Sant'Agnese d'Assisi, Saint of the day for November 19

Saint of the day for November 19
(C. 1197 - 16 November 1253)

History of Sant'Agnese d'Assisi

Born Caterina Offreducia, Agnes was the younger sister of Santa Chiara and her first follower. When Catherine left the house two weeks after Clare's departure, their family attempted to bring her back by force. They tried to drag her out of the monastery, but her body suddenly became so heavy that several knights could not move it. Uncle Monaldo tried to hit her but was temporarily paralyzed. The knights then left Caterina and Chiara alone. St. Francis himself gave Clare's sister the name Agnes, because she was gentle as a young lamb.

Agnes equaled her sister in devotion to prayer and willingness to endure the severe penances that characterized the life of the Poor Ladies at San Damiano. In 1221 a group of Benedictine nuns in Monticelli near Florence asked to become Poor Dame. Santa Chiara sent Agnes to become abbess of that monastery. Agnes soon wrote a rather sad letter about how much she missed Chiara and the other Sisters of San Damiano. After having founded other monasteries of Poor Ladies in northern Italy, Agnese was recalled to San Damiano in 1253, while Chiara lay dying.

Three months later Agnes followed Clare into death and was canonized in 1753.

Reflection

God must love irony; the world is so full of them. In 1212, many in Assisi surely felt that Clare and Agnes were wasting their lives and turning their backs on the world. In fact, their lives have been tremendously life-giving and the world has been enriched by the example of these poor contemplatives.