Saints from A to Z: Letter A

My dear little blog has been neglected for the millionth time. I have plenty of books to share but today we're moving on to the second biography in the "Saints from A to Z" series. Maybe one of these days I'll catch up to Esteban's drawings! 

Today, we're going back to beginning with letter A. 

Clues:

Similar to the last biography, I'll give you some clues before the biography. :)

CLUE 1: I died as a virgin-martyr in the year 304. 

CLUE 2: Little is known about me, but most sources agree that I was martyred at age 12 or 13. 

CLUE 3: I am often shown with a lamb to represent my innocence. 

That third clue might have easily given it away... 

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(scroll no more) 

It is Saint Agnes of Rome!

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Similar to the lives of saints who lived long ago, much of St. Agnes' life is legend with very few facts. She was born in 291 AD to a Christian family and though her life was short, she lived it well and holy. Because her family was wealthy and she was beautiful, men often wanted her for marriage. Agnes had a wish, however. She wanted to live a pure life and often declared: "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse". 

One case involved the governor's son, Procop. He tried many times to win Agnes as his wife with rich gifts and promises, but Agnes kept her promise to the Lord: "I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!" 

Procop and his father did not approve of Christianity. They tried to change her ways by making her deny God, but she never accepted. Again, they put her in chains but she became more joyous through this suffering. A third time they sent her to a sinful place, but an Angel rescued her. With no other way to make her suffer, she was condemned to death in January 304 at the age of 12 or 13. The pagans were even sad to see her dying at a young age, but she was happy to go to her only Spouse. After her death, it is believed that Christians used cloths to soak up her blood. 

Patron of: young girls, engaged couples, and chastity

Feast: January 21

Source:

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=106

https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/articles/saint-agnes

Let us follow in St. Agnes footsteps of innocence and put our full trust in God! Be sure to check out Esteban's drawing of St. Agnes here. 

St. Agnes, pray for us! 

Who is your favorite martyr saint? 

-Miss K

A Reflection on Holy Thursday

Today marks the beginning of the Sacred Triduum, commemorating Our Lord's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Today is also the last Mass of the Lenten Season, making it a huge day for us Catholics. Although the liturgy is transitioning to a more somber feel, the Mass of Holy Thursday will be more joyful: not only will the priest wear white vestments, but the Gloria will be heard by all, while the bells ring one last time before Easter. After Mass, the liturgy becomes more somber. The stripping of the altar takes place to remind us of the crucifixion and death of Our Lord that is only hours away. Tomorrow, the bells will stay silent and instead, we will hear the crotalus. Before leaving the church, tonight we will "watch one hour with Me" after the Blessed Sacrament is brought to the Altar of Repose. 

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Each of the three days has a special event and today is especially special. Today IS the night of the Last Supper, the night that Our Lord gave us His Body and Blood through the Holy Eucharist and instituted the priesthood: 

"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28). 

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In today's Epistle, the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist is explained by St. Paul: 

"For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgement to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:26-30). 

He teaches that the Eucharist IS the body of Jesus, not merely a symbol. How often do we truly love the Body and Blood of Christ? He committed the greatest sacrifice ever seen for love of us! So many times we offend Him and yet He continues to love us. Tomorrow is the day that we remember all of the pain that we caused Him- it is by our sins that He suffered so much pain. Now is the time to reflect on our little sufferings that God sends us each day; how often do we complain about them? Instead, look up to the Cross and remember how much suffering He went through to show us His love. Be silent then and offer up each suffering for love of Jesus.

-Miss K