samedi 21 avril 2012

Sainte AGNESE SEGNI da MONTEPULCIANO (20 avril), vierge moniale dominicaine et abbesse

Agnes of Montepulciano, Dominican-Order-church in Friesach, Main altar

Agnes von Montepulciano, Dominikanerkirche Friesach in Friesach, Hochaltar


Sainte Agnès de Montepulciano

Moniale italienne (+ 1317)

Dominicaine de Montepulciano en Italie dont sainte Catherine de Sienne louait les vertus lorsqu'elle s'entretenait avec le Seigneur (Dialogue 149 de sainte Catherine) et qu'elle vénérait après la mort de l'humble dominicaine.

À Montepulciano, en Toscane, l’an 1317, sainte Agnès, vierge, qui prit à neuf ans l’habit des vierges consacrées, à quinze ans devint, malgré elle, la première supérieure du monastère de Procena, et bientôt fonda dans sa patrie un autre monastère, sous le Règle de saint Dominique, où elle donna un admirable exemple de véritable humilité.

Martyrologe romain

SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1007/Sainte-Agnes-de-Montepulciano.html

Pietro Bracci, Sant'Agnese di Montepulciano, nella chiesa di Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli in Roma


SAINTE AGNÈS de MONTEPULCIANO

Vierge

(1268-1317)

Sainte Agnès naquit à Graciano-Vecchio, en Italie, en 1268, de parents suffisamment fortunés et très bons chrétiens. Dès l'âge de 9 ans elle entre chez les Religieuses du Sac à Montepulciano, où on lui confiera bientôt la charge d'économe; à 17 ans elle dirige la construction du couvent à Procéna, où par le bref pontifical elle devient abbesse; à 32 ans elle revient à Montepulciano pour y fonder un couvent de Soeurs Dominicaines, où elle sera prieure. Elle meurt le 20 avril 1317, à l'âge de 49 ans. Son corps, miraculeusement préservé de la corruption du tombeau, repose au Couvent des Dominicaines de Montepulciano. Elle fut béatifiée par Clément VIII en 1608 et canonisée par Benoît XIII en 1726.

Sainte Agnès est avant tout une âme contemplative. Pour elle, Dieu c'est le Bien-Aimé: elle Lui manifeste une amitié sans réserve, une tendresse sans limite, une confiance sans borne; Il la comble de faveurs extraordinaires, répond empressement à ses désirs et satisfait même ses moindres caprices. Aussi la représente-t-on caressant l'Agneau de Dieu qu'elle tient dans ses bras et dont elle porte le nom.

À 4 ans, à l'âge où les enfants ne savent que jouer, sainte Agnès cherchait la solitude pour mieux prier; à 9 ans, à l'âge où déjà les parents fiançaient leur fille, elle obtient de ses parents d'entrer en religion pour être, elle aussi, à son Bien-Aimé. Désormais, sa vie ne sera plus qu'une continuelle oraison.

Un jour qu'elle fut longtemps ravie en extase, l'heure de la Messe passa sans qu'elle ne s'en aperçut. Revenue à elle-même, elle se mit à pleurer de ne pouvoir ce matin-là recevoir son Bien-Aimé. Jésus lui envoie alors porter la Sainte Communion par l'Ange qui L'avait assisté dans Son agonie. C'est encore cet Ange qui viendra lui annoncer les souffrances et la mort qu'elle aura à endurer: "Prends ce calice, ô bien-aimée du Christ, lui dira-t-il, bois comme Lui jusqu'à la lie". Elle prendra la coupe, et la videra, lui semble-t-il, toute entière.

La vie s'en allait, et les religieuses, la voyant mourir, la suppliaient de demander sa guérison. "Si vous m'aimiez vraiment, leur répondit-elle, vous vous réjouiriez de ma mort, puisque je m'en vais à mon Bien-Aimé. Je vous serai plus utile au Paradis qu'ici; ayez confiance, je serai toujours avec vous". Quelques instants après, levant les yeux et les mains vers le Ciel, elle dit avec un sourire ravissant cette dernière parole: "Mon Bien-Aimé est à moi, je ne Le quitterai plus".

René-M. Groleau, O.P., Saints Dominicains, p. 17-18.

SOURCE : http://viechretienne.catholique.org/saints/1063-sainte-agnes-de-montepulciano


La Vie d'Agnès

Agnès est née en 1277 à Gracciano Vecchio, au centre de l’Italie, de parents pauvres, mais riches intérieurement.

A l’âge de 4 ans, elle quittait souvent ses jeux d’enfant pour se retirer dans un endroit solitaire. Là, elle se mettait à genoux, élevait vers le ciel son cœur, ses yeux et ses petites mains, offrait à Jésus ses prières et sa personne, et lui demandait de bénir ses parents.

A 9 ans, Agnès, dont le nom signifie épouse, demanda à se vouer à Dieu dans un monastère. Ses parents crurent sage de s’opposer pour le moment à ce dessein : elle était si jeune !

Mais Agnès pria et Dieu fléchit toutes les résistances. Elle entra chez les religieuses del Sachho, à côté de Monte Pulciano, qui vivaient sous la règle de st Augustin.

Dès ses premières années de vie religieuse, elle fut très appréciée de sa maîtresse des novices et de ses compagnes de noviciat.

Lorsqu'elle fut arrivée à l'âge de quatorze ans, on la nomma procuratrice de son monastère. Cette charge devait l'arracher aux douceurs de l'oraison - mais elle savait que l'oraison n'est plus agréable à Dieu, quand l'obéissance appelle à d'autres emplois.: Elle obéit donc avec joie, et jamais on n'eut à lui adresser le moindre reproche. Elle veillait avec diligence à ce qu'aucune religieuse ne manquât de quoi que ce fût, et quand il s'agissait de rendre un service à ses soeurs, elle était toujours pleine de grâce et de charité. Auparavant, elle avait résolu de garder pendant le carême un silence inviolable pour ne converser qu'avec le ciel ; mais, comme ses soeurs seraient devenues les victimes de ce sacrifice, elle se contenta de retrancher toutes les paroles qui n'étaient pas nécessaires à l'exercice de sa charge.

Dieu témoigna alors combien il est loin de désapprouver qu'on le quitte pour le bien du prochain ; car, durant ce temps même, sainte Agnès reçut une grâce des plus éclatantes. La Mère du Sauveur, qui après Dieu possédait son âme, lui apparut , et l'entretenant doucement, elle lui donna trois petites pierres merveilleusement belles. Puis elle lui dit : « Ma fille, avant ta mort tu bâtiras un monastère en mon honneur : prends ces trois petites pierres pour te rappeler que ton édifice doit être fondé sur la foi constante et la confession de la très-haute et indivisible Trinité… »

Déjà Agnès jouissait dans le monde même, où le bruit de ses miracles s'était répandu , d'une réputation extraordinaire de sainteté. On en vit bientôt la preuve. Les habitants de Procena, près d'Acqua Pendente, avaient décidé de bâtir un monastère pour leurs filles. Bien qu'Agnès n'eût que quinze ans, ils vinrent la demander pour en être la fondatrice et la première supérieure. A la pensée du commandement, l'humilité d'Agnès s'effraya : elle mit en avant son incapacité et son âge. D'ailleurs, elle savait que ce n'était pas là le monastère que la Sainte Vierge lui avait ordonné de bâtir. Cependant le Vicaire de Jésus-Christ, eu vertu de son autorité suprême, lui ordonna d'entreprendre la fondation proposée ; elle le fit. Mais, toujours convaincue de son indignité, elle redoubla ses oraisons et ses pénitences.

En retour de ces sacrifices, elle fut comblée, même visiblement, des grâces célestes. Une nuit de l'Assomption, la sainte Vierge lui apparut de nouveau ; et, déposant l'enfant Jésus dans ses bras, elle l'abandonna à ses plus affectueuses caresses. Agnès ne put se séparer de son bien-aimé qu'en versant des larmes, et pour consolation, elle détacha une petite croix du riche collier de perles du divin enfant. - Un autre jour, priant dans la partie la plus solitaire du jardin, elle fut ravie en Dieu et oublia l'heure de la messe. Son extase ayant cessé, elle se mit à pleurer de n'avoir pu recevoir son Sauveur. Alors un ange lui apporta la sainte Eucharistie et lui donna la communion.

Or, les religieuses del Saccho ne formaient qu'une de ces congrégations éphémères qu'un jour de générosité fait naître, mais que, au siècle suivant, on retrouve seulement dans le passé de l'histoire. Un jour donc, - dans une de ses visions mystérieuses, la servante de Dieu se trouva en pleine mer, en face de trois vaisseaux magnifiquement pavoisés conduits par saint Augustin, saint François d'Assise et saint Dominique. Une sainte dispute s'était élevée entre eux à qui posséderait Agnès. Mais le glorieux patriarche Dominique , alléguant l'arrêt du ciel qui lui donnait Agnès pour fille, tendit la main à son enfant et l'introduisit dans sa barque.

