv of a noble mind's exertion, to
be written down in the records of oi. s eountrv
as a hero in upholding its rights, or a generous
sutterer in its cause. When the principles
that guide action are sound, and the conduct
has been disinterested, national gratitude and
national recognition are justly due the valiant
defender, and, as a rule, are cheerfulh'
accorded. Hence ^vc find that each nation
has had its illustrious men, whose memorv is
held in leverence. In great national emer-
gencies they are pointed out as worthy of
imitation ; and their names are invoked as an
incentive to courageous deeds. This confirms
-■f'-m-:^
^iw-:.': 'tri*-"
ST. AC^NES— VUKUN, MAUTYIt.
7:\
what we said in tlie beginning of this work
i*e,;'ar(lino' the influence of ideals on the action
of mankind, and the benelit of noble models
in shaping onr course in life.
Now, all who bi'lieve in Christianity recog-
nize a spiritual as well as a natural life, or a
natural and a supernatural order of actions.
We are not mere animal men ; W(» are beings
with many animal passions, interests and
pleasures, but with a supernatural end, to l)e
attaine<l through divine aid, and a right use
of our faculties and powei-s. In the gospel
dispeilSation this supernatural end, viz., the
salv^ation of our souls, is put before everything
else : '' What shall it profit a man to gain the
whole world and lose his own soul," is the
keystone of the Christian arch. Men may
differ, as unfortunately they do, on tne nature
of the means to be employed, but all agree in
admitting this principle, and all agree that the
supernatural life has its battles, whilst its path
is beset with pitfalls and ambuscades of the
enemy.
It follows from this that there is room for
..-JKS.'-
• ■/>•■<■-. -i(,-^,v
74
ST. A(JNKS — VTR(4]N, MARTYH.
heroism of a very elevated kind in tlie life of
i»Taoe, and tliat tlu' influence of i<leals is no
less needed and no less powei-ful than in the
natui'al order. ( )ui- Holv Cliureh lias always
been alive to this. Slie is the great kingdonj
of the supernatural life; her hnttles have
been numerous, her enemit^s legion, lier victo-
ries innumerable, and her hei'oes many and
valiant. Lovingly she treasures up their
memory, and proudly she points them out to
mankind as a ])roof of her spiritual fecundity.
\\\ j'eason of her um* versa) ehai'acter her
heroes are not the hei'oes mei*<dy of one^iation
or elan, thev are th(^ heroes of the whole
world : tlieir achievements are the heritage of
all lier ehildren, and their praises will go down
to the latest time. No olory can bt} so u'reat
as theirs: the ])raise of none other's can be so
universal. Tlie Saints are the heroes of
Cliristianity : they should be ideals and models
for Christians.
Our lovely Aijnes was one of these heroes
of the supernatural life ; she bore witness to
its teachings by her death ; her title cannot be
P
'^%t,
■v'-irfff^':';'';'^'^-' 'i^'^t^^i'v^f ''■ ■•" -;'.' 'r' " '■ ' ^■'' \
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MAKTYK.
75
of
lit)
hi'
>in
to-
to
y\
iV
disputed. Let us trace her footprints in the
liistorv of the (Church, and we shall see how
great is lu'r glory, and how powerful her hold
on the hearts of men. We have already
spoken of her shrine, hegun at once after her
niartyr<loni, and eidarged when peace came to
the (christians. Those who desin^ more infor-
mation on this ]ien<l can consuU. Aringhi,*
where much interestini*; matter ma\' he u'leaned
regarding the church and its adjoining cata-
comb. It is our intention to sliow the rapid
spread of rlevotion to our saint; to follow her
footprints, not only in Rome, hut throughout
the whole Christian Church. The tender care
of lier shrine, and the uninterrupted celebra-
tion of her Feast as a fann'lv one, are suiiicient
indicatioiis of tlie permauent traces she has
left in the cit\' of lier hirth, and tlie scene of
her triumphs.
