Homily: Jan 21 2016 - St. Agnes, Virgin Martyr - Uncompromising Faith

Of all the virgin martyrs of Rome, none was held in such high honor by the early church as Saint Agnes.  She has been honored since the 4th century.  Her name appears in the first Eucharistic prayer.  Yet, Almost nothing is known of St. Agnes of Rome expect that she was very young, just 12 or 13, when she was martyred in the last half of the 3rd century, when Christianity could still not be practiced in public.

When she was about thirteen years old, the son the Roman governor fell in love with her.  He asked her parents’ permission to marry her, but they respected Agnes’ wishes and asked for a delay.  The man persisted, but Agnes answered that she had already given her heart to Christ.  “Such is Christ’s beauty,” she said, “that his brightness excels all the brightness of the sun and the stars; the heavens are ravished with his glory.  He is so powerful that all the forces of heaven and earth cannot conquer him.  I love him more than my soul and life and am willing to die for him.”

The governor’s son became bitter and angry; he tried to persuade Agnes to compromise her purity, promising her wealth and priceless jewels.  She resisted the temptation.  He then threatened her, and told her that he would accuse her of being a Christian.  This meant that she would face death, if she did not give in, since it was against the law to be a Christian.

When he told her what he intended to do, Agnes boldly answered, "Never will I consent to offend my God by sin, and joyfully will I suffer the loss of all things rather than lose my soul.”  She was eventually beheaded.

Our soul is that pearl which is beyond all price. Like Agnes we should be willing to suffer, rather than stain our souls by sin.  For no sin is worth the loss of our soul and the loss of eternal salvation.
Because the name Agnes is similar to Agnus, the latin word for lamb, she is often depicted in art holding an innocent lamb.  Also, on this day in Rome, lambs are solemnly blessed, and their wool is taken to make special vestments for the pope and certain archbishops called the pallium.  The special vestment is to remind the pope and the archbishops that the care of the lambs and sheep of Christ—that’s us—has been entrusted to their care, and they need to be good shepherds—that they need to walk in the footsteps of the One Good Shepherd—Jesus—protecting us from evil and guiding us to safe pastures.

Agnes is a reminder that holiness does not depend on length of years.  Children understand, often better than adults, that following Jesus means to follow him with our whole hearts and minds and soul.  With the help of the prayers and example of St. Agnes, may we come to see Christ’s glory in the eternal kingdom of heaven by witnessing to his love without hesitation in this life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.