Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Homily – January 21, 2009 – St. Agnes

Today we have an amazing celebration of the double-martyrdom of St. Agnes. She died for her virginity (her purity), and she died for her faith in Jesus – at the age of twelve!

We know that martyrdom was held in great esteem by the early Church beginning with the martyrdom of St. Stephen! Dying for Christ, as he died for us was immediately rewarded by him in heaven by a great crown of victory! Many people wanted to be martyrs – to share in the Lord's suffering, death and resurrection with immediate results! When the persecutions ended, though, and people did not have the opportunity to die for Christ as a martyr, they went to the newly formed monasteries instead and lived a life of virginity: giving one's life entirely to Christ as a consecrated person was so pleasing to God and favored by the Church that it EQUALLED MARTYRDOM!

Agnes who lived at the turn of the 4th century in Rome became a consecrated virgin at a very young age and offered her life – when that virginity and faith were challenged - for the same values and faith that you and I have been baptized into, and profess that we believe in each Sunday!

Pope Damasus adorned her tomb with sacred poetry, and many Fathers of the Church hailed her double victory including (our own namesake): St. Ambrose. From the Office of Readings for today we read what he wrote:

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.

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 (Christ Jesus). 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."

You could see fear in the eyes of the executioners, 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!"

Let us keep the feast of St. Agnes by recalling all that she suffered. While still so young, she overcame death and found true life! And may we respond to our calling to live
pure, chaste, holy and productive: true lives, giving glory to God the Father always, especially when things get challenging in small and large ways!

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