This Friday is Saint Agnes's feast day. See below for more information on one of our Parish's patron saints from Father Dan.
In early November the Lord gave me a true blessing of being able to go on retreat in Assisi Italy. We priests are very blessed that the church requires of us to take a spiritually priestly retreat each year. This year, it was a surprise and blessing to be able to go to Assisi, through the generosity of a friend from college and his wife. It was an amazing experience to walk around and pray at the holy sites where Saint Francis and Saint Claire lived. I found it very renewing and encouraging, as well as challenging, to learn about their lives of dedication to God and to pray at their tombs. Some of the graces I received on that pilgrimage/retreat continue to be evident in my life and I believe are helping me in my vocation and in my ministry as your pastor.
On my way to the retreat I took advantage of the fact that I flew through the airport in Rome and spent a few days visiting the Basilicas and churches of that city. Among them, I visited the church built at the place where our powerful patroness Saint Agnes was martyred. I was able to celebrate Mass for you all at the altar of her relics— at the very spot where she was martyred through decapitation.
The Feast Day of Saint Agnes is coming up this week on Friday January 21. Here is a little summary about the life of Saint Agnes I found on line you might find interesting:
St. Agnes of Rome was born in 291 AD and raised in a Christian family. Agnes was very beautiful and belonged to a wealthy family. Her hand in marriage was highly sought after, and she had many high ranking men chasing after her. However, Agnes made a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was great and she hated sin even more than death!
Whenever a man wished to marry Agnes, she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."
According to legend, the young men she turned away became so angry and insulted by her devotion to God and purity that they began to submit her name to authorities as a Christian follower.
In one incident, Procop, the Governor's son, became very angry when she refused him. He tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, "I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!"
In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy. Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such a young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. "I would offend my Spouse," she said, "if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!" Then she prayed and bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.
Other accounts of Agnes' life hold the Prefect Sempronius responsible for her martyrdom. It is said he condemned the young girl to be dragged through the streets naked. Some versions of the legend state that Agnes' hair grew instantly to cover her entire body and all the men who attempted to rape the beautiful virgin were immediately struck blind. The stories go on to explain that another man presided over Agnes' trial after Sempronius excused himself. The new man sentenced Agnes to death. At first, Agnes was tied to a stake, but either the wood would not burn or the flames parted away from her. This prompted an officer to draw his sword and behead the girl. It is believed that her blood, which poured out to the stadium, was soaked up with cloths by Christians.
She died a virgin-martyr at the age of 12 or 13 on 21 January 304.
Agnes was buried beside the Via Nomentana in Rome. Her bones are currently conserved beneath the high altar in the church of Sant'Angese fuori le mura in Rome, which was built over the catacomb that held her tomb. Her skull is preserved in the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Rome's Piazza Navona.
St. Agnes is widely known as the patron saint of young girls. She is also the patron saint of chastity, rape survivors and the Children of Mary. She is often represented with a lamb, the symbol of her virgin innocence, and a palm branch, like other martyrs. She is shown as a young girl in robes holding a palm branch with the lamb either at her feet or in her arms.
Her feast day is celebrated on January 21. On her feast day, it is customary for two lambs to be brought in to be blessed by the pope. On Holy Thursday the lambs' wool is removed and woven into the pallium the pope gives to a newly consecrated archbishop as a sign of his power and union with the pope.
According to legend, the young men she turned away became so angry and insulted by her devotion to God and purity that they began to submit her name to authorities as a Christian follower.
In one incident, Procop, the Governor's son, became very angry when she refused him. He tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, "I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!"
In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy. Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such a young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. "I would offend my Spouse," she said, "if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!" Then she prayed and bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.
Other accounts of Agnes' life hold the Prefect Sempronius responsible for her martyrdom. It is said he condemned the young girl to be dragged through the streets naked. Some versions of the legend state that Agnes' hair grew instantly to cover her entire body and all the men who attempted to rape the beautiful virgin were immediately struck blind. The stories go on to explain that another man presided over Agnes' trial after Sempronius excused himself. The new man sentenced Agnes to death. At first, Agnes was tied to a stake, but either the wood would not burn or the flames parted away from her. This prompted an officer to draw his sword and behead the girl. It is believed that her blood, which poured out to the stadium, was soaked up with cloths by Christians.
