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'''Agnes of Assisi''' (1197 or 1198 – 16 November 1253) was a younger sister of [[Clare of Assisi]] and one of the first [[abbess]]es of the [[Order of Poor Ladies]] (now the Poor Clares). [[Pope Benedict XIV]] canonized her as a [[saint]] in 1753.
'''Agnes of Assisi''' (1197 or 1198 – 16 November 1253) was one of the first [[abbess]]es of the [[Order of Poor Ladies]] (now the Poor Clares). She was a younger sister of [[Clare of Assisi]], who had founded the order. [[Pope Benedict XIV]] canonized Agnes as a [[saint]] in 1753.


==Life==
==Life==
Line 35: Line 35:


[[File:Chegada de Santa Inês de Assis ao Convento (c. 1697) - António de Oliveira Bernardes.png|thumb|left|''Arrival of Saint Agnes of Assisi at the Convent'', António de Oliveira Bernardes, 1697]]
[[File:Chegada de Santa Inês de Assis ao Convento (c. 1697) - António de Oliveira Bernardes.png|thumb|left|''Arrival of Saint Agnes of Assisi at the Convent'', António de Oliveira Bernardes, 1697]]
Monaldo drew his sword to strike his niece, but his arm allegedly dropped to his side, withered and useless. The others dragged Agnes out of the monastery by her hair, striking and kicking her repeatedly. Agnes' body reportedly became so heavy, perhaps due to the help of her sister, that her assailants dropped her in a field nearby. Agnes' relatives, purportedly realizing that something divine protected her, allowed the sisters to remain together. Francis himself cut her hair and gave her the [[religious habit]], in recognition of Agnes' dedication.<ref name=Arnald/>
Monaldo drew his sword to strike his niece, but his arm allegedly dropped to his side, withered and useless. The others dragged Agnes out of the monastery by her hair, striking and kicking her repeatedly. Agnes's body reportedly became so heavy, perhaps due to the help of her sister, that her assailants dropped her in a field nearby. Agnes's relatives, purportedly realizing that something divine protected her, allowed her to remain with Clare. Francis himself cut her hair and gave her the [[religious habit]], in recognition of Agnes's dedication.<ref name=Arnald/>


Francis later established a [[cloister]] for Clare and Agnes at the rural chapel of [[San Damiano, Assisi|San Damiano]], where they were soon joined by other noblewomen of the city, and the [[Order of Poor Ladies]], later known as the Poor Clares, began, with Clare as its [[abbess]]. In 1221, a group of [[Benedictines|Benedictine]] [[nun|nuns]] in Monticelli near Florence asked to become Poor Ladies. Agnes was chosen to lead the new community.<ref name=Foley>[https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-agnes-of-assisi Foley, Leonard. "St. Agnes of Assisi", ''Saint of the Day'', Franciscan Media]</ref> Although life in the Florentine convent was harmonious and without faction, she missed her sister greatly.<ref name=Arnald/>
Francis later established a [[cloister]] for Clare and Agnes at the rural chapel of [[San Damiano, Assisi|San Damiano]]. They were soon joined by other noblewomen of the city, and the [[Order of Poor Ladies]], later known as the Poor Clares, began, with Clare as its [[abbess]]. In 1221, a group of [[Benedictines|Benedictine]] [[nun|nuns]] in Monticelli near Florence asked to become Poor Ladies. Agnes was chosen to lead the new community.<ref name=Foley>[https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-agnes-of-assisi Foley, Leonard. "St. Agnes of Assisi", ''Saint of the Day'', Franciscan Media]</ref> Although life in the Florentine convent was harmonious and without faction, she missed her sister greatly.<ref name=Arnald/>


She later went on to establish other communities of the order, including those of Mantua, Venice, and Padua. Agnes was said to be very virtuous, and as abbess she ruled with a benevolent kindness, knowing how to make the practice of virtue appealing to her sisters.<ref name=Robinson/>
Agnes later established other communities of the order, including those of [[Mantua]], [[Venice]], and [[Padua]. Agnes was said to be very virtuous, and as abbess she ruled with a benevolent kindness, knowing how to make the practice of virtue appealing to her sisters.<ref name=Robinson/>


In 1253, Agnes returned to Assisi to nurse her sister Clare during the latter's illness. Shortly thereafter died herself, on 16 November 1253.<ref name=Benziger>[http://saintsresource.com/agnes-of-assisi "Agnes of Assisi", Saints Resource, RCL Benziger]</ref> Her remains were interred with those of her sister at the [[Basilica of St. Clare]] at [[Assisi]].<ref name=Robinson/>
In 1253, Agnes returned to Assisi to nurse her sister Clare during the latter's illness. Shortly thereafter Agnes died, on 16 November 1253.<ref name=Benziger>[http://saintsresource.com/agnes-of-assisi "Agnes of Assisi", Saints Resource, RCL Benziger]</ref> Her remains were interred with those of her sister at the [[Basilica of St. Clare]] at [[Assisi]].<ref name=Robinson/>


