On January 21, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Agnes, often known as St. Agnes of Rome. She is the patroness of those seeking chastity and purity, engaged couples, rape victims, gardeners, young girls, and Girl Scouts. Symbols and representations of Saint Agnes include a woman with a dove, a woman with a crown of thorns, a woman with a palm branch, a woman with a sword at her throat, and a woman with a lamb. The imagery of lamb is significant because the name “Agnes” is similar to the Latin word “agnus,” which means “lamb”. For this reason depictions of Saint Agnes often include a lamb. The name actually comes from a Greek word, which means “chaste, pure, sacred”.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
DAILY NOVENA PRAYER:
O kind and protective Saint Agnes! Glorious Virgin and Martyr of Jesus Christ! In this solemn novena, dedicated to your glorious triumph, we humbly prostrate ourselves before you, certain that you will not deny us the graces we now ask of you.
Animated by your luminous examples and awakened by divine inspirations, we decide to dedicate ourselves sincerely to the service of God and to belong entirely to Him; we, therefore, wish to consecrate our hearts to Him. But, knowing our unworthiness, we dare not make such a miserable offer; therefore, we beseech and implore you to receive these hearts, thirsting for the purity of your merits, so that they may become worthy of being accepted by God.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY – PART 3
Agnes was reported to the local prefect Sempronius for being a Christian, in an attempt to dissuade her from her vow of chastity. The Prefect first tried to convince Agnes to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods and promised her wonderful gifts but she refused. Her heart was firm in its devotion to her Beloved. The Prefect then tried to frighten her by displaying some instruments of torture in the hands of the cruel executioner himself. Agnes showed no fear and refused to burn incense to false gods. Outraged, the prefect ordered that she be taken to brothels to be violated by immoral men… (To be continued)
- (Biography Culled from Catholic.org)
—SILENT REFLECTION—
DAY 3 PRAYER
O glorious virgin and martyr, no bride ever ran so joyfully to the wedding, as you ran to martyrdom. Neither the tyrant’s cruelties, nor the executioners’ ferocity, nor the gleam of the sword hanging over your head were able to remove your constancy.
Oh! Shame on us, who have so often succumbed to threats, interests, and pleasures as opposed to the Catholic faith. In order not to displease men, we do not hesitate to displease our God.
Oh! Virgin undefeated! Prostrated before you, we implore you, by your strength, to obtain for us from God the grace to overcome all human respects, so that we are more willing, with your example, to shed blood and lose life, than commit acts contrary to the glory of God and the good of our brothers. Amen
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be… St. Agnes, pray for us!
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison, Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, the Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, consecrated to God in your youth, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, lily of virginal innocence, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, rose among the thorns of paganism, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, inflamed with the love of God, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, defender of the faith, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, adornment of the Christian nation, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, loathing the lure of the world and all its vanity, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, by the particular grace of God protected by the angel from the stain of sin, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, singular model of virginal purity, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, mirror of piety, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, example of obedience and mores, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, invaluable treasure of the Church of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, victorious over all temptations, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, adornment of the female gender, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, consolation of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, guardian of all virgins, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, virgin in soul and body, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, bride of the Savior of the world, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, betrothed to God with the ring of His Faith, Hope and Love, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, despising the earthly bridegroom for the love of God, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, reviving the dead young man through your prayers, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, not afraid of terrible torments, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, wishing with joy for death by martyrdom, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, condemned by the enemy to be burned, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, perishing from a murderous hand armed with steel, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, unparalleled in martyr’s patience, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, rare example of bravery and consistency, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, adorned with the palm of victory, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, rewarded with the crown of martyrdom, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, included in the fellowship of the martyrs of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, placed in the tabernacle of eternal glory, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, experienced Patroness in various adventures, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, consolation of God the Eternal Father, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, dwelling of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, our Patroness, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Almighty eternal God, who in the midst of pagan darkness, having in particular care your faithful servant Saint Agnes, preserved her in innocence and gave her the crown of martyrdom in Your glory, we ask You humbly to deliver us through her intercession from the darkness of sin, and bring us through the road of virtue to the glory that she shares forever with You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Through the intercession of Saint Agnes of Rome, Virgin & Martyr, may Almighty God bless you + the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Shalom!
Compiled by Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Loreto, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
___________________________________
PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?
Amen
Amen
Thank you Jesus
I pray that St. Agnes of Rome intercedes for I and my children to uphold our faith even amidst the challenges we face in life day by day.
St Agnes! Pray for Us. Amen
Amen
St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, continue to intercede for me, my family and home land, Nise from idolatry and paganism, amen
Amen. Also for Ezinifite aguata and all the Anambra locations, may evil practice be demoralized, amen
May God Almighty hear my cry of help through the intersection of St Agnes, Amen
Amen
Amen
Saint Agnes, unparalleled in martyr’s patience, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, unparalleled in martyr’s patience, pray for our Country Nigeria.
St. Agnes of Rome, Virgin, and martyr, intercede for us.
St Agnes, please keep praying for us to God, amen
St. Agnes hear our humble prayers and help us in our tribulations.
St Agnes, Pray for us, Amen
St Agnes, pray for me.
St. Agnes, patroness of Virgin! Pray for us
Amen
May St. Agnes constantly intercede for us as we strive to maintain purity of heart and mind while upholding our moral values. AMEN
In this solemn novena, dedicated to your glorious triumph, we humbly prostrate ourselves before you, certain that you will not deny us the graces we ask of you. Amen
Amen
St Agnes pray for us
Through the intercession of St Agnes of Rome, may we live holy lives and be able to defend our faith in God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen
Amen
Amen
St. Agnes pray for me and my family.
Amen..st Agnes …pray for us
Pray for us oh holy Saint Agnes
St Agnes intercede for us. Amen
Saint Agnes, our Patroness, pray for us
Saint Agnes, pray for me.
St. Agnes of Rome….Pray for us
Amen
Amen
Saint Agnes, defender of the faith, pray for us. Amen
St.Agnes….pray for us.
St. Agnes…..pray for us. Amen
May St Agnes continue to intercede for us all. Amen
Amen and Amen
Amen
Eternal Father, through the intercession of St Agnes of Rome, grant our petitions in Jesus Precious name amen
St Agnes pray for me my children and grandchildren. Amen
StvAgnes pray for me
Amen
Amen
Thank you Jesus
St. Agnes, pray for us, amen .
St. Agnes pray for for us
St Agnes… please intercede for me and my family, Amen!
Glory to Jesus and Honour to Mary. Thank you so much FR for this wonderful platform where we come to renew our strength
St Agnes Virgin and Matyrs!
Pray for us
Amen
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.