Christian Saints Podcast

Saint Agnes of Rome

January 16, 2021 Darren C. Ong Season 1 Episode 13
Christian Saints Podcast
Saint Agnes of Rome
Show Notes Transcript

The virgin martyr Saint Agnes of Rome lived from around  291 to 304 AD, during a time of great Christian persecution in the Roman empire. At the age of only 12 or 13, after spurning the advances of a powerful city official's son, she was exposed as a Christian, and subjected to many tortures and humiliations before suffering a martyr's death. In this episode we explore the impact that her courage had on later Christians, by reading writings about her from Saint Ambrose of Milan and Hrosvitha of Gandersheim.


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God is glorious in his saints!
 
 Welcome to the Christian Saints Podcast. My name is Darren Ong, recording from Sepang in Malaysia. In this podcast, we explore the lives of the Christian saints, from the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. Today, we will discuss the Virgin-martyr St Agnes of Rome. She suffered and died for her faith when she was only twelve or thirteen.
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 Jesus Christ made special mention of the faith of children in the gospels, and urged his followers to possess a childlike faith. In particular, in Matthew 18:1-6


At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea." 

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St Agnes lived around 291-304 in the city of Rome. The Roman empire was then ruled by Diocletian, notorious for his fierce perscutions of Christians. Agnes was raised in a pious Christian family, and a wealthy one too, and thus attracted a lot of suitors. She would rebuff them, saying that Jesus Christ was her only spouse.
 
One of the spurned suitors was the son of a powerful city official, and reported to his father that Agnes was a Christian. She was asked to reconsider, and when she refused, Agnes was subjected to many tortures and humiliations. The nature of what precisely she had to endure differs in the many different accounts about her, but they all affirm that God miraculously protected her. One account states that she was dragged on a public street naked, but her hair grew out enough to cover her whole body. Another account stated that she was forced into a brothel, but an angel then stood at the door and shone a light, blinding everyone that would approach her.
 
Saint Ambrose of Milan mentions her martyrdom in a homily, roughly 60 years after the events took place:
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Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve. The cruelty that did not spare her youth shows all the more clearly the power of faith in finding one so young to bear it witness.



There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Though she could scarcely receive the blow, she could rise superior to it. Girls of her age cannot bear even their parents’ frowns and, pricked by a needle, weep as for a serious wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She stands undaunted by heavy, clanking chains. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Dragged against her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord in the midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs.



A new kind of martyrdom! Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown; unfitted for the contest, yet effortless in victory, she shows herself a master in valour despite the handicap of youth. As a bride she would not be hastening to join her husband with the same joy she shows as a virgin on her way to punishment, crowned not with flowers but with holiness of life, adorned not with braided hair but with Christ himself.



In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. The crowds marvel at her recklessness in throwing away her life untasted, as if she had already lived life to the full. All are amazed that one not yet of legal age can give her testimony to God. So she succeeds in convincing others of her testimony about God, though her testimony in human affairs could not yet be accepted. What is beyond the power of nature, they argue, must come from its creator.



What menaces there were from the executioner, to frighten her; what promises made, to win her over; what influential people desired her in marriage! She answered: “To hope that any other will please me does wrong to my Spouse. I will be his who first chose me for himself. Executioner, why do you delay? If eyes that I do not want can desire this body, then let it perish.” She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck.



You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned; his right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl’s peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and to religion; Agnes preserved her virginity, and gained a martyr’s crown.
 
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Saint Ambrose also wrote a hymn, to commemorate the martyrdom of Saint Agnes. This translation is from Brian Dunkle SJ., "Appendix," in: Enchantment and Creed in the Hymns of Ambrose of Milan (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016).
 
 ‘It is the birthday
 Of the blessed virgin Agnes
 On this holy day, by means of her sacred blood,
 Her spirit flows back to heaven
 
 She was old enough for martyrdom [5]
 but still not old enough to wed.
 Then faith was wavering in men
 and the weary elder gave up.
 
 Her parents shaken with fear
 Increased the protection of her modesty; [10]
 But faith, which knows no restraint,
 Opened the doors of confinement.
 
 Anyone might think a bride came forth,
 She was escorted with such a joyful face,
 Carrying for her groom a new wealth, [15]
 enriched by the dowry of her blood
 
 She is summoned to make a sacrifice by the torch
 On the altar of the wicked deity;
 She responds that Christ’s virgins
 Do not take up such torches. [20]
 
 “This fire snuffs out faith,
 This fire tears away light
 Strike me here, here! So that I might
 Quench the fireplace with flowing blood.”
 
 Beaten down she appeared majestic! [25]
 For she covered herself completely with her clothes
 Excelling in care for her modesty,
 Lest anyone see her nakedness.
 
 In her death, modesty lived,
 And she covered her face with her hand, [30]
 She seeks the earth with bended knees
 As she modestly and gently fell.


