links to liturgy of today January 21: [according to the American
calendar]:

Saint Agnus: according to catholic News Agency
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/catholicnewsagency/saintoftheday/~3/Ox...

First Reading - 1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/reading.php?n=6380&utm_source=feedb...)

Psalm - Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/reading.php?n=6381&utm_source=feedb...)

Gospel - Mk 3:7-12
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/reading.php?n=6382&utm_source=feedb...)

(Journey in a Broken World)

---- Saint Agnus ----

Article by Marc Aupiais

None around, could explain her blessing, her name meaning lamb, her
name meaning chastity, a blessing- Agnus, was beautiful , and the
aspiration of all true Italian men.

But none love her more than her husband, her heavenly spouse. She
served him on earth, her invisible love. The men proposed, and did what
they could to outdo. And seeing their every charm disabled, one finally
accused her in court.

The judge, not of justice petitioned the saint, the young beauty, so
heavenly in stature and name. She was threatened with fire, and torture
and death, yet would not deny her spouse, to whom she had wed.

Her chastity important, the judge had an idea. She was sent to the
brothel, by order of court. The men of Rome, could do as they pleased.
But Agnus was hardly impressed, “My jealous spouse in heaven, will keep
me a virgin”, one may paraphrase how she insisted.

At the brothel, a crowd of men gathered, beset by vile lust, they aimed
to upset.

Though seeing this saint, many did desist, many not all- one was not
shamed. He was determined to take her sanctity away. And driven by the
lust of eyes, by lightning God took his sight.

And by prayer, the virgin healed him, by God’s work was God’s curse
undone.

Still the judge pleaded, or so it would seem, but the spouse of Christ
knew this- what god has made one, man must not divide. She had looked
with joy at the instruments of torture, and hope at her reunification
with Christ. She would not marry him who took her to court. She was
thus beheaded, as those watching were moved to tears. Saint Agnus, of
Chastity, Saint Agnus the lamb. Lead to the slaughter, yet also to the
feast.

She served God by living, she did not take her own life. The martyr and
the suicide are opposites. One destroys all, by taking his life. The
other is so loyal to life, that she or he sacrifices it, that it may
live as she is made to die.

Saint Agnus, on this day: ora pro nobis.

Factual Information based indirectly on the account rendered in
Butler’s Lives of Saints, Edited by Rev. Bernard Kelly, published by
Virtue. Saint Agnus is the saint listed by this ancient work, for today!

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Posted By scripturelink to South African Catholic at 1/21/2010 12:08:00
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