St. Agnes - Jan. 21st

 

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Agnes. As a very young girl at the age of 12 or 13, she was killed because of her faith in Jesus. Because she was a Christian, and because the emperor hated Christians, a judge sentenced her to live in house of harlots. Agnes was a very pure young lady. A young man, attempted to have his way with her, but she told him she belonged to Jesus alone. And after she said this, the young man became suddenly blind. Agnes was then taken away, to be put to death, but was not afraid to die, because she knew Jesus awaited her arrival in heaven. When the executioner attempted to fasten a chain around her neck and hands, she willingly did it herself. The executioner was shocked at her willingness to die for Our Blessed Lord. She told the executioner, “Executioner, why do you delay?”

St. Agnes is the patron of young girls, and since her name means “lamb”, she is often pictured holding a little lamb. Her name is mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman Canon of the Mass.

St. Agnes was a weak young girl, but put to shame the emperor, who had tremendous power in the empire. She put to shame the young man, who became blind for looking disgracefully at her. And she put to shame the executioner, who was shocked because of her courage to die for Jesus.

Today, as we receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion, all of us have the opportunity to grow in our faith, and to grow in purity like St. Agnes. Now, as we prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, let us beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, She who is the Virgin Most Pure, to obtain for us, the gift of faith and the gift of purity.