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Saint Agnes is known and celebrated for her virginity and chastity. I think this aspect of her life (and the lives of other virgin saints, most prominently the Virgin Mary) is sometimes misunderstood. The church does honour chastity and virginity, not just in the ancient saints but also today. Monks and nuns all take upon vows of celibacy, as well as members of religious orders like the Jesuits.In fact in the Roman Catholic tradition all priests must be celibate. This does not come from a hatred of sex, or regarding sex as dirty or evil. That which is created by God is not evil, and in fact there is a whole book of the Bible, the Song of Solomon, which celebrates human sexuality. However, Christians regard knowing Christ as the greatest of joys, greater even than the joy we derive from sex. For this reason, people like Saint Agnes, who give up the possibility of marriage in order to pursue Christ, are regarded with great honor.



So we should not be tempted to look at St Agnes with pity, as one who died so young and not getting to experience the things that life has to offer. In John 10:10 Jesus Christ said that he has come so that we can have life, and have it to the full. And indeed by choosing to follow Christ, and getting the privilege to die a martyr’s death for his sake, St Agnes experiences fully the joyous life that Jesus intends for us all.
 
 This sentiment is beautifully expressed in a narrative poem about St Agnes, written by Hrotsvitha, a 10th century poet and nun. This extract of the poem is Agnes’ response to the suitor wooing her, where she explains why she wants to give up marriage to instead pursue Christ.
 
 "0 son of death eternal, deserving of damnation, fuel of crime and despiser of the Almighty, departing from me speedily leave me and flee ; neither do thou trust that thou wilt be able to pervert my chaste heart, which the sweet love of a far nobler Spouse has anti- cipated, the beautiful token of Whose faith I bear upon my brow and in my whole body ; that token with which He has signed me and has bound me closely to Himself, lest my mind should presume to seek any other lover, but rather that it should learn to embrace Him, alone, Wlio is potent in every virtue and resplendent in 70 beauty and is far above all in Heaven and on earth. Him equal in divine nature and not inferior in majesty the Almighty begot without a mother before the earliest ages of the world, this Son, through Whom He hath made the world for Himself. And this same Son, a Mother brought forth without a father and nourished her own Maker, born in time. His outstanding come- liness the splendor of the sun and the gleaming glory of the moon do marvel at, glorifying with their bril- liant rays the Lord of the earth, and at His command all the subservient stars fulfill through the years the 80 courses assigned unto them. To Him all the angelic choirs, making acclamations in fitting praises, do not cease to render homage. To Him belong wondrous good- ness and exalted power, glory sublime, perpetual con- cord of peace, glorious kindliness and will exceedingly benign. For such is the Lover Whom I cherish, and He, I confess, is alone to be worshiped above all others. "He indeed hath espoused me with a token of such love as though He hath enriched His spouse with a 90 brilliant diadem, and He hath encircled my neck with precious gems, and hath suspended from my ears cost- ly earrings, and hath presented to me splendid adorn- ments of various beauty. From His Lips hath flowed forth a sweetness that hath nourished me with milk and fed me with a sweet food like to the nectar of sweet honey and an abundance of milk. Moreover He hath constructed for me an eternal bridal-chamber, resplendent with varied jewels and metal of gold ; in this abode instruments resounding in harmonious 100 melodies sing for me a sweet hymn throughout all the ages, and likewise sounding forth the praises of my Celestial Spouse, they persuade me ever to His affec-tion. When I love Him in the inmost affection of my heart, no loss do I suffer of maidenhood ; but when I merit the joy of His embrace and like a bride am led to His glorious bridal-chamber, I remain a virgin with- out violation of chastity. For Him alone I must needs preserve perpetual troth; to Him I entrust myself with all the endeavor of my heart."


***


St Agnes is a much beloved saint in all Christian traditions. She is often associated with lambs, partly because the Latin word for lamb, Agnus sounds close to her name. The lamb is also an allusion to Agnes’ innocence, and her martyric sacrifice. Most artistic portrayals of her also contain a lamb. Each year on Agnes' feast day (January 21), two white lambs are blessed and their sheared wool woven into the pallia sent by the pope to new archbishops throughout the world." The Orthodox troparion for St Agnes refers to her as a lamb as well:

Your lamb Agnes, / calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, / and in seeking You, I endure suffering. / In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love.” / Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

Agnes' bones are conserved beneath the high altar in the church of Sant'AgneseOutside the Walls  in Rome, Her skull is preserved in a separate chapel in the church of Sant'Agnese in Agonealso in Rome. And of course there are countless schools, hospitals, churches named after her all over the world.

And as we remember and commemorate St Agnes, we remember also persecuted Christians suffering and dying for their faith still today, and we remember also the many innocent children who suffer violence, even sexual violence. St Agnes, please pray for them and for us.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Christian saints podcast. Look for the Christian Saints podcast page on Facebook or Instagram, or look for us on Twitter at podcast_saints. All music in this episode was composed by my good friend, James John Marks of Generative sounds. Please check out his music at https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com/


To end this episode, I would like to read this passage from the song of solomon, which is the assigned Old Testement reading for St Agnes’ feast day under the Anglican church. As I mentioned earlier, song of Solomon is a poem and book of the bible that celebrates erotic, romantic love, and this passage is a hauntingly beautiful one when applied to St Agnes’ story, as the lover calls his bride to come away with him as the winter of death is past, and a new spring begins. From the Song of Solomon, 2:10-13


"Arise, my love, my fair one,
 and come away; for now the winter is past,
 the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth;
 the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove
 is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs,
 and the vines are in blossom; 
 they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one,
 and come away."