Agnes, though, made a vow to the Lord early on, and she dedicated herself to being chaste, responding to her suitors with, “Jesus Christ is my only spouse.” The governor’s son, Procop, sought her out especially, buying her jewelry and other expensive gifts, and making her promises of power if she would take his hand in marriage. See more. When the wood refused to burn, the presiding Roman officer drew his sword and dispatched her. It was their male captors who looked weak. Although Agatha has been venerated as a saint and martyr since ancient times, none of the legendary details of her life or death can be authenticated. The soldiers meant to drag her to the brothel behind a team of oxen, but miraculously, they couldn’t budge her from the spot! Some traditions say that the soldiers gouged out her eyes (a tradition often represented in artwork by her holding a platter of her own eyes!). Pope Damasus, who reigned from 366–384, may have composed a poem in her honor, indicating how widespread her reputation was by that early date. Patron Saint of Sicily, breast cancer, rape victims, and bellfounders, Of all the men drawn to her, she desired only one, Pope Saint Gregory the Great reigned as the Supreme Pontiff of the Church from 590–604. Really, all that is known for sure about her is that she was martyred in Syracuse around 304 under the Great Persecution of Diocletian. Even the name “Agnes” comes from the Greek word meaning “chaste” or “pure”. An ancient homily relates: “A true virgin, she wore the glow of a pure conscience and the crimson of the lamb’s blood for her cosmetics.”. martyred definition: 1. All this caught the attention of the authorities, who dispatched an executioner named Maximus to put the brothers to death. They were the strong ones. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. He reported her to the governor of Syracuse, who ordered Lucy to offer sacrifice to the emperor’s image – the typical test for Christians during the Diocletian persecution. ), and devotion to her quickly spread throughout Rome. Find the perfect virgin martyr stock photo. St. Cecilia is most commonly invoked as the patroness of musicians because it is said that at her wedding, while people were singing pagan songs in celebration, she “was singing in her heart a hymn of love to Jesus, her true spouse.” Here at All Saints, we are reminded of her example by the painting above the organ in the choir loft of the church. The next on our list of “virgin martyr” saints is St. Lucy. His family loved Sicily and had property there, so the young Gregory was familiar with that beautiful island’s saints and traditions. Several years later, St. Constance, the daughter of the great Emperor Constantine, was miraculously cured of leprosy while praying at St. Agnes’ tomb. Her father was Roman, but he died when Lucy was still only five years old, leaving her in the care of her Greek mother, Eutychia. But she refused all suitors in favor of the Lord. An ancient homily relates: “A true virgin, she wore the glow of a pure conscience and the crimson of the lamb’s blood for her cosmetics.”. In the celebrations, a girl dressed as St. Lucy enters the party wearing a crown of candles, and presenting bread and sweets to those present. Lucy was so inspired and thankful that she chose to distribute her part of her family’s inheritance to the poor. Several years later, St. Constance, the daughter of the great Emperor Constantine, was miraculously cured of leprosy while praying at St. Agnes’ tomb. Saint Gregory even placed these two Sicilians just before the city of Rome’s own two female martyrs, Agnes and Cecilia, who had been part of the Roman Canon for many centuries prior. The three of them became outstanding examples of Christian friendship, and did amazing things together. Her father was Roman, but he died when Lucy was still only five years old, leaving her in the care of her Greek mother, Eutychia. The soldiers meant to drag her to the brothel behind a team of oxen, but miraculously, they couldn’t budge her from the spot! He did as she said, and was so taken by the faith preached by Urban and witnessed by Cecilia, that he and his brother Tiburtius were both baptized into the faith. Even today, her feast is celebrated as a holiday in Italy, Scandinavia, and elsewhere. giving the Virgin Mary precedence over the angels. As the Roman Martyrology states, an angel protected her, and it was said that any man who tried to abuse or take her virginity from her was struck blind. Now receive my spirit.”. St. Agatha came to Lucy in a dream, and told her that because of Lucy’s faith, her mother would be cured, and that she herself would become the glory of Syracuse, just as Agatha was for Catania. Perhaps during the persecution of the Emperor Decius around 250, she was arrested, interrogated, She refused to renounce her faith or to give in to the powerful men who desired her. The abbreviation for Virgin Martyr is VM. Pope Urban I recovered her body and buried it next to her friends in the Catacombs of St. Callistus along the Appian Way. The next on our list of “virgin martyr” saints is St. Lucy. Some traditions say that the soldiers gouged out her eyes (a tradition often represented in artwork by her holding a platter of her own eyes!). Imagine: a child not telling her mother about something – I bet that has never happened before! She became the patroness of both Catania and Palermo, with powerful intercessions reported to those who venerated her. St. Agnes is considered one of the “virgin martyrs”, a special class of the saints similar to the soldier martyrs we discussed with Sts. The story goes that while suffering in prison, St. Peter the Apostle and an angel appeared to her, healing her of her wounds and mutilations to purify her before God. The meaning of Mary is seen in the work of the early Church fathers who held her in great esteem. But Maximus was so moved by their incredible faith and acts of charity, that he laid down his sword, confessed faith in Christ, and was himself martyred alongside Tiburtius and Valerianus. Even today, her feast is celebrated as a holiday in Italy, Scandinavia, and elsewhere. September Her skull is preserved as well at Sant’Agnese in Agone, built near the Piazza Navona over the supposed site of her martyrdom. Remember how we mentioned last week that veneration of St. Agatha quickly spread throughout Sicily and the rest of the Church? The Church gave, and gives, total answers to total questions, and those answers were, and are, compelling. Wouldn’t you know it, but an earthquake saved her from this fate, leaving her to be thrown into prison a second time. The Church gave, and gives, total answers to total questions, and those answers were, and are, compelling. Date: 16-10-2011, 00:58 / Views: 5 517. July Men commit most of the physical violence in the world.
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