The Nagasaki Statue
The damaged statue of St. Agnes found in the ruins of a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. The Cathedral was completely destroyed when the atomic bomb exploded about half a kilometre away. The charring and mottling are the result of the intense heat and radiation. The statue is on display in the United Nations Headquarters.
May she bring our world to The Truth! The Lamb is to be loved with our LIVES!
"This is a virgin's birthday; let us follow the example of her chastity.
It is a martyr's birthday; let us offer sacrifices; it is the birthday
of holy Agnes: let men be filled with wonder, little ones with hope,
married woman with awe, and the unmarried with emulation.
It seems to me that this child, holy beyond her years and courageous beyond
human nature, received the name of Agnes (Greek: pure) not as an earthly
designation but as a revelation from God of what she was to be."~ St. Augustine
September of 2016... I would sleep at Nancy's for the night and stay at the monastery for the day. Such quiet deep prayer time was had in their glorious chapel!
St Agnes was brought very much into my life by 4th daughter, Susan/Little Sister Hallel. She traveled to Rome while in high school to visit her sister, Maria, who was studying there for Catholic Studies at St Thomas. She fell in love with St Agnes, who is very honored and beloved in Rome and in our amazing Catholic Church. Coming home she chose St Agnes for her confirmation Saint!
A Roman maid of tender years … St Agnes died for Christ … Steadfast in faith, and ever chaste … She could not be enticed … Although the pagans tortured her … Their efforts were in vain … As piously and patiently … She gloried in her pain … Not even all their insults and … Humiliating acts … Could cause her vigil of the soul … To lessen or relax … When she was only thirteen years … She died beneath the sword … True to her vow to be a spouse … And virgin of our Lord … And now her soul is honored as … The little lamb of Christ … This Roman maid who kept the faith … And nobly sacrificed. Excerpt from: Poem Portraits of the Saints, James Metcalfe (pg 28)
The lamb, as a symbol of purity, is one of the symbols of St. Agnes. In Rome on this day, the Holy Father will bless two crowned lambs, brought to the Church of St. Agnes in two baskets, decorated in red (martyrdom) and white (purity), by Trappists of the Tre Fontane Monastery. The lambs are blessed and then taken to the Convent of St. Cecilia, where the Sisters care for them and use their wool to weave the palliums worn by the Pope and his Archbishops. The palliums are conferred on new archbishops -- those appointed as archbishops during the preceding year -- on the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul on 29 June. Because of St. Agnes's association with lambs, a lamb-shaped cake would be nice today. Think of using coconut for the wool...
St. Agnes, like St. Valentine, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Anthony of Padua, is invoked by single women in search of a husband -- and today is a good day to pray such a prayer. In fact, Medieval folklore says that on St. Agnes Eve, girls are often granted visions of their future husbands. Scottish girls would meet in a crop field at midnight, throw grain onto the soil, and pray:
Agnes sweet and Agnes fair,
Hither, hither, now repair;
Bonny Agnes, let me see,
Bonny Agnes, let me see,
The lad who is to marry me.
Source: www.fisheaters.com
St Agnes sweet and fair, pray for us!
As I looked more closely at St Agnes and her meaning for this world. Susan/Hallel shared with me that she had been put into a house of prostitution to try to break her and destroy her purity. But she not only left there still pure, but the only man who tried to touch her was struck blind.
So important to ask for her to keep us pure in the midst of this world where our youth are put into a house of prostitution with filth just a mouse click away! St Agnes, protect all those this day targeted by evil!
No doubt they are celebrating St Agnes and her Lamb with great fervor today and maybe even some Coke in those bowls! They love their Coca Cola... a true sign of a celebration is to have those bottles of pop on the table and in the glasses!
Therese with her Christmas gift of a cook book... Looks like the family will all be smiling after this!
A Big reason to smile indeed! Now for a Lamb cake with coconut wool for St Agnes. I think a new tradition is beginning!
Jesus with Mary and St Agnes... we love you and look to heaven this day as we know that our heart's desire is to be forever with you! May we always love The Lamb and follow after Jesus down the narrow path as we carry/drag our Most Cherished Cross to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! Jesus, we trust in you. May we die to self so that you may live in us. Amen and Hallelujah
Happy Feast Day
Saint Agnes of Rome
291 - 304
Feast Day: January 21
Patronage: Betrothed couples, chastity
St. Agnes was a Roman girl who was only twelve or thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes made a promise to God never to stain her purity. When the Prefect Sempronius wished Agnes to marry his son and she refused, he condemned her to death. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims, and virgins.
https://
No comments:
Post a Comment