Agnès ne comprenait pas comment se ferait ce changement d'institut ; mais bientôt un ange vint le lui révéler. Il lui rappela les trois petites pierres qu'elle avait reçues autrefois de la Sainte Vierge, avec l'ordre de lui bâtir plus tard un monastère. « Le temps, lui dit-il, en est venu : devez fonder une maison sur la colline même de Monte Pulciano ; vous dédierez le couvent à la très-sainte Trinité, à l'incomparable Vierge Marie, au bienheureux Dominique, auquel vous allez désormais appartenir. »

Elle se rendit donc à Monte Pulciano, où elle fut reçue comme en triomphe. Redoutant ces applaudissements, qui ôtent souvent à la vertu son prix surnaturel, elle pressait sans relâche les travaux de construction ; et sitôt que la clôture put être gardée , elle revêtit l'habit des soeurs de Saint-Dominique, puis fit voeu de vivre selon les règles de son nouvel ordre. Suivant la promesse qui lui avait été faite, elle se trouva, en peu de temps, à la tête d'une communauté de vingt religieuses. Mais Dieu permit une fois qu'on oubliât la nouvelle famille, et le couvent resta trois jours sans pain. Agnès, dont la confiance égalait l'humilité se plaignit amoureusement au ciel d'une nécessité si extrême. Mais écoutons Dieu relatant l’événement à la Vierge de Sienne (Dialogue 149) :« Cette chère petite pauvre, dit-il, ma fidèle Agnès, éleva son cœur vers ma bonté, en me disant : Mon bien-aimé Seigneur, mou tendre Père, mon éternel Époux, ne m'avez-vous pas ordonné de retirer de leurs familles ces vierges? et vous, ne les avez-vous réunies dans votre maison que pour les laisser mourir de faim ? Bon Maître, pourvoyez à leurs besoins ! - Pour satisfaire son humble demande, j'inspirai à quelqu'un la pensée de lui porter cinq petits pains, et je le lui révélai. Quand celui qui venait approcha de la porte, Agnès dit à une de ses filles : Ma fille, allez au tour, et apportez le pain que le Seigneur nous envoie dans sa bonté.- Quand les pains furent apportés, on se mit à table, et, pendant que ma bien-aimée faisait le partage, je mis dans ses mains une telle puissance que les pains se multiplièrent et purent fournir abondamment à plusieurs repas. »

Cependant le jour des noces célestes approchait pour Agnès. Mais des heures d'infirmités et de douleurs précédèrent cet instant si désiré. Pressentant que Dieu voulait la retirer de cette terre d’exil, elle se disposa à la mort avec joie, et reçut les derniers sacrements avec un cœur palpitant d’amour et un visage rayonnant de joie. Ses sœurs pleuraient amèrement, mais elle les consola par ces paroles : « Si vous m’aimiez comme vous devez, mes filles, vous ne pleureriez pas ainsi. Car les amis ne s’attristent pas du bien de leurs amis : au contraire, il s’en réjouissent. Le plus grand bien qu’il puisse m’arriver, c’est de m’en aller à notre Époux. Soyez-lui fidèles à cet Époux si bon ! Persévérez toujours dans l’obéissance, et je vous promets de vous être plus utile au ciel que si je restais parmi vous. Surtout, aimez-vous les unes les autres ! »

Bientôt, levant les yeux et les mains au ciel, elle dit avec un sourire ravissant : « Mon bien-aimé est à moi ; je ne le quitterai plus ! » C’était le 20 Avril 1317.

D’après l’Année Dominicaine Avril 1861

Lettre de Ste Catherine de Sienne aux moniales de Montepulciano

CCIII (157).- Lettre de ste Catherine de Sienne à la Prieure, et aux Religieuses de Sainte-Agnès, à Montepulciano. - De la reconnaissance envers Dieu, qui se prouve par l’observation de ses commandements et de ses conseils.

(Le couvent de Sainte-Agnès était proche de Montepulciano. Sainte Catherine aimait beaucoup le visiter pour vénérer le corps de la bienheureuse Agnès, qui y était conservé. Plusieurs miracles s’opérèrent pour elle dans ces visites. (Vie de sainte Catherine, Ire p., ch. XII.)

AU NOM DE JÉSUS CRUCIFIÉ ET DE LA DOUCE MARIE

1. Mes très chères Mères et Filles dans le Christ, le doux Jésus, moi, Catherine, la servante et l’esclave des serviteurs de Jésus-Christ, je vous écris dans son précieux sang, avec le désir de vous voir reconnaissantes envers votre Créateur, afin que la source de [1131] la piété ne se tarisse pas dans vos âmes, mais qu’elle s’alimente par la reconnaissance. Faites attention que cette reconnaissance ne doit pas consister seulement en paroles, mais encore en bonnes et saintes œuvres. Et comment la montrerez-vous? En observant les doux commandements de Dieu, et avec ces commandements, les conseils, mentalement et actuellement; car vous avez choisi cette voie des conseils, il faut donc la suivre jusqu’à la mort autrement vous pêcheriez; l’âme qui est reconnaissante les observe toujours. Que promettez-vous dans votre profession? Vous promettez d’observer l’obéissance, la charité, la pauvreté volontaire; et si vous ne les observez pas, vous tarirez la source de la piété

2. O très doux feu d’amour, qui remplit l’âme des plus suaves douceurs ! Aucune peine, aucune amertume ne peut atteindre l’âme qui brûle de ce feu doux et glorieux. La charité ne juge jamais en mal; elle ne voit pas la volonté de l’homme, mais seulement la volonté de Dieu, sachant qu’il ne veut autre chose que notre sanctification. Puisque Dieu ne veut autre chose que notre bien, que tout vient de lui, et qu’il permet dans ce but les tribulations, les tentations, les peines et les tourments, l’âme ne doit s’affliger de rien, si ce n’est du péché, qui n’est pas. Puisqu’il n’est pas en Dieu, il n’est pas digne d’être aimé; il faut, au contraire, le haïr, et préférer la mort à l’offense de son Créateur. O douceur d’amour ! comment le cœur de votre épouse peut-il ne pas vous aimer, en voyant que vous êtes l’Epoux qui est la vie? Dieu éternel! vous nous avez créés à votre image et ressemblance uniquement par amour, et, lorsque nous avons perdu la grâce par le malheureux péché, vous nous avez donné le Verbe, votre [1126] Fils unique, et votre Fils nous a donné sa vie; il a puni nos iniquités sur son corps, et il a payé une dette qu’il n’avait pas contractée. Hélas! hélas ! misérables que nous sommes ! nous étions des voleurs, et il a été supplicié pour nous!

3. Ne doit-elle pas rougir de honte et de confusion, l’épouse ignorante, endurcie, aveugle, qui n’aime pas lorsqu’elle se voit tant aimée, et que les liens de cet amour sont si doux? Voici le signe de l’amour celui qui aime Dieu avec la raison suit les traces du Verbe, son Fils unique; celui qui ne l’aime pas au contraire, suit les traces du démon et sa propre sensualité. Il obéit aux lois du monde, qui sont opposées à celles de Dieu; il goûte la mort et ne s’en aperçoit pas. Son âme est plongée dans les ténèbres, car elle est privée de la lumière; elle souffre et elle est en querelle continuelle avec son prochain, parce qu’elle est privée des liens de la charité. Elle se trouve livrée aux mains du démon, parce qu’au lieu d’être l’épouse fidèle de Jésus crucifié, elle a, comme une adultère, abandonné son céleste Epoux; car l’épouse, est appelée adultère lorsqu’elle n’a plus l’amour de l’époux, et qu’elle aime, qu’elle s’unit à celui qui n’est pas son époux. Quel danger et quelle honte de se voir aimée, et de ne pas aimer !

4. Aimez-vous donc, aimez-vous les unes les autres; c’est à cela qu’on verra si vous êtes ou non, les épouses et les filles du Christ. On ne les reconnaît qu’à l’amour qui a Dieu pour principe, et qui s’applique au prochain. C’est ainsi qu’il faut arriver à notre but, à notre fin, on suivent les traces de Jésus [1127] crucifié; non le Père, mais le Fils, parce que le Père ne peut souffrir, mais le Fils.

5. Il faut donc suivre la voie de la très sainte Croix, supportant les opprobres, les mépris, les outrages, méprisant le monde avec toutes ses délices souffrant la faim, la soif avec l’esprit de pauvreté, avec une obéissance ferme et persévérante, avec une grande pureté d’âme et de corps, dans la société des personnes qui craignent vraiment Dieu, et dans la solitude de la cellule, en fuyant comme le poison, le parloir et la conversation des faux dévots et des séculiers. Car l’épouse du Christ n’agit pas de la sorte; elle aime la société des vrais serviteurs de Dieu, et non celle de ceux qui n’ont de religieux que l’habit. Il ne faut pas que sous un chef couronné d’épines vivent des membres délicats, comme font les insensés qui s’éloignent du Christ, leur maître, et qui ne recherchent que les délices et les délicatesses du corps. Nous surtout, qui sommes séparées du siècle et placées dans le jardin de la vie religieuse, nous, ses épouses choisies, nous devons être des fleurs de bonne odeur. Oui, si vous observez ce que vous avez promis pour répandre vos doux parfums, vous participerez à la bonté de Dieu en vivant dans sa grâce, et vous le goûterez dans son éternelle vision. Si vous ne le faites pas, vous répandrez une honteuse infection; vous goûterez l’enfer dès cette vie, et vous aurez à la fin en partage la vue des dénions. Pour suivre le Christ, sortez du siècle, renoncez au monde et à ses richesses en vous attachant à la vraie pauvreté. Renoncez à la volonté propre en tous soumettant à la véritable obéissance; éloignez [1128] vous de l’état commun en ne voulant pas être les épouses du monde, pour conserver la vraie continence et la virginité dont le parfum réjouit Dieu et les anges qui se plaisent à habiter l’âme qu’embaume la pureté. Soyez unies et non pas divisées par la haine, la jalousie et l’antipathie, les unes envers les autres; soyez unies étroitement dans les liens de la charité, car autrement vous ne pourriez plaire à Dieu ni avoir aucune vertu parfaite.

6. Quelle honte et quelle confusion pour l’âme qui ne tient pas ce qu’elle a promis, et qui fait tout le contraire ! Elle ne suit pas le Christ, et ne marche pas dans la voie de la Croix; mais elle veut suivre la voie du plaisir. Ce n’est pas la nôtre : il nous faut suivre l’humble Christ, l’Agneau sans tache, le pauvre Agneau; sa pauvreté était si grande, qu’il n’avait pas une place pour reposer sa tête très pure. La souillure du péché n’était pas en lui, et il a obéi à son Père pour notre salut jusqu’à la mort honteuse de la Croix. Les Saints et notre glorieux Père saint Dominique ont fondé leurs Ordres sur ces trois colonnes, la pauvreté, l’obéissance, la chasteté, pour pouvoir mieux ressembler au Christ et suivre sa doctrine et ses conseils ; car de ces vertus procède toute Vertu, et de leurs contraires procèdent tous les vices. La pauvreté éloigne l’orgueil, les conversations du monde et les amitiés dangereuses qui s’entretiennent par des présents; car quand on n’a rien à donner, on ne trouve que l’amitié des vrais serviteurs de Dieu, qui aiment le don de l’âme. Elle éloigne la vanité du cœur et la légèreté d’esprit; elle fait aimer la cellule, où on goûte la sainte oraison,[1129] qui conserve et augmente les vertus. Elle conduit à la pureté parfaite, et fait observer ainsi le vœu de chasteté, tellement qu’on s’abstient non seulement d’un pêché, mais de tous, en foulant aux pieds la sensualité, en macérant son corps, et en le privant de tout plaisir. En le domptant ainsi par le jeûne, les veilles et la prière, on devient humble, patient, charitable; on supporte les défauts de son prochain, et on s’unit à son Créateur par l’amour, et au prochain pour Dieu. L’âme supporte les peines du corps, parce qu’elle y trouve un gain.