Before proceeding further in this inv^^stiga-
tion, it may bii well to explain just what we
mean by devotion to St. Agnes, oi* to any
7
• (rioma Hnl)it>rr. Tom. H., p.l .V_\)
i
\ \
7(1
ST. AGXES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
Saint, and what measure of good we expect
to gatli.er therefrom. We honour the Saints
as Gou's special friends ; v/e ask the assistance
of their prayers ; but we never give them
supi-eme honour wliich is due to God alone ;
nor do we ask them to i>'ive us o-race. Thev
cannot oive it ; but thev may obtain it for us
Iv their in'avers and intercession before God's
tlirone. This all Catholics know : and tliose
who crv out aoainst invocation of tlie Saints
sliould first learn what we l)eliev'* and teach
or. tliat point, and also \vJiat meaning is to be
attaclied to tlu- phrase " Conununion of
Saints," in which they profess to believe
wlieiH^N er tl^^v recite the Creed. St. Auous -
tiin', wlio l»elie\ed wliat we liold. explains
all tliis \rvy full v. Amonast other thing's
lie savs : " We do not adoi-e the martvrs
as gods. "•••' '•'' * Sacrifices are not oliei'ed
to them. Tlie pi-iests do not ofiei* (sacj'itice)
to them ; God forbid. Even when we cele-
brate at die places sacred to tlieir memory
(Apud Afemorh'.^) is it not to God we offer ?"*
t
(Sor. 2~^, oap. 7.)
^ I' "■'*^-'rf -'-■
m
ST. AGNES — VIKGIN, MARTYR.
77
ct
ts
ee
in
^ ;
US
r.s
xse
its
1^
Here we find that Mass was offered on the
Feast of tlie Martyrs, and bv their tombs ; and
tliat the Mass was for St. Augusthie what it
is for us, a real sacrifice, but ofiered to God
alone. In cliapter 7 of same discourse lie
adds: "Tlieiefore, dearly beloved, rejoice on
tlie festivals of tlie martyrs ; pray tliat yon
may follow theii* footsteps. * * * *
Venerate the martyrs, praise them, love them,
proclaim their deeds, lionour them ; adore the
God of the martyrs." This is the doctrine of
the Catholic Church : always the same, always
consistent. Gotl alone is to be adored ; but
His holy ones are to be praised, venerated,
loved and invoked, as was done by St.
Augustine, who, addressing Sts. Paul and
Stephen in their glory, said : " Tliere yuu two
see us: \'ou ho{]i aow Iwar nhv wordx; hoik i^f
f/oii pray for u>f. '^ * ''" May they com-
mend us in their prayers, and obtain a (juiet
and tran(]uil tiuie for the Church of their
Lord."* We thus see how devotion to the
Saints was imbedded in th(^ earlv (Jhurch. It
(Srv. n-Jti, fit p. ."..)
7s
ST. KiNES — VllKil
MAHTVM.
If
is a UL'cessHi'y outeolju^ ol' tlic gospd l,<'>H'liJn
of Liu' Comimiijii)ii rA' Hnhitfi.
Now devotion to our Allies was wldcspnuid.
Certain Saints are revered in one loeality, l)ut
scarcely known elsewliere. With Agnes, liovv-
ever, tlie case was far obiierwise ; her name
and her fame went through the wholes Chui'cli.
The verses formerly in the apse of herelnncli,
atti'ibutcd to Constantia, seem prophetic when
they sp*'ak of \wv as tlic ' '»»'Pl'y viJ'K^^' *'^
tlie memorahle nnme of Agnes." Wc hfivc
alreadx seen what Damasus. St. And»ros(' in
t.
Milan. J^-udentius of Spain, and Anp,M'<tinr in
Africa, said of liei' within seventy N'cnrs, or less,
after lur de-ith. Hrr foot|)rints an; drarly
\isihlcin tlieir writings : Ikm* exani])lr was put
iK'fori' their peopk} : and drvolicm In lnM' was
instilled into th''ir laiirtH )t\ tia' rccilal of lar
noble (KtmIh.
FiVen ))ef(ire tiMJi time, we find tin* great
St. Mai tin of Tours joverl and venerated our
Saint; and declared tliat ))er gentle spirit fr«'-
(juently a|)peared to In'm in a vJMion, and
■'V^;
ST. AONES-r^VIROlX, MAllTYlL
7<k
^
•conversed witli him. * Not only was she
known cind honoui-ed in the M^cstern Church :
nlie Wcis equally celehrated in tlie Eastern.
Pni[iiti\r^ Kalj-ndars of Wm^. (Ireek (/hurcli
liave lier hstisjil set down for 21st Januarv.
TIm'J'c wjis also an rarls' translation of her
acts int<j Syi'iac, thus taking a knowledge of
lier short and heantiftil life to the extreme
Oriental races. Moreove)*, her name occnrs in
the Cnnon of the Mass, an lionou/' confined to
a ver^' lew.
Mot only was lier feast celebraterl in the East
and WcmI-, hut what is unique as regards Saints,
fihe liafl two Feasts on 21st ^annaiy, and
again on 28th. This latter is not nu octave ;
it in a distinct fcasi We ^in\ iSnm' iw/; feasts
hi the Knlendars of all fi^/' ^'Jiurch/'M; in the
(l)'eek, African, and Konian 'I'hi.s is a pecu-
liar glory of our Saint, and prov(\s oettertban
any othei- aru'ununt tla^ intensr love and
veneration had for her hv the (Jhujch. The
Liturgy is a saf< criterion for judging the
mind of the (linreh on all ohjcets of devotion.
(Snip. Sev. Dial.)
80
ST. AONES— VIROIN, MAIITYR.
n i:l
The great Pope, St. Gregory, who sent the
light of Faith, and the principles of civiliza-
tion, to England, towards the end of the sixth
century, has left a work which differs hnt
little from onr missals of to-dav. It contains
Masses for the various festivals throuu'hout
the year, as well as Masses of Reqiiifra for
the <lead. In it are found the two Feasts of
St. Agnes, with a proper preface, in whicli Ave
read, amongst other things, the words : " It is
indeed becoming and right, just an<l salutaiy ,
for us always, and in every place, to give
thanks to Thee, O Holy Lord, Omnipotent
Father, Eternal God ; and to solemnly cele-
brate tlie dav consecrated by tlui Martyrdom
of trie Blessed Agnes, who, despising the plea-
sures of woi'ldly riches, and renouncing' tlie
d(\sire. of human ties, has l)een admitted to
the consortship of tlu^ eternal king : and liav-
ing overcome tlie weakness of her sex, an<l
suffered a pi-ecious (h^atli for the Faith of
Christ, has ])een made a ])nrtaker of His
eternity and His glory."*
^ (Lib, Sacr. ad diem, xii, Kal. Fclj.)
(^
^
"iiilli
ST. AGNES — VIUGIN, MAUTYll.
SI
he
fa-
tli
hit
J
The Kalendars of all the Churclies iu the
East have the Feast of our Saint ; at Constan-
tinople, beside the two feasts already men-
tioned, there was a third one, on oth July.
This was in eonnmMnoration of the hrinoino-
of some of lier sneriMl relies to tlie C'liureh of
St. Lawi-cnee, at (^)nstantinople, durini;* tlie
reit>*n of Tlieodosius tlie \'ounoer, as narrated
by Theodorus Lector.* Assemani, (Tom. vi.)
treating of the Kalendars of the whole Church,
o'ives much interesting' information concei-niro*
o O O
the Feasts of Agnes. (See 14th Jan.) From
it we can learn how univei-sal was the devo-
tion to hei* in the Christian world in the earlv
ages of the (Imrch, as expr(\ssed by the autho-
ritative \'oice <^f the Sacred liturgy, and how
li'reat tin* olorv that encircled her name.
