The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-21
tasrnlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
MRw ORLEANS SUNDAY. JANUARY 81. ir7
(Communicated,)
(Communicated.l
st. Agnes the Child Martyr, and the Celebration Of
Her Feast at ST. Stephens Church, Napoleon
Avenue.

(. There is nothing SO grand and instructive as
the liturgy of the Catholic Church. This great
old Church, full of Divine wisdom, keeps
q correct record of the lives and deaths of her
most Industrious Saints and brings tbem before
our consideration in her daily liturgy, that
their examples may strengthen us in the faith
point out to US the way to act under every trial
and temptation, and encourage under every
difficulty to persevere in the way that they
have gone to eternal rest before us.
To-day she brings ne back nearly 1000 years
to consider the strength of faith, the power of
divine love and the heroic acts of virtue in q
child of the tender age of twelve years-st.
Agnes-who became q victim of the bloody
ediets Of Diocletian in the year 304.
This child-martyr was of the noblest Roman
parentage. Her riches and beauty caused the
young noblemen of the first families in Rome
20 vie with ono another in their addresses who
should gain her in marriage. In answer to the
proposals of them all, Agnes said th at she had
oousecrated her virginity to q Heavenly Spouse,
Who could not be seen with mortal eyes.
Her suitors made use of all eorts OF arts and
opportunities, calculated to induce her to
withdraw the sacrifice she had made of herself
TO her Divine Spouse. But finding all in vain,
they accused her to the Governor q Christ
ian, with the hope that threats and torments
would overcome her tender mind. The Cover
NOR ordered the terrible fires to be made, and
iron hooks, racks, and other instruments of
torture to be displayed before her. with threats
OF immediate execution. Tho young virgin
surveyed them all with an undsunted eye, and
with cheerful countenence did this wonder
&ioners surrounding her, and ready to dispatch
her at the word of command. if she would not
take the incense in her little hand and offer it
TO their idols, IN order to deny the divinity of
Jesus Christ. But seeing that human
power could prevail this child of tender
years to thus deny the living God and forsake
dered that the virtue which she loved more
than life itseif should be taken from her. in
hopes that She then might offer incense to the
pagan gods. Agnes answered that Jesus Christ
was too jealous of the purity of His spouses
to suffer 1t TO be violated in such O manner. for
He was their defender and protector. "You
may" said she, stain your sword with my
blood, but will never bs able to profane my
body, consecrated to Christ" And, according
to the history of the events, it WAS not Agnes,
but her Divine Spouse, who then spoke through
her lips. For, after being led to the place ap-
pointed for this pagan crime, the first one that
attempted to be rude to her was that very in
, heaven struck blind and fell trembling to the
ground. Agnes, in the meantime, was singing
hymns of praise to Christ, with the full conf
dence of His protection. And seeing the young
man who approached her with this evil design
lying PROSTATE, blind and halfdead before her
q Saint would do. she offered up q prayer
for him, which was 30 powerful with God that
1t Immediately restored him to sight and
health; and thus all his evil companions were
Enlightened from an attempt of the same crime.
At length Agnes bowed her neck TO adore
God under the sword of the executioner and
received tho stroke of death. On the very
spot which was consecrated with her virginia.
blood still stands one of the most beautiful
churches in the Christian world. This church
gives title to o Cardinal, and every year, on
her feast, there is O solemn hi gh mass, at which
there are blessed two lambs, which are thence
carried to the Pope, by whom they are again
blessed It is out of the wool of those lambs
that palliums are made and cent by the Pope
TO every newly created Arch bishop, as an en-
blem of meekness and spotless purity. And
thus st. Agnes has been always honored in the
Catholic Church q special patroness of purity
with the Immaculate Mother of God. And the
among all nations and her ntercession is in
voked to this day by youthful Christians who
wish to live in the virtues for which she died a
bloody death.
Six years ago the people of St. Stephens
parish desired TO build large and suitable
church for their growing congregation, but
their Pastor understanding that the sad pres
sure of the times and the gloomy prospects of
of the future left no hope, of human means TO
build the church that was designed, aud trust
ing entirely to God to do His own work by
znsans of the weak things which He alwaS 9
chooses to do it, called on all the parents to
bring their infant and innocent children to re-
ceive the solemn benediotion of the Church
and give thron h their blessed little hands, the
6rst offerings TO commence the great work.
This beautiful ceremony has been repeated
every year since on st. Agnes day, till now the
wallis of the new church stand sixty feet high
in all their gothic grace and beauty, waiting
for the construction of the roof. The parents
of faith understanding the rell&loos beauty OF
this ceremony, never fail TO present their little
ones.
It Is in keeping with the ceremony which
was of precept n the Old Law. when the Jews
were obliged to offer their first born male
children in the Temple and redeem them by
certain gifts. And also with IA ceremony of the
New Law, which is too much neglected. The
Church advises mothers, after the baptism of
their children and about six weeks after child
birth, to repair 10 the church with their in
fants in order to procure the blessing of the
priest and dedicate their little ones to God and
implore of Hun with the priest grace to bring
r them up in purity and holiness This prayer
and solemn blessing for children mp to the age
of ST. Agnes will take place at st. Stephens
Church today at ~ o'clock. Come, parents,
with your dear little children. Come from
every parrish, if you will, to make the offering
through their innocent little hand for 30 noble
u work of God that they and you may receive
the great benefit of this beautiful act of Eeli-
Rion. The Mass at O'Clock in st. Stephens
Church on this day will be for all the children
thus presented q the evening.
We would remind our city readers of the
Ect that business OF lAmOnted friend, the late
Thomas MArkey 10 continued at the old stand ~, ~
and q Claiborne street, near Common by his widow,
ssasted by his talented young son. John F. Marley,