7. Lorsqu’elle a ainsi triomphé de l’orgueil, elle y goûte le parfum de la sainte humilité; et elle est aussi obéissante qu’elle est humble, et aussi humble qu’elle est obéissante. Celui qui n’est pas orgueilleux suit ce qui est humble; et s’il est humble, il est vraiment obéissant; il possède ainsi la troisième colonne qui soutient la cité de l’âme. Le véritable obéissant observe les règles et les usages de son Ordre; il n’élève pas la tête de la volonté propre contre son supérieur, et ne discute jamais avec lui; mais au premier mot, il obéit et baisse la tête sous le joug. Il ne dit pas : Pourquoi me commande-t-il, me dit-il cela, et non pas autre chose? mais il cherche le moyen d’obéir promptement. O douce obéissance ! tu n’as jamais de peines ; tu fais vivre et courir les hommes morts, car tu fais mourir la volonté; et plus elle est morte, plus on court rapidement. Car l’âme qui est morte à l’amour-propre de la volonté sensitive, court plus légèrement pour s’unir à son Epoux céleste par l’amour; elle s’élève à une telle hauteur, à un tel repos d’esprit, que dès cette vie, elle commence à goûter les parfums et les fruits de la vie éternelle. Soyez, soyez donc obéissantes jusqu’à la mort; aimez-vous, aimez-vous les unes les autres; unissez-vous par les liens de la charité, car nous ne pouvons autrement atteindre la fin pour laquelle nous avons été créées. C’est pourquoi je vous ai dit que je désirais vous voir des épouses unies étroitement dans les liens d’une véritable et ardente charité. Je termine. Demeurez dans la sainte et douce dilection de Dieu. Doux Jésus, Jésus amour

P. Cartier 1886

SOURCE : http://moplourdes.com/sommaire/nos%20racines/moniales%20op/Agnes%20de%20Monte%20Pulciano.html


Sainte Agnès de Montepulciano († 1317)

Sainte Agnès naquit à Graciano-Vecchio, en Italie, en 1268, de parents suffisamment fortunés et très bons chrétiens. Dès l'âge de 9 ans elle entre chez les Religieuses du Sac à Montepulciano, où on lui confiera bientôt la charge d'économe; à 17 ans elle dirige la construction du couvent à Procéna, où par le bref pontifical elle devient abbesse; à 32 ans elle revient à Montepulciano pour y fonder un couvent de Soeurs Dominicaines, où elle sera prieure. Elle meurt le 20 avril 1317, à l'âge de 49 ans.

Son corps, miraculeusement préservé de la corruption du tombeau, repose au Couvent des Dominicaines de Montepulciano. Elle fut béatifiée par Clément VIII en 1608 et canonisée par Benoît XIII en 1726. Sainte Agnès est avant tout une âme contemplative. Pour elle, Dieu c'est le Bien-Aimé: elle Lui manifeste une amitié sans réserve, une tendresse sans limite, une confiance sans borne; Il la comble de faveurs extraordinaires, répond empressement à ses désirs et satisfait même ses moindres caprices. Aussi la représente-t-on caressant l'Agneau de Dieu qu'elle tient dans ses bras et dont elle porte le nom.

À 4 ans, à l'âge où les enfants ne savent que jouer, sainte Agnès cherchait la solitude pour mieux prier; à 9 ans, à l'âge où déjà les parents fiançaient leur fille, elle obtient de ses parents d'entrer en religion pour être, elle aussi, à son Bien-Aimé. Désormais, sa vie ne sera plus qu'une continuelle oraison. Un jour qu'elle fut longtemps ravie en extase, l'heure de la Messe passa sans qu'elle ne s'en aperçut. Revenue à elle-même, elle se mit à pleurer de ne pouvoir ce matin-là recevoir son Bien-Aimé. Jésus lui envoie alors porter la Sainte Communion par l'Ange qui L'avait assisté dans Son agonie. C'est encore cet Ange qui viendra lui annoncer les souffrances et la mort qu'elle aura à endurer: "Prends ce calice, ô bien-aimée du Christ, lui dira-t-il, bois comme Lui jusqu'à la lie".

Elle prendra la coupe, et la videra, lui semble-t-il, toute entière. La vie s'en allait, et les religieuses, la voyant mourir, la suppliaient de demander sa guérison. "Si vous m'aimiez vraiment, leur répondit-elle, vous vous réjouiriez de ma mort, puisque je m'en vais à mon Bien-Aimé. Je vous serai plus utile au Paradis qu'ici; ayez confiance, je serai toujours avec vous". Quelques instants après, levant les yeux et les mains vers le Ciel, elle dit avec un sourire ravissant cette dernière parole: "Mon Bien-Aimé est à moi, je ne Le quitterai plus"

SOURCE : http://www.dominicains.ca/Histoire/Figures/montepulciano.htm


Saint Agnes of Montepulciano

Memorial

20 April

Profile

Born wealthy. A pious child, at age six she began nagging her parents to join a convent. She was admitted to the convent at MontepulcianoItaly at age nine. When her spiritual director was appointed abbess at Procena, she took Agnes with her. Agnes’s reputation for holiness attracted other sisters. Abbess at age fifteen after receiving special permission from Pope Nicholas IV. Agnes insisted on greater austerities in the abbey; she lived off bread and water, slept on the ground, used a stone for a pillow. In 1298 she returned to Montepulciano to work in a new Dominican conventPrioress of the house the last seventeen years of her life. Pilgrim to RomeItaly.

Many stories grew up around Agnes, including

Her birth was announced by flying lights surrounding her family’s house.

As a child, while walking through a field, she was attacked by a large murder of crows; she announced that they were devils, trying to keep her away from the land; years later, it was the site of her convent.

She was known to levitate up to two feet in the air while praying.

She received Communion from an angel, and had visions of the Virgin Mary.

She held the infant Jesus in one of these visions; when she woke from her trance she found she was holding the small gold crucifix the Christ child had worn.

On the day she was chosen abbess as a teenager, small white crosses showered softly onto her and the congregation.

She could feed the convent with a handful of bread, once she’d prayed over it.

Where she knelt to pray, violets, lilies and roses would suddenly bloom.

While being treated for her terminal illness, she brought a drowned child back from the dead.

At the site of her treatment, a spring welled up that did not help her health, but healed many other people.

Born

1268 at Gracchiano-Vecchio, TuscanyItaly

Died

20 April 1317 at the convent of MontepulcianoItaly of natural causes following a lengthy illness

legend says that at the moment of her death, all the babies in the region, no matter how young, began to speak of Agnes, her piety, and her passing

miracles reported at her tomb

body incorrupt

relics translated to the Dominican church at OrvietoItaly in 1435

Beatified

1534

Canonized

1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Representation

Dominican nun gazing at the Cross with a lily at her feet

Dominican nun holding a model of MontepulcianoItaly

Dominican nun holding the Christ child

Dominican nun with Saint Catherine of Siena

Dominican nun with the Virgin and Child appearing to her

Dominican abbess with a lamblily, and book

Dominican with the sick who were healed at her tomb

Additional Information

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Catholic Encyclopedia

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

New Catholic Dictionary

Saints and Saintly Dominicans

Saints and Their Symbols, by E A Greene

Saints of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein

books

Dictionary of Saints, by John Delaney

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

Roman Martyrology, 3rd Turin edition

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MLA Citation

“Saint Agnes of Montepulciano“. CatholicSaints.Info. 27 March 2022. Web. 19 April 2023. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agnes-of-montepulciano/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-agnes-of-montepulciano/

Agnese Segni comunicata da un Angelo. Cella di Sant'Agnese di Montepulciano, con affreschi di nicola nasini, 1704, 12


St. Agnes of Montepulciano

Born in the neighbourhood of Montepulciano in Tuscany about 1268; died there 1317. At the age of nine years she entered a monastery. Four years later she was commissioned by Pope Nicholas IV to assist in the foundation of a monastery at Proceno, and became its prioress at the age of fifteen. At the entreaty of the citizens of her native town, she established (1298) the celebrated convent of Dominican nuns at Montepulciano which she governed until the time of her death. She was canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726. Her feast is celebrated on 20 April.

Fitzgerald, Edward. "St. Agnes of Montepulciano." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 20 Apr. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01213c.htm>.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. March 1, 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01213c.htm

Agnese Segni riceve il calice del sangue di cristo da un Angelo. Cella di Sant'Agnese di Montepulciano, con affreschi di Nicola Nasini, 1704, 13


St. Agnes was born in Italy in 1274, a gentle future glory of the Order of St. Dominic. Her father was an eminent Christian who lived in the village of Gracciano Vecchio, in central Italy. On the very day of her birth a miracle announced to those present that this was a favored child: mysterious burning torches appeared, shining brilliantly near her crib. Already at the age of four, the little girl would retire in solitude to pray to Jesus, her love.

When she was nine years old, Agnes asked her parents for permission to enter a monastery. They opposed this wish, not certain of the will of God. After she had prayed fervently that their opinions change, Agnes was allowed to join the Sisters of Montepulciano. When she reached the age of fourteen, she was assigned to the duty of stewardess of the monastery, an office in which she would provide for the material needs of the sisters and keep accounts. The community was edified to see her carry out her duties cheerfully, in perfect obedience, without her piety being in any way altered. Whenever a sister needed any service, the response of Agnes was always characterized by grace and charity.

St. Agnes already had the reputation of sanctity; a number of persons had seen her raised in the air nearly two feet above ground. When the residents of a neighboring town decided to build a monastery for their daughters, they came to ask for Agnes as its first superior. She was at that time fifteen years old. At the request of the Holy Father, she accepted the office. This experience would prepare her for a later important work, that of founding a large monastery in honor of the Mother of God at Montepulciano.