That devotion did not die out, or grow cold.
it took I'oot wherever the (catholic Faith was
I'eceived, for the fame of such a heroine par-
takes of the universalitv and immortalitv <>f
tlu^ dnnx'h. Hence we find the Venerable
Bede eni'olling lier name in the list of feasts
(Lib. 2 sub linem.)
Jm
82
ST. AUXES — VIIIGIX, .MAinVII.
for England ; and later on, this same feast was
a liolidav of obligation for women in the daxs
when Eno'land's Faith was identioal with that
of Home. Hnt the ghid fcstivnl of th«' noble
maidcMi ecased to be eelebi'ated when the
nation fell a\va\' from the lioht of trath, and
t. C"
obedience to the Supreme <'arthly Head of the
Cluirch. Enough, however, of ancient tradi-
tion survived the wreck of three liundred
years to inspire Tennyson's liymn, " The Eve
of St. Agnes." The aroma of lier sanctity
still lingers in (juiet valleys where she was
once the model and sweet patroness of English
maidens.
We have spoken of hei- two feasts ; why
•ire ther(^ two? Bevond doubt, that on 21st
Jan. is in eon nnem oration of ]u'v martyrdom.
There is no (juestion on this point. But why
the unusual lionour oV n secon<l one ? The
answrr to this is an ndditional proof of the
U'reat estimation in whieli shr was ]i<*ld as a
model ol* purity an<l jx^'fcet immoK'tion to
Ciod. Jt is, we maintain, in honour of hej'
birtli. Many authorities contend that it is
ST. AUNES — VriiGlN, MAKTYlt.
88
not : but seemingly tor no ))etter reason than
the following": — The Church, tliey say, does
not celebrate tlie nativity ot* any Saint, except
that of the Blessed Virgin and of St. John
tlie Baptist ; lience this second feast is not tlie
nativity of Agnes. This reasoning limps ; it
assumes what is to be proved. We claim that
this is an exception to the rule : and we can
prove it ; hence theory must give w\ay to fact.
St. (jlreoorv the Great, who must have inti-
mately known all about St. Agnes' life and
deatli, is our authority. He w^as not separated
from her time by more years than we are from
the foundation of Quebec. Moreover, during
that interval learned and devout men abound-
ed : letters were flourishing : t1\e domestic
Instorv of the (^hurcb in Rome was carefulh'
garnered uj). Tlie barbarian iiTuptions that
devastated Europe, and destroyed its early
civilization, liad not taken place. St. Gregory
was of a noble Koman familv tliat had been
Christian for generations, and closely asso-
ciated wath the work of the Church. Hence
he must have known all local bistort' and tra-
t'*.'-?t;?i'/'j;-!,-:fv'
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84
St. AGNES — ViRGIX, MARTYR.
(litions. Now, in his work already quoted,
there is a proper preface for the second
feast on 28tli January, as well as for that
on 21st. In this preface we read : " Truly,
indeed, her day should be honoured, wlio thus
from her earthly generatlov went forward
that she might attain the consortship of the
divinity." And in one of tlie prayers of the
Mass, lie says : " Be present with us, O
Almiglity (lod, celebrating again (or repeating)
the Feast of 8t. Agnes, whom, horn on the
rlmifij of this festival, Thou didst ennoble
with inettable gifts." This is surely clear
r'nough. Assemani, in the Avork cited above,
elaims that the second feast was in lionoiu- of
lier nati\'itv, and says tliat Mazocclii has
f,- c-
I ) roved it. To us it seems tliat we liave estab-
lished it buvond reasonal)le contention. This
is a crowning glory of our gentle Agnes, to
luive tlie day of her earthly, as well as that
of her heavenly, birth celebrated in the
C'hurch with rejoicing. The sweet innocence
of her brave soul, and her unshaken constancy
to liev spouse, Uieritrd tin's peculiar honoui*.
