Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-02-07

veneration for st. Agnes, was often
called upon to paint her, one of the most
| famous of his pictures being the Mar
| tyrdOm," in her church, at Bologna. In
this the saint kneels before a pile of
| fagots, whose fire has just been extin-
gIished by divine interposition. 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
i show Christ delivering to the angels the
palm and crown for the martyr. The
martyrdom scene is also repeated by
Tintoretto in the St. Maria dell' Orto, at
| Venice.
The legend of ct. Agnes is one of the
oldest in the Christian church ard one of
| the most authentic. st. jerome. writing
in the fourth century, says that in his
time her fame was spread through all
nations.
According to ecclesiastical tradition,
| she was born a Christian of noble Ro-
man family At very early age she
was distinguished for her gracious sweet
ness and humility as well as surprising
beauty.
When only - 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pronius, but she repealed all his advances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
sutton. To him | have pledged my faith.
| and he will crown Ee with Jewels COM
pared with which thy gifts are dross."
Then the young man fell sick Of UNI
requited love, and his father undertook
to intercede with the maid and her par
ents for him. but all to no avail
When Sempronlus discovered the rea-1
son to be that she was a Christian, he
commanded her to become yestal virgin,
believing that she would then be in mis-
power, but she again refused, saying:
'Thinkest thou that / who would not
listen to thy son, who is yet 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 veil, covering her whole body,
and white and shining garment de-
scended, with which she clothed herself
joyfully. Then the whole place was
filled by a great light, brighter than the
sun at midday, so that the son of Sem
pronius, entering, was struck blind and
fell down in commissions. Moved to con-
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 a sorceress and clam
Ored for her death. She was bound to a
stake and the fagots were lighted. but
refused to burn. At last soldier
climbed the pile and killed her with his
sword, January 81, 304. She was buried
by the Christians in the Via Nomentana,
and day and night they assembled there
to offer up their devotions.
Only n few years after ner death her
remains were rcinterred in the sarcopha-
gus which stands underneath the altar of
The church erected by Constantine. Not
withstanding many renovations. this
Church of SAINT Agnese still retains its
antique form and design. SO deep below
the present level of the soil is this church
shat one descends to it by marble steps
In the lapse of years it became Gus
tom in Catholic countries to bless a lamb
On 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
lime. wher the wool is woven by tie
nuns into the pallium 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.