Miracles surround the prayer of this young saint. Sometimes, as Agnes knelt in prayer, flowers sprang up—violets, lilies and roses. One year, on the feast of the Assumption, the Mother of the Savior appeared to her and placed the Infant Jesus in her arms. St. Agnes succeeded in founding the foretold monastery of twenty cloistered Dominican sisters; an angel had told her to establish it under the Rule of St. Dominic.

During her last illness, Agnes was sent to bathe in curative waters. During her journey, she brought back to life a child who had drowned. Her health did not improve, but a spring welled up nearby which cured others. St. Agnes returned to her monastery and prepared for death. She died at the age of 43 on April 20, 1317. Miracles occurred at her tomb, as they had during her lifetime. She was beatified in 1534 and canonized in 1726.

Feast: April 20

Source: Dominican Province of the Assumption

SOURCE :

http://nashvilledominican.org/charism/our_dominican_heritage/our_saints_and_blesseds/st_agnes_of_montepulciano

Agnese Segni riceve il cropcifisso di Gesù bambino da un Angelo. Cella di Sant'Agnese di Montepulciano, con affreschi di Nicola Nasini, 1704, 14


St. Agnes of Montepulciano

St. Agnes of Montepulciano, a holy virgin, was born in 1268 in a little village near Montepulciano, Italy, of the wealthy family of De Segni. Her birth was announced by great lights surrounding the house where she was born, and from her babyhood she was one specially marked out for dedication to God.

As a child, she often spent hours reciting the Our Father and Hail Mary on her knees in some private corner of a chamber. She was such a pious child that when she was nine years old her parents placed her in a Franciscan convent known as Sackins, so called because their habits or scapulars were made of sackcloth. Agnes was a model of all virtues to this austere community. She was also well-known for her gifts of miracles and prophecy.

At the age of fifteen, she entered the Dominican Order at Proceno, in the county of Orvieto, and was appointed abbess by Pope Nicholas IV. She slept on the ground, with a stone under her head, and for fifteen years fasted on bread and water. At the age of thirty, however, because of poor health, her spiritual director instructed her to eat other foods.

St. Agnes was noted for her visions. She held the infant Christ in her arms and received Holy Communion from an angel. She experienced levitations and she performed miracles for the faithful of the region.

The people of Montepulciano wanted so much for her to return to them that they destroyed a house of ill repute and in its place built a convent for Agnes. In her hometown, she established in this house nuns of the order of St. Dominic. Agnes continued to be a great example of piety, humility, and charity to all for the remainder of her life. Through a long illness she showed great patience and grace, offering her sufferings up to God for the redemption of souls.

Agnes died at Monte Pulciano on the 20th of April 1317 at the age of 43. Her body was removed to the Dominicans’ church of Orvieto in 1435, where it remains. She was solemnly canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726.

SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/saint-agnes-of-montepulciano/

Domenico Beccafumi, Sant'Agnese da Montepulciano, 1507, Museo civico di Montepulciano


April 20

St. Agnes of Monte Pulciano, Virgin and Abbess

From her life, written by F. Raymund of Capua, general of the Dominicans, thirty years after her death, with the remarks of F. Papebroke, Apr. t. 2, p. 791. Also her life, compiled from authentic instruments, by F. Laurence Surdini Mariani, in 1606; and in French, by F. Roux at Paris, in 1728.

A.D. 1317.

THIS holy virgin was a native Monte Pulciano, in Tuscany. She had scarcely attained to the use of reason, when she conceived an extraordinary relish and ardour for prayer, and in her infancy often spent whole hours in reciting the Our Father and Hail Mary, on her knees, in some private corner of a chamber. At nine years of age she was placed by her parents in a convent of Sackins, of the order of St. Francis, so called from their habit, or at least their scapular, being made of sackcloth. Agnes, in so tender an age, was a model of all virtues to this austere community: and she renounced the world, though of a plentiful fortune, being sensible of its dangers, before she knew what it was to enjoy it. At fifteen years of age she was removed to a new foundation of the Order of St. Dominic, at Proceno, in the county of Orvieto, and appointed abbess by Pope Nicholas IV. She slept on the ground, with a stone under her head in lieu of a pillow; and for fifteen years she fasted always on bread and water, till she was obliged by her directors, on account of sickness, to mitigate her austerities. Her townsmen, earnestly desiring to be possessed of her again, demolished a lewd house, and erected upon the spot a nunnery, which they bestowed on her. This prevailed on her to return, and she established in this house nuns of the Order of St. Dominic, which rule she herself professed. The gifts of miracles and prophecy rendered her famous among men, though humility, charity, and patience under her long sicknesses, were the graces which recommended her to God. She died at Monte Pulciano, on the 20th of April, 1317, being forty-three years old. Her body was removed to the Dominicans’ church of Orvieto, in 1435, where it remains. Clement VIII. approved her office for the use of the Order of St. Dominic, and inserted her name in the Roman Martyrology. She was solemnly canonized by Benedict XIII. in 1726

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume IV: April. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/4/201.html

Agnes von Montepulciano, Klosterkirche Maria Medingen, Statuen (um 1750)



Agnes of Montepulciano, OP V (RM)

Born in Gracchiano-Vecchio, Tuscany, Italy, in 1268; died at Montepulciano, Tuscany, on April 20, 1317; canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726.

Agnes was not a child martyr like her Roman patroness but she exhibited the same simplicity, and some of her best-known legends concern her childhood. Her birth into the wealthy de Segni family was announced by great lights surrounding the house where she was born. From her infancy she was especially marked for dedication to God: she would spend hours reciting Pater Nosters and Ave Marias on her knees in the corner of some room.

By the time Agnes was six, she was already urging her parents to let her enter the convent. When they assured her that she was much too young, she begged them to move to nearby Montepulciano, so she could make frequent visits to the convent. Because of the local political instability, her father was unwilling to move from his safe haven but did allow his little girl to visit with the sisters occasionally.

On one of these visits an event occurred that all the chroniclers record as being prophetic. Little Agnes was traveling in Montepulciano with her mother and the women of the household, and, as they passed a hill on which stood a bordello, a flock of crows swooped down and attacked the girl. Screaming and plunging, they managed to scratch and frighten her badly before the women drove them away. Upset by the incident, but devoutly sure of themselves, the women said that the birds must have been devils, and that they resented the purity and goodness of little Agnes, who would one day drive them from that hilltop. Agnes did, in fact, build a convent there in later years.

When she was nine, Agnes insisted that the time had come to enter the convent del Sacco. She was allowed to go to a group of Franciscans in Montepulciano, whose dress was the ultimate in primitive simplicity: they were known, from the cut of the garment, as the Sacchine or 'sisters of the sack.' The high-born daughter of the Segni was not at all appalled at the crude simplicity with which they followed their Father Francis; she rejoiced in it. Her religious formation was entrusted to an experienced older sister named Margaret, and Agnes soon edified the whole house by her exceptional progress. For five years she enjoyed the only complete peace she would ever have; she was appointed bursar at the age of 14, and she never again was without some responsibility to others.

During this time Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and was favored with many visions. One of the loveliest is the one for which her legend is best known: the occasion of a visit from the Blessed Virgin. Our Lady came with the Holy Infant in her arms, and allowed Agnes to hold Him and caress Him. Unwilling to let Him go, Agnes hung on when Our Lady reached to take Him back. When she awakened from the ecstasy, Our Lady and her Holy Child were gone, but Agnes was still clutching tightly the little gold cross He had worn on a chain about His neck. She kept it as a precious treasure.

Another time, Our Lady gave her three small stones and told her that she should use them to build a convent some day. Agnes was not at the moment even thinking about going elsewhere, and said so, but Our Lady told her to keep the stones--three, in honor of the Blessed Trinity--and one day she would need them.

Some time after this, a new Franciscan convent opened in Procena, near Orvieto, and the sisters there asked the ones of Montepulciano to send them a mother superior. Sister Margaret was selected, but stipulated that Agnes must be allowed to come to help her in the foundation of the new community. There Agnes served as housekeeper--a highly responsible position for a 14-year-old! Soon many other girls joined the convent at Procena simply became they knew that Agnes was there.

To the distress of young Agnes, she was elected abbess. Since she was only 15, a special dispensation was needed--and provided by Pope Nicholas IV--to allow her to take the office. On the day when she was consecrated abbess, great showers of tiny white crosses fluttered down on the chapel and the people in it. It seemed to show the favor of heaven on this somewhat extraordinary situation.

For 20 years, Agnes lived in Procena, happy in her retreat and privileged to penetrate the secrets of God in her prayer. She was a careful superior, as well as a mystic; several times she worked miracles to increase the house food supply when it was low. The nun's self-discipline was legendary. She lived on bread and water for fifteen years. She slept on the floor with a stone for a pillow. It is said that in her visions angels gave her Holy Communion.

Once her visions of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and angels had become known, the citizens of Montepulciano called her back for a short stay. She went willingly enough, though she hated leaving the peace of her cloister for the confusion of travelling. She had just settled down, on her return, with the hope that she had made her last move and could now stay where she was, when obedience again called her back to Montepulciano--this time to build a new convent. A revelation had told her that she was to leave the Franciscans, among whom she had been very happy, and that she and her future sisters should become Dominicans.

In 1306, Agnes returned to Montepulciano to put the Lord's request into action: she was to build a convent on the former site of the brothels. All she had for the building of the convent were the three little stones given her by the Blessed Virgin, and Agnes--who had been bursar and knew something about money--realized that she was going to have to rely heavily on the support of heaven in her building project.

After a long quarrel with the inhabitants of the hilltop she wanted for her foundation, the land was finally secured, and the Servite prior laid the first stone, leaving her to worry about from where the rest of the stones would come. Agnes saw the project to its completion. The church and convent of Santa Maria Novella were ready for dedication in record time, and a growing collection of aspirants pleaded for admittance to the new convent.