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ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
83
We have seen a few of the footprints of St.
Agnes down the ages ; many more exist, hut
these must sutRee for our purpose. Not in
the shifting sands of national hy- paths has
she left lier mark, but on the enduring high-
way of the Church's <>lori(jus career are
indelibly stamped the foot))iints of St. Agnes
— Virgin, Marty i*.
;/"'^~; '■.',-»■'''; \^y;i
8()
ST. ACINKS — VIRGIN, MAKTYlt.
Ci-i:.i^:pa?E:R IIXI-
DE ivy VOX TO S7\ .ICX/tS.
From tlio tbreuoinii" pam^s wu ean Irjirn thu
holy innocence ofc' lite, tlie deep and tender
love of (lod, and the ^enei'ous covn'aue under
cruel trials, ot* St. Aunes. W(^ have seen her
a young gij-1, in the first hlooni of youth, with
wealth and position in society, with all worldly
advantai^'es, and su)Toun<led l>v the se<luctions
of a corrupt, t}\oug]j brillifint, pagan rehne-
ment, leading a life of Christian perfection,
unsullied ly thr impure atmosj)hei'e of Homes
and onh' intent on L»iorif\ ini'- her (Jod. She
knew how to he gentle without AVeakness ;
how to be amiable and \'et sweetlv modest:
liow to be tender towards the lowdv and weak,
t.'
and fiercely courageous in the presence of the
scornei'. Hers was not a hot-house virtue
safelv bloominj^' in the shelter: it was a viii'o-
rous plant flowering in the open ; sti'engthened
and nourished l)y prayer and the Sacraments,
ST. AdNES — VIHGIX. MAHTVH.
87
and safeguarded by watchfulness (ner lier
senses. SIk; never forgot tliat she was made
for heaven, and tliat oidv hv lin- own fault
eonld she losr it. The woids of oin* Sasionr
'' what sliall it |)rotit m n)an if he ^ain tht^
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evei' in her eaj's ; the tliouu'ht of eternal iovs
ever in her mind : in luvr lieart an entlnisiastie
love for her (iod. Slie felt, too, the i*esponsi-
bility of hei' position l)oth towards (liristians
and pao-ans. 'Die nobility of lier station, far
from givinii,' her any claim to exemption from
the rules of the (luu'ch, im]>osed upon her the
(}l)lio'ation of a njore faithful observance. 1\»
whom much is o'iven of them nuich is rtM|uii(Ml
— a Scriptural trutli too often, alas! relegated
to theory, and not honoui'ed in practice in our
day. To the pagans she owed example, a
pr
actical demonstration of the nobility of a
life moulded on the prhiciples of the (.'atholic
Church. She gavr' that exanipl*- by her
charmino- manner of lif<^ : sln' confirmed it bv
c5 «
her oflorious death.
Our lives are being passed in a different age.
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ST. AGNES— VIRGIN, MAHTY]I.
and in a dissimilar state of society. Yet the
^reat truths of Christianitv are the same :
heaven can onlv he oained now, as then, by
faith and grace. Now, as then, it will avail a
man nothing to gain the entire world and lose
his sold. Puritv of mind an<l bodv, 2:enerons
love of our God, atid vigilance over our senses
are still essential. The rack and dungeon, the
Tmrning coals, or roaring beasts of the amphi-
theatre, are not threatened to make us abjure
our faith, or fail in morals. No ; but a more
subtle foe, or rather many foes, fa^* more dan-
gerous, are at work. Disbelief in the funda-
mental teachings of Christianity openly
preached, and those who preach them praised
as " eminent divines," " men of broad views,"
" Christian workers !" Newspapers of the
English-speaking world exhaust the language
of hyperbole, in a manner that would be ludi-
crous were it not sad, in extolling as Christian
teachers those whose knowledge of Chi'is-
tianity appears to be scarcely less limited than
that of the persecutors of Agnes. And simi-
lar writings have been propagated for years.
