January 28, 2018: ST. AGNES (SECOND FEAST)

January 28, 2018: COMMEMORATION OF ST. AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR (SECOND FEAST)

“Weep not over my death: for I am now in heaven, together with these virgins, living with Him, whom I loved on earth with my whole soul.”

Ant. Christ standing at her right hand, like a lamb whiter than snow, consecrated her his spouse and martyr.

℣. In thy comeliness and thy beauty.
℟. Go on, proceed prosperously, and reign.

Prayer (Collect).

O God, who rejoicest us by the yearly solemnity of blessed Agnes, the Virgin and Martyr: grant, we beseech thee, that we may imitate her life, to whose memory we pay this honour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Five days after the martyrdom of the Virgin Emerentiana, the parents of the glorious Saint Agnes visited the tomb of their child, during the night, there to weep and pray. It was the eighth day since her martyrdom. Whilst they were thinking upon the cruel death, which, though it had enriched their child with a Martyr's palm, had deprived them of her society—Agnes suddenly appeared to them: she was encircled with a bright light, and wore a crown on her head, and was surrounded by a choir of virgins of dazzling beauty. On her right hand, there stood a beautiful white lamb, the emblem of the Divine Spouse of Agnes.

Turning towards her parents, she said to them: “Weep not over my death: for I am now in heaven, together with these virgins, living with Him, whom I loved on earth with my whole soul.”

It is to commemorate this glorious apparition, that the holy Church has instituted this Feast, which is called Saint Agnes’ Second Feast (Sanctӕ Agnetis secundò). Let us pray to this fervent spouse of the Divine Lamb, that she intercede for us with him, and present us to him in this life, until it be given to us to possess him face to face in heaven.

Taken from: The Liturgical Year – Christmas, Vol. II, Edition 1868; and
The Divine Office for the use of the Laity, Volume I, 1806.

Also read –
1. January 28, 2018: Septuagesima Sunday.
2. January 28, 2018: St. Peter Nolasco, Confessor.

St. Agnes, pray for us.