She died a virgin-martyr at the age of 12 or 13 on 21 January 304.
Agnes was buried beside the Via Nomentana in Rome. Her bones are currently conserved beneath the high altar in the church of Sant'Angese fuori le mura in Rome, which was built over the catacomb that held her tomb. Her skull is preserved in the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Rome's Piazza Navona.
St. Agnes is widely known as the patron saint of young girls. She is also the patron saint of chastity, rape survivors and the Children of Mary. She is often represented with a lamb, the symbol of her virgin innocence, and a palm branch, like other martyrs. She is shown as a young girl in robes holding a palm branch with the lamb either at her feet or in her arms.
Her feast day is celebrated on January 21. On her feast day, it is customary for two lambs to be brought in to be blessed by the pope. On Holy Thursday the lambs' wool is removed and woven into the pallium the pope gives to a newly consecrated archbishop as a sign of his power and union with the pope.
This week, pray to Saint Agnes for all your intentions. Ask her to take you under her wing. Tell her that you have a special connection to her because she is our patroness.
Let’s ask Saint Agnes to intercede for our parishes, especially for the youth, that we all may follow her example of purity, chastity, and loyalty to Christ. And that she will help our parishes and communities to heal from whatever difficulties we have experienced in life.
Let’s ask Saint Agnes to intercede for our parishes, especially for the youth, that we all may follow her example of purity, chastity, and loyalty to Christ. And that she will help our parishes and communities to heal from whatever difficulties we have experienced in life.
God bless,
Father Dan
OFFICE CLOSED
The office of St. Agnes and St. Rose will be closed on Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King.
PROTECTING GODS CHILDREN
All volunteers at St. Agnes and St. Rose are required to attend a Protecting God’s Children (VIRTUS) Safety program which includes all Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Choir Members, Faith Formation, Homebound Ministry, etc. For those of you who have not yet done so we have scheduled a Protecting God's Children program on Saturday, February 5th from 10:00am - 1:00pm at St. Rose hall. Please call the office (978) 887-5505 to register.
TAX DONATION LETTER
If you need a tax donation letter for the year 2021, please contact the office by calling 978-774-1958 or e-mail djones@agnesandrose.org
MONTHLY ROSARY FOR LIFE
You are invited to participate in a monthly rosary for life. This will take place at 3:00pm at Saint Rose on the 3rd Wednesday of each month starting on January 19th. We will continue though at least the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, expected early this summer. If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Tringali
at jmtringali@comcast.net. We look forward to having you join us whenever you can make it.
at jmtringali@comcast.net. We look forward to having you join us whenever you can make it.
FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
PRAYER REQUEST ~ Please pray for our 2nd graders who will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on January 15th and 22nd!
REMINDER ~ No religious education classes January 16-19. See full calendar at agnesandrose.org
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
BUS DROP-OFF ~ Seeking volunteers to chaperone kids who take the bus to St. Agnes for class on Mondays/Tuesdays. Volunteers would supervise them while they play and have snacks before class. No teaching involved
(Mondays, 3:10pm - 3:45pm and Tuesdays, 3:15pm - 4:00pm).
(Mondays, 3:10pm - 3:45pm and Tuesdays, 3:15pm - 4:00pm).
1st GRADE TEACHERS ~ Our 1st grade classes are growing and we now need more volunteers to teach on Sundays, 1:30pm - 3:00pm (St. Rose) and Mondays, 3:45pm - 5:00pm (St. Agnes). All teaching materials provided.
Email Amy at akostak@agnesandrose.org if you would like to volunteer.
MOMS GROUP THURSDAY, JANUARY 13TH
This week's topic: How we can teach our children to offer forgiveness, while also speaking out against injustice in our world? Coffee, snacks, and toys provided for kids to play with while moms chat! All are welcome!