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ST. AGNES — VIllGIN, MAllTYK.
89
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Then wc have the worsliip of material goods,
the follies and vanities of those wlio have
money T)ut no t>;uiding principles, and tlie
insane desire (ui the part of many who have
not money, to imitate or surpass these frivol-
ities. In a word, all the wori^t vices of pagan
times survive, toned down, and r jndered more
dani>*eroush' seductive bv a thin veneer of
outward polish. We are not called upon to
die for Christ, hut something more difficult,
perhaps, is re<|uired oJi us — to live for him —
to bear witness to our faith in the midst of a
polished, good natured, l)antering world, super-
ficial in knowledge, effeminate in practice, and
amazingly pretentious. The martyr's palm is
not placed within our reach ; ])ut the martyr's
glory may still be won. Moral courage, how-
ever, is necessar\'. Manv who would face the
lions in the Coliseum rather than deny God,
lack moral courage to manfully uphold their
faith in the pres(*nce of a fashionable assembly.
They prefer to be cowaixlly disloyal to God, to
incurring the jeers or scornful smile of a dissi-
pated reprobnte. Many who would dare the
■Ff^Wm:
90
ST. A(;}Xt:s — VIRGIN, MAKTYK.
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rack rather than oii'ei- incense on the altar of
Venus, pay ready court at her slirine in order
not to be out oY touch with " nice " peoph'.
Dear Ht. Aiiiics. could vou return to <'art)i for
a time, how vour tender heart would ache at
the siii'ht of so nian\' of the inheritors of vour
faith false to y(aii* noble ])rincipl('s of action.
Not because they are really bad at heart, but
because tlu:}' are too indolent to as])ire to lofty
]:)urposes, and too cowardly to run counter to
the disbelief of the age. You, sweet Agues,
knew how to be a model daughter, an<l friend,
and ac(|uaintance, as well as a winning embod-
iment of Christian perfection. Many maidens
have vour faith, but vour ardoit, unseltish
h)\c. has no place in their hearts. Hence they
please the world, because they are occupied
with it; in thu siolit of (Jod, liowever, thev
give no pleasure. Wliat a valuable lesson
\'oiu' life on earth now would be.
»-
We cannot recall vou to earth ; but we liave
A'our memory to revere, your spotless life to
adniire, your victorious death to encourage us,
and your example to serve as our model. We
ST. AONES — VJRdIN, MAUTYIi.
01
^■m
can, also, have the assistance of your prayers.
Immersed now in the unending beatitude of
heaven, your pure spirit is still linked to us
frail mortals by the sweet bond of Connnu-
nion of Saints. Enjoying face to face th(?
vision of the Eternal, in wJiom " we live, and
move, and have our beino," vou can s<h> in
Him. as in a clear mirror, the militant Cliurch
and its members; in Him, in wliom is all cause
and reason of V)eing, you can see tliose w1j<)
supplicate your aid, and their words ai"e known
to vou by the intuition of cpuse, not throut^h
material eiiect. Tliis thought is consolino-, and
iiives at the same time a urand idea of our
nearness to th<^ invisilje woi'kl
Devotion to St. Agnes, as we liave seen,
sprung u]^ wlierever the Catliolic faith was
preached. Sliall it not take root and produce
fruit in the Western workl ? We want her
graceful characteristics, her moi-al courage, her
perfect confidence in God, her firm gentleness,
her spirit of sacrifice. Shall we not take her
for our ideal ? Her heroic ingenuousness
appeals to the chivalry of men ; her beautiful
^5^«r^ w^^fi:^.
ST. A(;NES — VTRdlX, MARTYIJ.
^'ii;.
soul-loveliness claims fche aduii ration ot* women.