Agnes had become convinced that the community must be anchored in an established Rule in order to attain permanence. She explained that the rule was to be Dominican, not Franciscan. All the necessary arrangements were made, she was established as prioress, the Dominicans agreed to provide chaplains and direction, and the new community settled down. They had barely established the regular life when one of the walls of the new building collapsed. It was discovered that the builders had cheated, and that the whole convent was in danger of falling on top of them. Agnes met the new problem with poise. She had many friends in Montepulciano by this time, and they rallied to rebuild the house.

When the convent was once again completed, and had become, as hoped, a dynamo of prayer and penance, Agnes decided to go to Rome on pilgrimage. It is interesting to note that Second Order convents of the 14th century were so flexible in the matter of enclosure. She made the trip to Rome and visited the shrines of the martyrs. The pope was at Avignon, so she did not have the happiness of talking to him. But she returned to Montepulciano full of happiness for having seen the holy places of Rome.

At the age of 49, Agnes's health began to fail rapidly. She was taken for treatment to the baths at Chianciano--accompanied, as it says in the rule, by 'two or three sisters'--but the baths did her no good. She did perform a miracle while there, restoring to life a child who had fallen into the baths and drowned.

Agnes returned to Montepulciano to die in the night. When she knew she was dying after a long and painful illness, Agnes told her grieving nuns that they should rejoice, for, she said, "You will discover that I have not abandoned you. You will possess me for ever." The children of the city wakened and cried out, "Holy Sister Agnes is dead!" She was buried in Montepulciano, where her tomb soon became a place of pilgrimage.

One of the most famous pilgrims to visit her tomb was Saint Catherine of Siena, who went to venerate the saint and also, probably, to visit her niece, Eugenia, who was a nun in the convent there. As she bent over the body of Saint Agnes to kiss the foot, she was amazed to see Agnes raise her foot so that Catherine did not have to stoop so far!

In 1435, her incorrupt body was translated to the Dominican church at Orvieto, where it remains today. Clement VIII approved her office for the use of the order of St. Dominic, and inserted her name in the Roman Martyrology (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Dorcy, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth, Walsh).

In art, Saint Agnes is a Dominican abbess (white habit, black mantle) with a lamb, lily, and book. She might also be portrayed (1) gazing at the Cross, a lily at her feet, (2) with the Virgin and Child appearing to her; (3) with the sick healed at her tomb (Roeder); (4) with Saint Catherine of Siena; or (5) as patroness of Montepulciano, of which she holds a model in her hand. Tiepolo presents Agnes as one of the saints surrounding the Blessed Virgin in the Jesuit church at Venice, Italy (Farmer). She is venerated at Montepulciano (Roeder).

SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0420.shtml

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano che calpesta il leone, stucco, 1700-08 ca. Montepulciano, Convent

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano che calpesta il leone, stucco, 1700-08 ca. Montepulciano, Convent


Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, V.O.P.

Feast Day: April 20th

Profile

    Agnes was not a child martyr like her Roman patroness but she exhibited the same simplicity, and some of her best-known legends concern her childhood. Her birth into the wealthy de Segni family was announced by great lights surrounding the house where she was born. From her infancy she was especially marked for dedication to God: she would spend hours reciting Pater Nosters and Ave Marias on her knees in the corner of some room.

    By the time Agnes was six, she was already urging her parents to let her enter the convent. When they assured her that she was much too young, she begged them to move to nearby Montepulciano, so she could make frequent visits to the convent. Because of the local political instability, her father was unwilling to move from his safe haven but did allow his little girl to visit with the sisters occasionally.

    On one of these visits an event occurred that all the chroniclers record as being prophetic. Little Agnes was traveling in Montepulciano with her mother and the women of the household, and, as they passed a hill on which stood a bordello, a flock of crows swooped down and attacked the girl. Screaming and plunging, they managed to scratch and frighten her badly before the women drove them away. Upset by the incident, but devoutly sure of themselves, the women said that the birds must have been devils, and that they resented the purity and goodness of little Agnes, who would one day drive them from that hilltop. Agnes did, in fact, build a convent there in later years.

    When she was nine, Agnes insisted that the time had come to enter the convent del Sacco. She was allowed to go to a group of Franciscans in Montepulciano, whose dress was the ultimate in primitive simplicity: they were known, from the cut of the garment, as the Sacchine or 'sisters of the sack.' The high-born daughter of the Segni was not at all appalled at the crude simplicity with which they followed their Father Francis; she rejoiced in it. Her religious formation was entrusted to an experienced older sister named Margaret, and Agnes soon edified the whole house by her exceptional progress. For five years she enjoyed the only complete peace she would ever have; she was appointed bursar at the age of 14, and she never again was without some responsibility to others.

    During this time Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and was favored with many visions. One of the loveliest is the one for which her legend is best known: the occasion of a visit from the Blessed Virgin. Our Lady came with the Holy Infant in her arms, and allowed Agnes to hold Him and caress Him. Unwilling to let Him go, Agnes hung on when Our Lady reached to take Him back. When she awakened from the ecstasy, Our Lady and her Holy Child were gone, but Agnes was still clutching tightly the little gold cross He had worn on a chain about His neck. She kept it as a precious treasure.

    Another time, Our Lady gave her three small stones and told her that she should use them to build a convent some day. Agnes was not at the moment even thinking about going elsewhere, and said so, but Our Lady told her to keep the stones--three, in honor of the Blessed Trinity--and one day she would need them.

    Some time after this, a new Franciscan convent opened in Procena, near Orvieto, and the sisters there asked the ones of Montepulciano to send them a mother superior. Sister Margaret was selected, but stipulated that Agnes must be allowed to come to help her in the foundation of the new community. There Agnes served as housekeeper--a highly responsible position for a 14-year-old! Soon many other girls joined the convent at Procena simply became they knew that Agnes was there.

    To the distress of young Agnes, she was elected abbess. Since she was only 15, a special dispensation was needed--and provided by Pope Nicholas IV--to allow her to take the office. On the day when she was consecrated abbess, great showers of tiny white crosses fluttered down on the chapel and the people in it. It seemed to show the favor of heaven on this somewhat extraordinary situation.

    For 20 years, Agnes lived in Procena, happy in her retreat and privileged to penetrate the secrets of God in her prayer. She was a careful superior, as well as a mystic; several times she worked miracles to increase the house food supply when it was low. The nun's self-discipline was legendary. She lived on bread and water for fifteen years. She slept on the floor with a stone for a pillow. It is said that in her visions angels gave her Holy Communion.

    Once her visions of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and angels had become known, the citizens of Montepulciano called her back for a short stay. She went willingly enough, though she hated leaving the peace of her cloister for the confusion of traveling. She had just settled down, on her return, with the hope that she had made her last move and could now stay where she was, when obedience again called her back to Montepulciano--this time to build a new convent. A revelation had told her that she was to leave the Franciscans, among whom she had been very happy, and that she and her future sisters should become Dominicans.

    In 1306, Agnes returned to Montepulciano to put the Lord's request into action: she was to build a convent on the former site of the brothels. All she had for the building of the convent were the three little stones given her by the Blessed Virgin, and Agnes--who had been bursar and knew something about money--realized that she was going to have to rely heavily on the support of heaven in her building project.

    After a long quarrel with the inhabitants of the hilltop she wanted for her foundation, the land was finally secured, and the Servite prior laid the first stone, leaving her to worry about from where the rest of the stones would come. Agnes saw the project to its completion. The church and convent of Santa Maria Novella were ready for dedication in record time, and a growing collection of aspirants pleaded for admittance to the new convent.

    Agnes had become convinced that the community must be anchored in an established Rule in order to attain permanence. She explained that the rule was to be Dominican, not Franciscan. All the necessary arrangements were made, she was established as prioress, the Dominicans agreed to provide chaplains and direction, and the new community settled down. They had barely established the regular life when one of the walls of the new building collapsed. It was discovered that the builders had cheated, and that the whole convent was in danger of falling on top of them. Agnes met the new problem with poise. She had many friends in Montepulciano by this time, and they rallied to rebuild the house.

    When the convent was once again completed, and had become, as hoped, a dynamo of prayer and penance, Agnes decided to go to Rome on pilgrimage. It is interesting to note that Second Order convents of the 14th century were so flexible in the matter of enclosure. She made the trip to Rome and visited the shrines of the martyrs. The pope was at Avignon, so she did not have the happiness of talking to him. But she returned to Montepulciano full of happiness for having seen the holy places of Rome.

    At the age of 49, Agnes's health began to fail rapidly. She was taken for treatment to the baths at Chianciano--accompanied, as it says in the rule, by 'two or three sisters'--but the baths did her no good. She did perform a miracle while there, restoring to life a child who had fallen into the baths and drowned.

    Agnes returned to Montepulciano to die in the night. When she knew she was dying after a long and painful illness, Agnes told her grieving nuns that they should rejoice, for, she said, "You will discover that I have not abandoned you. You will possess me for ever." The children of the city wakened and cried out, "Holy Sister Agnes is dead!" She was buried in Montepulciano, where her tomb soon became a place of pilgrimage.

    One of the most famous pilgrims to visit her tomb was Saint Catherine of Siena, who went to venerate the saint and also, probably, to visit her niece, Eugenia, who was a nun in the convent there. As she bent over the body of Saint Agnes to kiss the foot, she was amazed to see Agnes raise her foot so that Catherine did not have to stoop so far!

    In 1435, her incorrupt body was translated to the Dominican church at Orvieto, where it remains today. Clement VIII approved her office for the use of the order of St. Dominic, and inserted her name in the Roman Martyrology (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Dorcy, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth, Walsh).

Many stories grew up around Agnes.

Her birth was announced by flying lights surrounding her family's house.

As a child, while walking through a field, she was attacked by a large murder of crows; she announced that they were devils, trying to keep her away from the land; years later, it was the site of her convent.

She was known to levitate up to two feet in the air while praying.

She received Communion from an angel, and had visions of the Virgin Mary.

She held the infant Jesus in one of these visions; when she woke from her trance she found she was holding the small gold crucifix the Christ child had worn.

On the day she was chosen abbess as a teenager, small white crosses showered softly onto her and the congregation.

She could feed the convent with a handful of bread, once she'd prayed over it.

Where she knelt to pray, violets, lilies and roses would suddenly bloom.

While being treated for her terminal illness, she brought a drowned child back from the dead.

