St. Agnes of Assisi
Her life, briefly illustrated below, was one of great simplicity and obedience. It all brings up more in the discussion on living a Christian life...
The story of St. Agnes is intimately wrapped up in the life of her sister, St. Clare. She listened to her sister talk about Holy Poverty. She saw St. Clare transformed under the tutelage of St. Francis. Then, late one night, she saw her sister leave, dressed in her finest clothes and jewelry, go out the door of the dead, to marry her Beloved. St. Agnes' heart ached to follow her sister, but she was so young. She did follow, however, two weeks later. She joined her sister at the local Benedictine monastery, where they were given shelter for a time. Her family was furious! Her father and her relatives went to the monastery where she was and dragged her out by her hair! Her father was about to strike her with his sword, and his arm fell lifeless at his side. The others tried to pick her up, but St. Clare came out in her defense, and they discovered that St. Agnes had suddenly become so heavy, they couldn't lift her! They gave up; God had beaten them. He wanted Agnes for Himself... She later went on to help found several houses of Poor Clares, and was with her sister when St. Clare died. The nuns under her care often marvelled at her holiness, which was marked by great simplicity and humility. She died, like it says in the previous post, three months after her sister.
So, what does this have to do with living a Christian life? Plenty. It was through St. Clare's example that St. Anges came to know how she was to serve God. It was through her role as Mother Abbess, that many nuns were strengthened and encouraged in their vocations. Even her family came to see how good it was to live the Gospel...
Living the Gospel is the vocation of every Christian. Of course, not all our jobs are the same, but to be as Christ-like as possible is the ends.
The story of St. Agnes is intimately wrapped up in the life of her sister, St. Clare. She listened to her sister talk about Holy Poverty. She saw St. Clare transformed under the tutelage of St. Francis. Then, late one night, she saw her sister leave, dressed in her finest clothes and jewelry, go out the door of the dead, to marry her Beloved. St. Agnes' heart ached to follow her sister, but she was so young. She did follow, however, two weeks later. She joined her sister at the local Benedictine monastery, where they were given shelter for a time. Her family was furious! Her father and her relatives went to the monastery where she was and dragged her out by her hair! Her father was about to strike her with his sword, and his arm fell lifeless at his side. The others tried to pick her up, but St. Clare came out in her defense, and they discovered that St. Agnes had suddenly become so heavy, they couldn't lift her! They gave up; God had beaten them. He wanted Agnes for Himself... She later went on to help found several houses of Poor Clares, and was with her sister when St. Clare died. The nuns under her care often marvelled at her holiness, which was marked by great simplicity and humility. She died, like it says in the previous post, three months after her sister.
So, what does this have to do with living a Christian life? Plenty. It was through St. Clare's example that St. Anges came to know how she was to serve God. It was through her role as Mother Abbess, that many nuns were strengthened and encouraged in their vocations. Even her family came to see how good it was to live the Gospel...
Living the Gospel is the vocation of every Christian. Of course, not all our jobs are the same, but to be as Christ-like as possible is the ends.
posted by Greta at 10:36 PM
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