In lier we liave a model of Christian perfec-
tion in a restless and eornipt world. Courage,
generosity, endurance, purity, constancy, love
uncon(|uerable, all that mardvind most prize
and revere, are seen to meet and combine in
her winning personality. Her titles are not
empty ones ; shci purchased and consecrated
th(im l>v her martyrdom.
The foi-m of devotion most pleasing to St.
Agnes will be to strive to imitate her virtues ;
for in doing that we will be giving glory to
God. She wishes us to be courageous in pro-
fessing our faith ; pure in our lives ; diligent
in fulfilling our various duties of life ; seeking
in all things the kingdom of heaven. If we
ask her with proper dispositions she, the
double-crowned bride of the Lamb, will pray
for us before God, and obtain for us grace to
enable us to walk in her footsteps. Let none
be discouraged ; she knows the snares and
treaclierous paths of a life in the world. She
is full of gentle pity for the erring, and of
sweet tenderness for the weak. To*none who
..-"'M
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MAUTYR.
1);]
invoke her will she turn a deaf ear ; to all
who desire to rise above the dust of the world,
and to serve God with a clean heart, she will
be a loving help and a faithful patroness. Not
without cause was devotion to her so general :
she justified it by the number of graces ob-
tained for lier clients. Let us, who cannot
visit at will her shrine in Rome, build her n
sanctuary here, which may l)e a reminder of
her example, a memorial of her glory, and a
spot wherein the pure may iraplore protection,
and the sinner obtain the grace of repentance.
: "Jj .''ii. '..S. -.-*-.
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ST. U;XKs-~-vm(;,x
AfAirrvif,
Hymn to St. Agne
BS,
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;S«eh a.;d,nt Jove for Jcsu.s f.,„, .
fr;;;t;;£::;::r''- »
ThefinnnessofthyyonrhfulW
But van. the trial : for Jesas' sX
Thou spurned the tempter and :•: art.
J«;pIoi-e for me a constant love
-^er Jet t fall to ^in i "^"^
But grant that I V Jesus Wd,,
May ever praise His holy nam!
t'-K
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ST. AGXES — A'llUnxV, MARTYR.
1)5
The Prayer op St, Agnes.
11 u; folUnvijig is the pniycr of our Saint
when in tlie Jiiiilst of tJie fiairuis. Her devout
clients should recite it to he preserved from
sin :
"Almighty, adoraljlo, worsliipful, Fatlier of
liiy Lord Jesus Christ, 1 bless Thee because,
through tlio power of Thy Son, I have escaped
the e^dls tlireatened by the impious, and witli
an unpolluted heel have trampled on the liltli
of the rtesh. Behold now I am suttused witli
the heaveidy dew of tlie Holy Spirit ; the Hre
dies out around me, the fianu' is scattered, and
tlie heat of this burnini'' is turned against
those who are feeding it. I bless Thee, O !
adorable Father, who dost permit me to coiner
intrepidly to Thee even in the midst of flames.
Behold, what I have believed I now^ see ; what
I have desired I now embrace. I confess Thee
with my lips and my heart ; 1 long for Thee
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96
ST. AGNES — VIRGIN, MARTYR.
with iiiy whole being. Behold, I come to
Thee, the li v^iiig and true God, who, with our
Loi-d Jesus Christ, Tliy Son, and witli the
Holy Gliost, dost live and reign for e\'er and
ever. ~A)\u'ar
(Sail Our Father, Hail Mary, (rlory, ((x.)
Prav for us, O blessed Ai^nes :
That we may he made worthy of tlie j»rom-
ises of C^hrist.
Let as pfa/j.
O ! Almighty and Eternal God, who dost
choose the weak things of the world to i^n-
found the strong, mercifully grant that we,
who venerate thy blessed martyr, Agnes, may
experience the benetit of her protection,
tlmnigli Christ our Lord. Aiuev.
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