At the site of her treatment, a spring welled up that did not help her health, but healed many other people.

Born:1268 at Gracchiano-Vecchio, Tuscany, Italy

Died: at Montepulciano, Tuscany, on April 20, 1317. Legend says that at the moment of her death, all the babies in the region, no matter how young, began to speak of Agnes, her piety, and her passing; miracles reported at her tomb; body incorrupt; relics translated to the Dominican church at Orvieto in 1435

Beatified: 1534

Canonized:1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Representation: In art, Saint Agnes is a Dominican abbess (white habit, black mantle) with a lamb, lily, and book. She might also be portrayed (1) gazing at the Cross, a lily at her feet, (2) with the Virgin and Child appearing to her; (3) with the sick healed at her tomb (Roeder); (4) with Saint Catherine of Siena; or (5) as patroness of Montepulciano, of which she holds a model in her hand. Tiepolo presents Agnes as one of the saints surrounding the Blessed Virgin in the Jesuit church at Venice, Italy (Farmer). She is venerated at Montepulciano (Roeder).

Prayers/Commemorations

First Vespers

Agnes is called today to the nuptials of the Lamb (P.T., Alleluia.): and is seated in delight with her spouse (P.T., Alleluia.)

V. Pray for us Blessed Agnes (P.T., Alleluia.)

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. (P.T., Alleluia.)

Lauds:

Ant. Agnes is admitted to the celestial court, the Church gives a new Saint to heaven. To Him seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor and benediction. (P.T., Alleluia.)

V. Virgins shall be led to the King after her. (P.T., Alleluia.)

R. Her companions shall be presented to Thee. (P.T., Alleluia.)

Second Vespers

Ant. Hail, most excellent Virgin, singular glory of the Order: hail illustrious Virgin, wondrous star of the firmament, assist with thy virtues.  (P.T., Alleluia.)

V. Pray for us Blessed Agnes (P.T., Alleluia.)

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. (P.T., Alleluia.)

Prayers

Let us Pray: O God, who was pleased often to shed a heavenly dew over Thy Virgin, Blessed Agnes, and to deck the places of her prayer with divers fresh-blown flowers, mercifully grant that we, through her prayers, may be sprinkled with the unfailing dew of Thy blessing and made fit to receive the fruits of heavenly immortality. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

SOURCE : http://www.willingshepherds.org/Dominican%20Saint%20III.html#Agnes montepulicnao

Bernardo Ripa su dis. di Andrea Pozzo, estasi di Sant'Agnese Segni tra due Angeli, 1702, Montepulciano - Tomba di S. Agnese Segni nella Chiesa di S. Agnese


Bernardo Ripa su dis. di Andrea Pozzo, estasi di Sant'Agnese Segni tra due Angeli, 1702, Montepulciano - Tomba di S. Agnese Segni nella Chiesa di S. Agnese

Bernardo Ripa su dis. di Andrea Pozzo, estasi di Sant'Agnese Segni tra due Angeli, 1702, Montepulciano - Tomba di S. Agnese Segni nella Chiesa di S. Agnese

Montepulciano, Sant'Agnese, interno, corpo di Sant'Agnese Segni

Montepulciano, Sant'Agnese, interno, corpo di Sant'Agnese Segni


Montepulciano, Sant'Agnese, interno, corpo di Sant'Agnese Segni, mani con anelli


Sant' Agnese da Montepulciano Vergine


Gracciano Vecchio, Siena, circa 1268 - Montepulciano, Siena, 20 aprile 1317

Nata in anno incerto da famiglia nobile di Montepulciano, a nove anni è – diremmo oggi – in collegio dalle monache, dette “Saccate” dal loro particolare abito. E lì poi rimane. Cinque anni dopo accompagna la maestra delle novizie suor Margherita a Proceno (Viterbo) per fondarvi un nuovo monastero. Passa un altro anno e incredibilmente ne diventa superiora: lei, Agnese, a quindici anni, con approvazione pontificia; e "per la visibile forza esercitata dalla sua santità", come scriverà più tardi fra Raimondo da Capua nella sua entusiastica biografia di Agnese. Una santità di cui parlano tutti, e che poi i cittadini di Montepulciano “sequestrano” per sé: insistono, premono, e infine riescono a farla tornare tra loro da Proceno, per fondare nel borgo di Gracciano un monastero, nel 1306. È dedicato a Santa Maria Novella, si alimenterà della spiritualità domenicana e Agnese ne sarà la badessa fino alla morte.

Etimologia: Agnese = pura, casta, dal greco

Emblema: Giglio

Martirologio Romano: A Montepulciano in Toscana, santa Agnese, vergine, che a nove anni indossò l’abito delle sante vergini e solo quindicenne fu eletta, contro il suo volere, alla guida delle monache di Proceno nella Tuscia, dando poi nel monastero in seguito da lei fondato sotto la disciplina di san Domenico mirabile esempio di vera umiltà.

Quello che sappiamo della eccezionale vita di questa santa domenicana si ricava da quanto ne scrisse il B. Raimondo da Capua, OP. allorquando era confessore (1365) nel monastero in cui Agnese morì. Ella nacque verso il 1268 a Gracciano Vecchio, nei pressi di Montepulciano (Siena), da genitori benestanti. Appena la madre, Francesca Segni, la diede alla luce, per qualche ora, nella camera, apparvero misteriosamente moltissimi ceri ardenti. La bimba crebbe con una straordinaria inclinazione alla preghiera, che la portò presto a desiderare la vita claustrale. A nove anni, difatti, entrò, a Montepulciano, in una comunità di vergini chiamate "monache del Sacco" perché indossavano uno scapolare di ruvido panno. Tra esse si distingue subito per la pietà sotto la guida della maestra delle novizie, Suor Margherita. A partire da quel momento il Signore la favorì di straordinari carismi. Nella sua ininterrotta unione con Dio fu vista più volte sospesa per aria. Un giorno, meditando la Passione di Gesù, fu sollevata da una ardente amore tanto in alto da giungere ad abbracciare il crocifisso posto sull'altare. Ammaestrata dallo Spirito Santo, Agnese crebbe assennata e ubbidiente. A quattordici anni la priora le affidò l'ufficio di dispensiera. Il compito non la distolse minimamente dall'orazione e dalla contemplazione. In quel tempo Maria SS. Le apparve e le diede tre pietre dicendole; "Figlia mia, prima di morire costruirai un monastero in mio onore, prendi queste tre pietruzze e ricordati che il tuo edificio dovrà essere fondato sulla fede costante e la confessione dell'altissima e indivisibile Trinità".

Alla notizia dei prodigi che Dio operava per mezzo di Agnese, gli abitanti di Proceno (Viterbo), chiesero alle religiose che anche tra loro fondassero un monastero. L'incarico fu affidato a Suor Margherita, ma ella accettò a condizione che le fosse data, come compagna, Agnese. I procenesi rimasero tanto entusiasti delle straordinarie virtù della santa che la vollero eleggere, con dispensa di Martino IV, superiora del monastero, benché non avesse che quindici anni. Alle religiose e alle giovinette che si raggrupparono attorno a lei, diede l'esempio di una straordinaria mortificazione. Era inspiegabile come potesse vivere nutrendosi abitualmente di pane e acqua e dormendo per terra, con una pietra sotto il capo. Era tanto presa dal desiderio di pregare incessantemente da levare alte grida quando qualche religiosa le si avvicinava, senza necessità, durante l'orazione. Sovente Dio cosparse di fiori il luogo in cui si soffermava a pregare in ginocchio, e le coprì il mantello di manna, divisa in molti grani a forma di croce. Il giorno stesso in cui il vescovo andò a benedirle il velo e a insediarla nel suo ufficio di badessa, la manna discese straordinariamente abbondante su di lui, sui sacerdoti che l'accompagnavano e sulla mensa dell'altare. Meravigliati, tutti ne raccolsero a piene mani e notarono con sorpresa che ogni grano aveva la forma di croce.

Agnese di quando in quando andava tutta sola a pregare nell'orto accanto ad un olivo. Il Signore, perché non interrompesse la dolcezza del colloquio che aveva con lui, le mandò per dieci domeniche consecutive un angelo a comunicarla. In altre occasioni il celeste messaggero le portò un pugno di terra presa nel luogo dove il Figlio di Dio aveva sparso il suo sangue, e un coccio del catino in cui la Madonna aveva lavato tutte le mattine il Bambino Gesù. Un giorno Agnese desiderò di vedere, il Signore. Nella notte dell'Assunzione, Maria SS. le apparve con in braccio il Figlio divino e glielo diede da baciare. Quando glielo richiese per ritornarsene in Paradiso, Agnese si rifiutò di riconsegnarglielo. Prevedendo tuttavia di non uscire vittoriosa da quella contesa, afferrò una crocettina che il Bambino Gesù portava al collo e gliela strappò. Privata di quella visione, Agnese sentì al cuore una trafitta così forte che, levando alte grida, si abbandonò in terra quasi priva di sensi. La crocettina esiste ancora e viene mostrata al popolo con le altre reliquie nell'anniversario della morte della santa.

Agnese ebbe da Dio il dono dei miracoli. Quasi tutte le cose che toccava per distribuirle alle suore, si trovavano sovente o aumentate o migliorate. Più volte moltiplicò le cibarie e i denari occorrenti per pagare i muratori. Un giorno venne a mancare il pane. All'ora del desinare Agnese volle sedersi ugualmente a tavola, con le altre religiose. Dopo aver tessuto loro l'elogio della pazienza, si raccolse in preghiera, sollevò gli occhi e le mani al cielo come per accogliere qualcosa che le veniva dall'alto, e le ritrasse alla presenza di tutte con un pane freschissimo, recante ancora sotto di sé la cenere del forno. Al diffondersi della fama di tanti prodigi, due camaldolesi discesero d'inverno dai loro romitori per farle visita. Dopo un lungo intrattenimento sulla vita spirituale, Agnese li fece sedere a tavola e li invitò a cibarsi delle elemosine fatte al monastero da pii benefattori. Mentre tra un boccone e l'altro continuavano a ragionare di Dio, d'improvviso apparve sopra un piatto una freschissima rosa. Alla sorpresa dei due eremiti, la santa esclamò: "II Signore ha voluto mandare questo fiore estivo per mostrare quanto le vostre parole hanno riscaldato il mio spirito illanguidito, con il fuoco della carità".

