On Jan. 21, the Roman Catholic Church honors the virgin and martyr St. Agnes, who suffered death for her consecration to Christ.
Eastern Catholics of the Byzantine tradition celebrate her feast day Jan. 14.
Although the details of Agnes' life are mostly unknown, the story of her martyrdom has been passed on with reverence since the fourth century. On the feast day of the teenaged martyr – whose name means "lamb" in Latin – the pope traditionally blesses two lambs, whose wool is later shorn on Holy Thursday and then used to weave the white pallium worn by every archbishop.
Born into a wealthy family during the last decade of the third century, Agnes lived in Rome during the final major persecution of the early Church under the Emperor Diocletian. Though he was lenient toward Christians for much of his rule, Diocletian changed course in 302, resolving to wipe out the Church throughout the Roman Empire.
Agnes came of age as the Church was beginning to suffer under a set of new laws decreed by Diocletian, and his co-ruler Galerius, in 303. The emperor and his subordinate called for churches to be destroyed and their books burned. Subsequent orders led to the imprisonment and torture of clergy and laypersons, for the sake of compelling them to worship the emperor instead of Christ.
Meanwhile, Agnes had become a young woman of great beauty and charm, drawing the attention of suitors from the top ranks of the Roman aristocracy. But in keeping with the words of Christ and St. Paul, she had already decided on a life of celibacy for the sake of God's kingdom. To all interested men, she explained that she had already promised herself to a heavenly and unseen spouse.
These suitors both understood Agnes' meaning and resented her resolution. Some of the men, possibly looking to change her mind, reported her to the Roman government as a Christian. Agnes was brought before a judge who tried first to persuade her, then to threaten her, into renouncing her choice not to marry.
When the judge showed her the various punishments he could inflict – fire, iron hooks, and the rack – Agnes smiled and indicated she would suffer them willingly. Instead, she was brought before a pagan altar and asked to make an act of worship in accordance with the Roman state religion.
When Agnes refused, the judge ordered that she should be sent to a house of prostitution, where the virginity she had offered to God would be violated. Agnes predicted that God would not allow this to occur, and her statement proved true. The first man to approach her in the brothel was struck blind by a sudden flash of light, and others opted not to repeat his mistake.
But the Roman governor's son Procop, who had at first sought to make Agnes his own, lobbied the judge for her execution and she was sentenced to die by beheading. The executioner gave her one last chance to spare her life, by renouncing her consecration to Christ – but Agnes refused, made a short prayer, and courageously submitted to death.
St. Agnes, who died in 304 at about age 13, was venerated as a holy martyr from the fourth century onward. She is one of seven women saints, excluding the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated by name in the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass. The saint's statue is also among those on the colonnade in St. Peter's Square.
She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims and virgins.
— Benjamin Mann, Catholic News Agency
Francis de Sales was born of noble and pious parents near Annecy in what is now France 1567. He was born two months prematurely and nearly died, and his mother consecrated him to the Lord in the presence of the Holy Shroud (of Turin). From an early age he was curious about the mysteries of the faith, thoughtful yet quick-tempered. He studied with brilliant success in Paris and in Padua, particularly enjoying theology, Scripture and debating.
After returning from Italy, he gave up the grand legal career and an arranged marriage that his father had marked out for him, and in 1593 he was ordained a priest. His father had objected, but his cousin and fellow priest Louis de Sales interceded with the local bishop.
When the Duke of Savoy had resolved to restore the Church in the Chablais region, which had fallen under the influence of Calvinist Protestants, the local bishop put out a call for missionaries. Francis was the only volunteer for the dangerous work.
Catholic worship had been outlawed for an entire generation and only recently permitted to be practiced again. Churches had been burned or destroyed when not appropriated for Protestant use. Religious orders were suppressed and priests were exiled. One local missionary priest who had ventured into the area before Francis was forced to flee for his life.
Nonetheless, Francis insisted on going, even over his father's pleas to the bishop. He was unanimously accepted for the mission – no one else wanted the job.
Francis set out on foot with his Bible, breviary and one companion, his loyal cousin Louis.
Every door and every heart was closed against him. He was rejected with insult and threatened with death. But nothing could stop him, and before long the Church burst forth into a second spring with the Counter Reformation. It is estimated that Francis converted 72,000 Calvinists.
Francis was then compelled by the pope to become coadjutor bishop of Geneva in 1599, and he was named bishop in 1602. His fame as a preacher spread abroad, and from 1600 until his death he delivered Lent and Advent sermons in many of the great cities of France. In his diocese he set up schools and paid special attention to the poorer parishes. He was instrumental in the important reform of the Cistercian abbey Port-Royal.
At times the exceeding gentleness with which he received heretics and sinners almost scandalized his friends. One of them said to him, "Francis of Sales will go to Paradise, of course; but I am not so sure of the Bishop of Geneva: I am almost afraid his gentleness will play him a shrewd turn."
"Ah," said Francis, "I would rather account to God for too great gentleness than for too great severity. Is not God all love? God the Father is the Father of mercy; God the Son is a Lamb; God the Holy Ghost is a Dove – that is, gentleness itself. And are you wiser than God?"
Together with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Order of the Visitation at Annecy for women who could not undergo the austerities of the great established orders. It soon spread throughout Europe. Though poor, he refused provisions and dignities, and he even turned down the great see of Paris.
His "Introduction to the Devout Life" is a widely read religious classic. His other major work is the "Treatise on the Love of God." He is the patron saint of Catholic writers. His feast day is Jan. 24.
He died at Avignon on Dec. 28, 1622, after giving a nun his last word of advice: "Humility."
— Sources: Catholic News Agency, The Catholic Encyclopedia, www.catholic-saints-resource-center.com, www.fransalians.com