The Feast of St. Agnes

Almost nothing is known of this saint except that she was very young—12 or 13—when she was martyred in the last half of the third century. Various modes of death have been suggested—beheading, burning, strangling.

Legend has it she was a beautiful girl whom many young men wanted to marry. Among those she refused, one reported her to the authorities for being a Christian. She was arrested and confined to a house of prostitution. The legend continues that a man who looked upon her lustfully lost his sight and had it restored by her prayer. She was condemned, executed and buried near Rome in a catacomb that eventually was named after her. The daughter of Constantine built a basilica in her honor.

This is an important feast day in our family.  This is my grandmother's birthday.  Her name was Agnes.  I guess that when you are one of 13 children and are born on the feast of St. Agnes, your name is St. Agnes.  St. Anges,  virgin and martyr, pray for us.  She is the patron saint of young girls.

Saints truly hear our prayers and pray for us.  Last night during our family prayer time, we began to invoke the intercession of Saints before ending our prayer time.  The kids love this and we all take turns saying the name of a saint while the others respond, "Pray for us".  There was a pause, and Andrew said, "St. Sebastian".  Bruce and I looked at each other in amazement since we don't remember ever invoking this saint before.  We were even more amazed that it was the Feast of St. Sabastian yesterday.