A Proceno Agnese rimase una ventina d'anni ma, per le penitenze che continuamente praticava, contrasse una grave malattia, da cui più non guarì. Per volere dei medici e dei superiori dovette moderare le austerità. Ne approfittarono le suddite per prepararle uno squisito piatto di carne. Provando un invincibile avversione a quel brusco cambiamento di cibo, Agnese supplicò il Signore che glielo trasformasse in pesce ed egli all'istante la esaudì. Gli abitanti di Montepulciano, entusiasmati delle meraviglia che udivano raccontare della loro concittadina, andarono a scongiurarla di ritornare tra di loro a fondare un monastero.

Memore delle pietruzze ricevute in visione, Agnese accolse l'invito e col permesso di Ildebrandino, vescovo di Arezzo (1306), rilasciato a Fra Bonaventura Buonaccorsi da Pistola, Priore dei Servi di Maria in Montepulciano, eresse tra grandi privazioni il monastero di Santa Maria Novella, prima gotto la regola di S. Agostino e quindi di S. Domenico.

A Montepulciano la salute di Agnese peggiorò. Per nove domeniche consecutive un angelo la condusse in visione sotto un olivo dell'orto e le diede da bere l'amarissimo calice della Passione di Gesù, per indicarle che sarebbe giunta alla beatitudine attraverso molte sofferenze. Per volere dei superiori Agnese si recò alle acque di Chianciano. Iddio premiò con molti miracoli quell'atto di ubbidienza. Difatti, subito dopo l'arrivo di lei, cominciò a venire giù dal cielo un fitta pioggia di manna che ricoprì lo stabilimento termale. Nel luogo in cui la santa s'immerse, sgorgò una nuova polla d'acqua calda che ridonò la salute ai malati che in essa si tuffarono. Durante il periodo di cura, essendo venuto a mancare il vino, Agnese, piena di compassione per le commensali, tramutò con un segno di croce l'acqua, attinta alla fontana, in vino molto prelibato. Una bambina, nell'affettare il pane sulle proprie ginocchia, si era ferita col coltello fino all'osso, Agnese andò ad immergerla nella polla sgorgata prodigiosamente pochi giorni prima e la ritrasse guarita. Un bambino, rimasto incustodito, era entrato nell'acqua e vi era affogato. Agnese lo portò in disparte, si prostrò in preghiera davanti a lui, gli tracciò sopra il segno di croce e lo restituì vispo come prima alla madre desolata.

Nonostante la fama di tanti prodigi, un giorno, mentre entrava nei locali delle ferme, alcuni giovinastri diedero la baia ad Agnese. Ella frenò lo sdegno di coloro che l'accompagnavano, poi, tornata alla casa ospitale, fece tirare il collo a certi polli, portati dal monastero in considerazione della sua salute, e li fece portare ai giovani insolenti. Costoro, vinti dall'amabile cortesia di lei, andarono a chiederle scusa degli sberleffi, ginocchioni e con la cintola al collo. La santa li invitò cortesemente ad alzarsi e protestò di sentirsi loro molto obbligata perché, col mettere alla prova la sua pazienza, le avevano dato modo di avvantaggiarsi spiritualmente.

Nonostante le cure, Agnese ritornò a Montepulciano ancora più malata. Non per questo lasciò di spingere le sue religiose alla perfezione con l'esempio e l'esortazione. Del resto, le sue figlie spirituali si guardavano bene dal commettere qualsiasi mancanza perché sapevano per esperienza come la loro superiora avesse pure il dono della scrutazione dei cuori e della profezia. Un giorno, mentre ella pregava con loro davanti ad un'immagine della Madonna, per la pace di Montepulciano, d'un tratto vide il volto della Vergine contrarsi con spasimo, stillare gocce di sudore e trarre un respiro breve e affannoso. La santa comprese che, a causa dei peccati di molti, la città sarebbe stata sconvolta dalla guerra. Infatti, nella prima metà del secolo XIV, i fratelli Jacopo e Nicolò Della Pecora, si misero in testa di sottrarre Montepulciano al dominio dei senesi, ma inutilmente, nonostante l'aiuto ora di Perugia, ora di Firenze.

Consunta dalle fatiche, Agnese si mise a letto e si dispose alla morte. Alle religiose piangenti disse: "Se mi amaste veramente, non piangereste così; gli amici si rallegrano del bene che capita ai loro amici. Il più grande bene che mi possa capitare, è di andarmene allo sposo. Siate fedeli a uno sposo così buono! Perseverate sempre nell'ubbidienza e vi prometto di esservi più utile in ciclo che se restassi tra voi". Poco dopo sollevò gli occhi e le mani al cielo e disse sorridendo; "II mio amato mi appartiene, io non lo abbandonerò più!". Agnese morì il 20 aprile 1317, a mezzanotte, e apparve a molti in diverse località.

Il suo corpo, deposto nella chiesa del monastero, che prese il nome di Sant'Agnese, emanò una deliziosa fragranza e sanò molti malati, I poliziani invece di affidare alla terra il suo corpo, mandarono alcune persone fidate a Genova affinché, a qualunque prezzo, comprassero unguenti con cui spalmare il corpo della vergine e conservarlo incorrotto il più a lungo possibile. Appena essi partirono, le punte delle dita di Agnese cominciarono a stillare fitte e abbondanti gocce di un prezioso liquore al cui contatto ciechi, zoppi e rattrappiti riacquistarono la salute.

S. Agnese fu canonizzata il 10 dicembre 1726 da Benedetto XIII. Il suo corpo si conservò incorrotto. Nel 1374 Dio rivelò a S. Caterina da Siena che in cielo avrebbe goduto una gloria uguale a quella di Agnese da Montepulciano. Le venne quindi il desiderio di andarne a venerare le reliquie, ma mentre si chinava per baciarle i piedi, Agnese sollevò fino al labbro di lei il piede destro e rinnovò il prodigio della manna.

Autore:
Guido Pettinati



Agnese di Montepulciano, Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, Piazza Bellini, Palermo, Riquadro in marmi mischi e tramischi : Santa Vergine

AGNESE Segni da Montepulciano, santa

di Abele L. Redigonda - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani - Volume 1 (1960)

AGNESE Segni da Montepulciano, santa. - Nata a Gracciano presso Montepulciano verso il 1270 (secondo una tarda tradizione il 28 genn. 1268) da Lorenzo Segni, agiato cittadino, non ancora decenne entrò nel monastero poliziano di suore terziarie, dette "del sacco". Cinque anni dopo accompagnò la sua maestra suor Margherita a Proceno presso Acquapendente (Viterbo), dove si doveva fondare un'altra Casa, e con dispensa pontificia, a causa della sua giovane età, fu fatta superiora. Nel 1306 fondò a Montepulciano, fuori di porta, il monastero di S. Maria Nuova e ne divenne prima badessa e poi, quando detto monastero passò sotto la direzione dei domenicani, priora. In questo tempo per ragioni di salute ricorse alle acque di Chianciano: una fonte vi porta ancora il suo nome e i "bagni" l'hanno a patrona. Per la sua vita attiva e austera, in fama di santità, fu canonizzata il 10 dic. 1726, con bolla di Benedetto XIII (festa il 20 aprile).

L'appartenenza di A. all'Ordine domenicano fu lungamente contrastata da altri Ordini (come, ad esempio, dagli agostiniani); va però notato che, se non si posseggono a tutt'oggi testimonianze coeve irrefragabili che determinino e datino il passaggio di A. sotto la direzione dei domenicani, è certo che il monastero in questione era diretto da un domenicano parecchi anni avanti il 1330 (cfr. Jean Mactei Caccia, Chronique du couvent des Prêheurs d'Orviéto, ed. A.-M. Viel, P. M. Girardin, Roma-Viterbo 1907, p. 106) e che il beato Raimondo da Capua, pur scrivendo la vita di A. soltanto nel 1366, la compose a Montepulciano fondandosi su documenti e sulle testimonianze di suore formate da A. stessa, ed afferma, appunto, che A. lasciò il nome di badessa per quello di priora quando il monastero ebbe la direzione dei domenicani. L'abito e la tradizione avvalorano inoltre questa tesi.

Fonti e Bibl.: Acta Sanctorum Aprilis, II, Antverpiae 1675, pp. 791-817; Bullarium Ordinis Fratrurn Praedicatorum, a cura di A. Bremond, IV, Romae 1732, pp. 427, 506; V, ibid. 1733, pp. 526-527, 577 e 578; VI, ibid. 1734, pp. 305, 587,602-605, 610-611 e 694; J. Leroux, La vie de S. Agnès de Montpolitien dominicaine, Paris 1728; D. Ponsi, Vita di S. Agnese vergine di Monte Pulciano dell'Ordine de' Predicatori, Montefiascone 1821; J. Taurisano, Catalogus hagiographicus Ordinis Praedicatorum, Romae 1918, p. 26 n. 38; A. Walz, Die heilige Agnes von Montepulciano, Dulmen 1922; A. Zucchi, Gli ospizi domenicani in Toscana, in Memorie domenicane, LXII (1945), pp.10-19; T. Centi, Sant'Agnese da Montepulciano patrona dei bagni di Chianciano, Roma 1949; U. Boscaglia, Sant'Agnese Poliziana, Firenze 1954; Dict. d'Hist. et de Géogr. Ecclés., I, chttps://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/agnese-segni-da-montepulciano-santa_(Dizionario-Biografico)oll. 983-985.

SOURCE : https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/agnese-segni-da-montepulciano-santa_(Dizionario-Biografico)


The deceased Saint Agnes of Montepulciano raising her foot to be kissed by Saint Catherine of Siena with scenes behind of a martyrdom and a miracle

Den hellige Agnes av Montepulciano (~1268-1317)

Minnedag: 20. april

Skytshelgen for Montepulciano

Den hellige Agnes ble født rundt 1268 i den lille landsbyen Gracchiano-Vecchio noen kilometer fra Montepulciano i regionen Toscana i Midt-Italia. Det er en viss tvil om hennes fødeår – vanligvis angis det til 1268, men hennes første biograf, den salige Raimund av Capua, sier 1274. Hun kom fra en velstående familie. Da hun bare var ni år gammel, overtalte hun foreldrene til å plassere henne i det nærmeste klosteret, «del Sacco» i Montepulciano hos de såkalte «Sekkesøstrene» (Sacchine), som hadde sitt navn etter de grove klærne og levde et strengt liv. Allerede var hun en bemerkelsesverdig betagende jente.

