The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-02-13

called upon to paint her, one of the most
famous of -hs@piictures being the MAR
tyrdom," in her church, at Bologna. In
this the saint kneels before; q pile of
fagots,> whose fire has just been extin:-
guished by divine in%terposition. Two of
the ~executioners lie PROSTATE ON. the
ground, while a third, drawing her head
back by the hair, plunges his sword into
her bosom. Above: the opened heavens
show Christ delivering to the angels the
palm and o for the martyr. The
martyrdom scene is also repeated bv
Tintoretto in the st. Maria delP Orto, at
| Venice. ..,~ ,~..%#
The legend of st. Agnes is one of the
oldest in the Christian church and one Of
the most authentic. St. Jerome. writing
IN the fourth century, says that in his
time her fame was spread through all
According to ecclesiastical tradition,
she was born afChristian of a noble Ro-
man family. At a very early age she
was distinguished for her gracious sweet
ness and humility as we'll as SURPRISING
beauty. $500,
When only IL she was sought in mar
riage by the son OF. the Project SEM
pronius, but she repealed all his advances
and declined his beautiful and costly
gifts, saying, ."Away from me, tempter,
for | am already betrothed to a lover
greater and fairer than any earthly
suitor. To him I have pledged my faith,
and he will crown me with jewels CON-
pared with which thy gifts are dross."
Then the. young man fell sick Of un-
requited love, and his father undertook
to intercedc with the maid and her par
lents for him. but all to no avail.
When Sempronms' discovered the rea-
son to be that she wa a Christian, he
commanded her to become a vestal virgin,
believing that she would then be in mis-
power, but she again refused, saying:
"Thinkest thou that I who would not
listen to thy son, who is yet a man,
would bow down to vain images which
are but insensible wood and stone %
Then Sempronius loaded her with chains
and ordered her to be dragged before the
affairs of the gods, where she might be
exposed to outrage. AS the soldiers be-
gan to strip her of her raiment, her hair
became a veil, covering her whole body,
and a white and. shining garment de-
scended, with which she clothed herself
joyfully. Then the whole place was
filled by a great light, brighter than tie
sun at midday, S that the son of Sem
pronius, entering, was struck blind and
fell down in commissions. Moved to conf
passion by the tears of his father and
mother, the maiden prayed, and he was
restored to health. Then Sempronius
would have released her, but the multi
tude declared her 4 sorceress and clam
ored for her death. She was bound to a
stake and the fagots were lighted. but
refused to burn. At last a soldier
climbed the pile and killed her with luis
sword, January 81, 3Q4. She was buried
by the Christians in the Via Nomentana,
and day and night they assembled there
to offer up their devotions.
Only q few years after ner death her
remains were rcinterred in the sarcopha-
gus which stands underneath the altar of
:he church erected by Constantine. Not
withstanding many r%enovations, this
Church of SAINT 4Agnese still retains it's
antique form and design. So deep below
the present level of the soil is this church
that one descends to it by marble steps.
In the lapse of years it became a Gus
tom in Catholic countries to bless a lamb
en- st. Agnes day. A ceremony of this
kind is still practiced at Rome, where
two lambs are blessed by the Pope in
the Church of St. Agnes, after which the
pontiical high mass is celebrated. These
lambs are carefully tended until sheariny
time: when the wool is woven by II G
nuns into the pallirum worn by the Pope
and primates of the church.
The eve of st. Agnes has for centuries
been deemed a period Of prophetic prom
Use for maidens in search of a husband
New York Herald.