Agnes' [[feast day]] is the anniversary of her death, 16 November. She was canonized in 1753,<ref name=Foley/><ref name=Benziger/> the year of her 500th anniversary, by [[Pope Benedict XIV]].<ref name=Robinson/>
Agnes's [[feast day]] is the anniversary of her death, 16 November. She was canonized in 1753,<ref name=Foley/><ref name=Benziger/> the year of her 500th anniversary, by [[Pope Benedict XIV]].<ref name=Robinson/>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 18:14, 17 June 2024

Saint

Agnes of Assisi
Virgin
Born1197 or 1198
Assisi, Italy
Died16 November 1253
Assisi, Italy
Venerated inRoman Catholicism
Order of St. Clare
Canonizedcultus confirmed 1753 by Pope Benedict XIV
Major shrineBasilica of St. Clare
Assisi, Italy
Feast16 November
AttributesPoor Clare nun holding a book

Agnes of Assisi (1197 or 1198 – 16 November 1253) was one of the first abbesses of the Order of Poor Ladies (now the Poor Clares). She was a younger sister of Clare of Assisi, who had founded the order. Pope Benedict XIV canonized Agnes as a saint in 1753.

Life

She was a younger daughter of Count Favorino Scifi. Her birth name was probably Caterina; she took the name of Agnes when she became a nun. Her mother, Ortolana, who also would join the order founded by her daughters, belonged to the noble family of the Fiumi. Their cousin Rufino Scifi was one of the original "Three Companions" of Francis of Assisi. Agnes spent her childhood between her father's palace in the city and his castle of Sasso Rosso on Mount Subasio.[1]

On 18 March 1212, her eldest sister Clare, inspired by the example of Francis of Assisi, left their father's home in secret to become a follower of Francis. Sixteen days later, Agnes ran off to the Church of St. Angelo di Panzo where Francis had brought her sister, resolved to share Clare's life of poverty and penance.[2] Angry at the loss of two of his daughters, their father sent his brother Monaldo and several relatives and armed followers to the monastery to force Agnes, if persuasion failed, to return home.[1]

Arrival of Saint Agnes of Assisi at the Convent, António de Oliveira Bernardes, 1697

Monaldo drew his sword to strike his niece, but his arm allegedly dropped to his side, withered and useless. The others dragged Agnes out of the monastery by her hair, striking and kicking her repeatedly. Agnes's body reportedly became so heavy, perhaps due to the help of her sister, that her assailants dropped her in a field nearby. Agnes's relatives, purportedly realizing that something divine protected her, allowed her to remain with Clare. Francis himself cut her hair and gave her the religious habit, in recognition of Agnes's dedication.[2]

Francis later established a cloister for Clare and Agnes at the rural chapel of San Damiano. They were soon joined by other noblewomen of the city, and the Order of Poor Ladies, later known as the Poor Clares, began, with Clare as its abbess. In 1221, a group of Benedictine nuns in Monticelli near Florence asked to become Poor Ladies. Agnes was chosen to lead the new community.[3] Although life in the Florentine convent was harmonious and without faction, she missed her sister greatly.[2]

Agnes later established other communities of the order, including those of Mantua, Venice, and [[Padua]. Agnes was said to be very virtuous, and as abbess she ruled with a benevolent kindness, knowing how to make the practice of virtue appealing to her sisters.[1]

In 1253, Agnes returned to Assisi to nurse her sister Clare during the latter's illness. Shortly thereafter Agnes died, on 16 November 1253.[4] Her remains were interred with those of her sister at the Basilica of St. Clare at Assisi.[1]

Agnes's feast day is the anniversary of her death, 16 November. She was canonized in 1753,[3][4] the year of her 500th anniversary, by Pope Benedict XIV.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Robinson, Paschal. "St. Agnes of Assisi." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 6 January 2020Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c Arnald of Sarrant, Chronicle of the Twenty-Four Generals of the Order of Friars Minor, trans. Noel Muscat, OFM (TAU Franciscan Communications, 2010).
  3. ^ a b Foley, Leonard. "St. Agnes of Assisi", Saint of the Day, Franciscan Media
  4. ^ a b "Agnes of Assisi", Saints Resource, RCL Benziger

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Robinson, Paschal (1907). "St. Agnes of Assisi". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

References

  • Bartoli, Marco. Chiara d'Assisi. Rome 1989: Instituto Storico dei Cappucini.
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