Hennes religiøse oppdragelse ble betrodd til en erfaren gammel søster ved navn Margareta, og hun var snart til oppbyggelse for hele huset med sin eksepsjonelle fremgang. I tillegg var hun langt klokere enn alderen skulle tilsi. Fire år senere åpnet et nytt kloster i Proceno, en liten landsby ved Viterbo, og søstrene der ba nonnene i Montepulciano om å sende dem en priorinne. Margareta ble tilbudt posten, men hun ville bare reise hvis Agnes fikk tillatelse til å bli med for å hjelpe henne. Agnes fikk tillatelsen fra pave Nikolas IV (1288-92). Snart sluttet mange andre jenter seg til klosteret i Proceno bare fordi de visste at Agnes var der. Hun ble utnevnt til husholder (regnskapsfører) da hun var bare 14 år.

Da hun var 15, valgte søstrene henne til sin første abbedisse. Hennes selvdisiplin ble legendarisk. Hun levde på brød og vann i femten år og sov på gulvet med en stein som pute. Hun mildnet sin askese først etter en alvorlig sykdom. Det ble sagt at i hennes visjoner ga engler henne Den hellige kommunion, og en gang hadde hun en visjon hvor hun holdt Jesusbarnet i sine armer. Hun hadde også Mariavisjoner. Hun ble også kjent for andre overnaturlige tegn som levitasjoner (å lette fra bakken) under bønn og mangfoldiggjøring av mat når søstrene hadde lite, og hun hadde dessuten profetiens og helbredelsens nådegaver.

Borgerne i Montepulciano inviterte henne til å komme tilbake, og hun bygde et nytt kloster rundt 1298 i lokaler som tidligere hadde vært en bordell. I mellomtiden hadde Agnes blitt overbevist om at for å sikre stabilitet måtte kommuniteten bli tilknyttet en bestående orden. Hun valgte dominikanerne (Ordo Fratrum Praedicatorum – OP). Agnes selv ble priorinne og dominikanerne sørget for kapellaner og åndelig veiledning.

Klosteret vokste under hennes ledelse, som varte til hennes død, og det samme gjorde Agnes' berømmelse. Hennes siste år var preget av en lang og smertefull sykdom, og hun ble overtalt til å drikke vann fra det lokale kurbadet Chinciano som medisin, men det hjalp ikke. Da hun visste at hun var døende, sa hun til sine sørgende nonner at de skulle glede seg, for: «Dere vil oppdage at jeg ikke har forlatt dere. Dere vil eie meg for alltid».

Hun døde den 20. april 1317, 49 år gammel. Hennes grav og ble besøkt av mange pilegrimer, blant annet keiser Karl IV og den hellige Katarina av Siena, som æret hennes minne spesielt høyt. I italiensk kunst avbildes de to gjerne sammen. Hennes legeme gikk ikke i forråtnelse, og i 1435 ble det overført til dominikanerkirken i Orvieto, hvor det fortsatt befinner seg. På 1500-tallet ble hennes legeme plassert i høyalteret i kirken. Det var dessverre et svært fuktig sted, så det meste av legemet gikk i oppløsning. Deler av det forble imidlertid uskadd og er fortsatt bevart, inkludert armene, hendene, leggene, føttene og hjernen. I dag er disse relikviene oppbevart i en figur som forestiller den hellige, mens de bevarte hendene og føttene innehar sin vanlige plass på modellen.

Pave Klemens VIII (1592-1605) godkjente hennes officium for bruk i dominikanerordenen og satte hennes navn inn i Martyrologium Romanum, noe som kan tilsvare en saligkåring. Hun ble helligkåret den 10. desember 1726 av pave Benedikt XIII (1724-30). Hennes minnedag er 20. april, og hennes navn står i Martyrologium Romanum.

En sienesisk maler i Montepulciano fremstiller henne med en modell av hjembyen, som hun er skytshelgen for, mens Tiépolo presenterer henne som en av helgenene som omgir Madonnaen i jesuittkirken i Venezia. Ellers avbildes hun som dominikanernonne med lilje, lam og bok, eller mens hun har en visjon av Maria med barnet. Hennes biografi ble skrevet femti år etter hennes død av Raimund av Capua, som også skrev biografien om Katarina av Siena. Han hadde i mange år vært skriftefar i klosteret i Montepulciano, og han hadde anledning til å studere alle dokumentene om henne i arkivet.

Kilder: Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Bentley, Butler, Butler (IV), Benedictines, Bunson, Cruz (1), Index99, KIR, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN, Infocatho, Heiligenlexikon - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden - Opprettet: 2000-05-14 14:02 - - Sist oppdatert: 2005-12-26 18:04

SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/amontepu

Cella di Sant'Agnese di Montepulciano, con affreschi di Nicola Nasini, 1704, Sant'Agnese (Montepulciano) - Convent

Cella di Sant'Agnese di Montepulciano, con affreschi di Nicola Nasini, 1704, Sant'Agnese (Montepulciano) - Convent


AGNES von Montepulciano: hl. Dominikanerin (II. Orden), geb. 1268 in Montepulciano, Toskana, † 20.4. 1317 in Montepulciano, Fest: 20.4. - A. stammte aus der reichen Familie Segni. Sie trat bereits mit 9 Jahren in das Kloster der Stadt Gracciano ein. Dieses Kloster führte den Namen »del Sacco«. Von dort wurde sie mit der Meisterin Margarete nach Proceno (Diözese Acquapendente) erbeten. Dort gründete sie ein Kloster und wurde, mit päpstlicher Dispens, im Alter von 15 Jahren dessen Vorsteherin. Zu ihren Zeiten bereits wurde dieses Kloster wegen der vorbildlichen Oberservanz sehr berühmt. Nach 22 Jahren wünschten die Einwohner von Montepulciano A. wieder zurück in ihre Stadt. A. folgte diesem Wunsche und gründete in dieser Stadt 1306 ein neues Kloster. Dort wirkte sie als Priorin. Sie stellte das Kloster unter die Regel des hl. Augustinus. Einige Jahre später hatte sie den Wunsch, dass diese Gemeinschaft rechtlich ganz dem Dominikanerorden unterstellt werde. Dieser Wunsch ging dann auch im Jahre 1311 in Erfüllung. Von nun an betreuten Dominikaner seelsorglich dieses Kloster. Katharina von Siena verehrte A. in ganz besonderer Weise. Es ist uns ein Brief erhalten, in dem sich Katharina an die Priorin Christophora im Kloster der hl. Agnes von Montepulciano wendet. Hier heißt es: »Diese kennt ihr ja, da Agnes euch ständig in der wahren Demut unterwies und auch ein Vorbild darin war. Denn die Demut war die Haupttugend, die sich bei ihr fand. Und das wundert mich auch nicht im geringsten, da sie das besaß, was eine Braut besitzen muß, die das Verlangen trägt, der Demut ihres Bräutigams nachzufolgen.« Auch »glorreiche Mutter« wurde A. von Katharina von Siena genannt. Es wird weiter berichtet, dass sie das Jesuskind und seine Mutter Maria innig verehrte. Immer wieder mahnte sie ihre Mitbürger, nach Frieden und Eintracht zu streben. Papst Benedikt XIV. sprach sie am 10. Dezember 1726 heilig.

Lit.: Vita vom sel. Raimund von Capua: Acta SS Apr. II (1783) 792-812; - A. Walz: Die hl. Agnes von Montepulciano, Dülmen 1922; - ECatt I 475 f.; - LThK2 Bd. I, Sp. 198 (A. Walz); - Proprium des Predigerordens, III, Feier des Stundengebetes, Proprium der Heiligen, St. Ottilien 1991, 299-290; - V. Schauber: Pattloch Namenstagskalender, Dokumentation H. M. Schindler, Augsburg 1994, 100; - LThK3 Bd. I, Sp. 237 (G. Esser); - LChI Bd. 5, Sp. 57-58 (J.J. Timmers); - BiblSS I, 381 (D. Valari); - Detzel II 46-47.

Ekkart Sauser

Letzte Änderung: 25.06.2008

SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20081201075604/http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/a/agnes_v_m.shtml


Giambattista Tiepolo, The Virgin Maria appare alle SS. Rosa da Lima, Caterina da Siena e Agnese da Montepulciano, 1748, Santa Maria del Rosario, Venice


Agnes von Montepulciano

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Agnes von Montepulciano (* um 1268 in Montepulciano; † 20. April 1317 ebenda) war eine Dominikanerin und wird als Heilige verehrt. Ihr Gedenktag ist der 20. April.

Biografie

Agnes von Montepulciano stammt aus wohlhabendem Hause und wurde fromm erzogen. Ihre Mutter lehrte sie im frühen Kindesalter die Grundgebete der Kirche. Im Alter von sechs Jahren äußerte sie ihren Eltern gegenüber, dass sie später einmal vorhabe, in einem Kloster zu leben. Die Eltern stimmten dem Wunsch ihres Kindes zu.

Sie kam in ein Dominikanerkloster. Dort zeichnete sich Agnes durch Gehorsam und Pünktlichkeit aus. Mit nur 16 Jahren wurde Agnes von den Konventualinnen des neu gegründeten Dominikanerinnenklosters in Proceno zur Oberin berufen. Papst Nikolaus IV. bestätigte diese besondere Wahl. Agnes lehnte zunächst ab, gehorchte aber dem Papstes.

Die Vita der Hl. Agnes wurde von Raimund von Capua 1366 verfasst, wobei dieser sich auf Aussagen ihrer Schülerinnen berief. 1726 wurde sie von Papst Benedikt XIII. heiliggesprochen. Agnes wird in schwarzem Dominikanerhabit abgebildet, oft mit einem Lamm und einer Lilie.

SOUURCE : https://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Agnes_von_Montepulciano