St. Thérèse of Lisieux was enamored by the strength and fervor of several female martyrs including St. Agnes, St. Joan of Arc, and St. Cecilia. She so loved St. Agnes that it was said that while on pilgrimage in Rome, she took a red mosaic stone from St. Agnes' burial place in the Catacombs, by climbing down an opening where the ruins lay! She called this early saint, 'a childhood friend' [Story of a Soul]. She even wrote to her beloved sister Pauline, who became known as Mother Agnes of Jesus, shortly before entering Carmel in 1887, "Thérèse, the little Spouse of Jesus, loves Him for Himself; she only looks on the Face of her Beloved to catch a glimpse of the Tears which delight her with their secret charm...At all cost I must win the palm of St. Agnes; if it cannot be mine through blood, I must win it by Love." [See www.pathsoflove.com/pdf/ThereseLetters.pdf]
St. Agnes' feast day is today! She was a young Roman girl who promised her life to God. Because of her beauty many men wanted to marry her, but she always refused, saying "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse." One of them became so angry when she refused him, he turned her in for being a Christian. She was then tortured and killed for refusing to deny her faith. She was only thirteen years old when she was martyred. She is the patron of young girls, and is often pictured holding a lamb, as her name is very similar to the Latin word "Agnus" which means lamb.
Below, is a beautiful song that St. Therese composed to honor this special Feast Day of Virgin and Martyr St. Agnes.
CANTICLE OF ST. AGNES.
"My only Love is Christ."
From the Acts of her Martyrdom
Christ is my Love alone, all life is He for me;
He is my one Betrothed, Who charms my dazzled eyes;
E'en now I hear vibrate the solemn harmony
Of His melodious sighs.
With precious stones and gold He decks my flowing hair,
Already on my hand shines bright His nuptial ring;
And many lustrous stars, magnificently fair,
Are love gifts from my King.
With pearls, all price beyond, has He adorned my hands;
About my neck He placed a necklace wondrous bright;
Celestial rubies red, from far off unknown lands,
Bedeck my ears tonight.
Betrothed am I to Him on Whom the angels wait,
Trembling before His throne throughout eternity;
The sun and moon His praise with rapture will relate,
Till time shall cease to be.
Divine His Person is; heaven is His realm of bliss;
He for His Mother chose a Virgin here on earth;
Who no beginning hath, nor end, His Father is,
Eternal is that birth.
Ah! when this Jesus Christ at times to touch I dare,
More pure becomes my heart; more chaste, dear Lord, am I!
The kisses of His mouth give me the treasure fair
Of blest virginity.
His signet He hath set already on my face,
That so no earthly love may dare draw nigh to me;
Kept thus for Christ alone, by His abiding grace,
Cleansed by the precious Blood He shed on Calvary's cross,
Already here I taste of heaven's matchless bliss;
The honey and the milk with joys that know not loss
Come to me with His kiss.
No thought of fear have I, of either flame or sword:
For naught can now disturb this perfect heavenly peace
A fire of love divine pervades my soul, O Lord:
And never shall it cease.
January 21, 1896
