File(s) not publicly available
E02616: A Latin pseudepigraphic sermon attributed either to Ambrose of Milan or Maximus of Turin is dedicated to the feast of *Agnes (virgin and martyr of Rome, S00097) and describes episodes of her martyrdom on the basis of The Martyrdom of Agnes (E02475). Agnes is presented as an example to follow for young girls. Datable to before the late 8th c., and perhaps composed in 6th c. northern Italy.
online resource
posted on 2017-03-27, 00:00 authored by mpignotBHL 158a
Summary:
§§ 1-2: Agnes is an exemplary virgin. Other young girls (puellae) should learn from Agnes’ unconditional love for Christ, she chose this love over any other from this world.
§ 3: This does not mean that marriage is not good, but virginity is best. There are several married women in the Scriptures that can be imitated: Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, Anna, Susanna, Sephora, but for virgins, there is only the virgin Mary.
§ 4: Agnes followed Mary by rejecting worldly love in favour of heavenly love; she did not fear any attack, not even fire, torture and death by the sword. She refused gifts for the body, and instead of focussing on her appearance, she rather concentrated on the beauty of her mind and soul.
§§ 5-6: The young man could not tempt her with gifts: the virgin kept her promise until death. This should be an example for the young girls in the audience. Agnes followed Mary. She made the brothel a place of prayer and defeated the Devil precisely where he used to rule.
§ 7: Agnes was brought naked to the brothel by the leader (dux), who clearly was the Devil. All the people saw his defeat. She hid her body with her hair and then she was dressed by an angel. Virginity was crowned in a place of depravity. All those who entered as servants of the Devil, came back as servants of God.
§§ 8-9: Then, the young man was hit by death. The virgin fulfilled the wish of the judge and revived the dead man. Pagans rebelled against Christians, the father left the task to the vicarius, as we read (ut legitur). A fire was prepared but she only felt refreshment (refrigerius).
§ 10: Those who were burnt by fire for the name of Christ in fact did not perish. Elijah was taken by fire to heaven, the three boys in the furnace suffered no harm, Laurentius endured the grill, Agnes and Thecla avoided the flames. All these tortures were different but the faith of the saints of God (sancti Dei) was one. Isaiah dying as a martyr and Daniel avoiding the lion are both examples of God’s triumph over the Devil.
§ 11: Invocation to the virgin martyr, married to Christ and crowned in heaven, an example to be followed to share eternal joy.
Text (BHL 158/158a): Patrologia Latina 17, 701-705. Summary: Matthieu Pignot.
Summary:
§§ 1-2: Agnes is an exemplary virgin. Other young girls (puellae) should learn from Agnes’ unconditional love for Christ, she chose this love over any other from this world.
§ 3: This does not mean that marriage is not good, but virginity is best. There are several married women in the Scriptures that can be imitated: Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, Anna, Susanna, Sephora, but for virgins, there is only the virgin Mary.
§ 4: Agnes followed Mary by rejecting worldly love in favour of heavenly love; she did not fear any attack, not even fire, torture and death by the sword. She refused gifts for the body, and instead of focussing on her appearance, she rather concentrated on the beauty of her mind and soul.
§§ 5-6: The young man could not tempt her with gifts: the virgin kept her promise until death. This should be an example for the young girls in the audience. Agnes followed Mary. She made the brothel a place of prayer and defeated the Devil precisely where he used to rule.
§ 7: Agnes was brought naked to the brothel by the leader (dux), who clearly was the Devil. All the people saw his defeat. She hid her body with her hair and then she was dressed by an angel. Virginity was crowned in a place of depravity. All those who entered as servants of the Devil, came back as servants of God.
§§ 8-9: Then, the young man was hit by death. The virgin fulfilled the wish of the judge and revived the dead man. Pagans rebelled against Christians, the father left the task to the vicarius, as we read (ut legitur). A fire was prepared but she only felt refreshment (refrigerius).
§ 10: Those who were burnt by fire for the name of Christ in fact did not perish. Elijah was taken by fire to heaven, the three boys in the furnace suffered no harm, Laurentius endured the grill, Agnes and Thecla avoided the flames. All these tortures were different but the faith of the saints of God (sancti Dei) was one. Isaiah dying as a martyr and Daniel avoiding the lion are both examples of God’s triumph over the Devil.
§ 11: Invocation to the virgin martyr, married to Christ and crowned in heaven, an example to be followed to share eternal joy.
Text (BHL 158/158a): Patrologia Latina 17, 701-705. Summary: Matthieu Pignot.
History
Evidence ID
E02616Saint Name
Agnes, martyr in Rome (ob. c. 304) : S00097Saint Name in Source
AgnesRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Sermons/HomiliesLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
400Evidence not after
700Activity not before
400Activity not after
700Cult activities - Liturgical Activity
- Sermon/homily
Cult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast
