Agnes of Montepulciano, OP (28 January 1268 – 20 April 1317)[1] was aDominican prioress in medievalTuscany who was known as amiracle worker during her lifetime. She is honored as a saint by theCatholic Church.
Agnes was born in 1268 into the noble Segni family inGracciano,[2] afrazione ofMontepulciano, then part of thePapal States. At the age of nine, she convinced her parents to allow her to enter a Franciscanmonastery of women in the city known as the "Sisters of the Sack", after the roughreligious habit they wore. They lived a simplecontemplative life. She received the permission of the pope to be accepted into this life at such a young age, which was normally againstChurch law.[3]
In 1281, the lord of the castle ofProceno, afief ofOrvieto, invited thenuns of Montepulciano to send some of their sisters to Proceno to found a new monastery. Agnes was among the nuns sent to found this new community. At the age of fourteen she was appointed bursar.[4]
In 1288 Agnes, despite her youth at only 20 years of age, was noted for her devotion to theBlessed Sacrament and deep life of prayer, and was elected as the prioress of the community.[5] There she gained a reputation for performing miracles; people suffering from mental and physical ailments seemed cured by her presence. She was reported to have "multiplied loaves", creating many from a few on numerous occasions, recalling the Gospelmiracle of the loaves and fishes. She herself, however, suffered severe bouts of illness which lasted long periods of time.[3]
In 1306, Agnes was recalled to head the monastery in Montepulciano. Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and is said to have been favoured with many visions. After her return, she proceeded to build a church,Santa Maria Novella inFlorence, to honour theBlessed Mother, as she felt she had been commanded to do in amystical vision several years earlier. She also had a vision ofDominic Guzman, under the inspiration of which she led the nuns of her monastery to embrace theRule of St. Augustine as members of theDominican Order.[4] She was frequently called upon to bring peace to the warring families of the city.[3]
By 1316, Agnes' health had declined so greatly that her doctor suggested taking the cure at the thermal springs in the neighbouring town ofChianciano Terme. The nuns of the community prevailed upon her to take his recommendation. While many of the other bathers reported being cured of their illnesses, Agnes received no benefit from the springs. Her health deteriorated to such a degree that she had to be carried back to the monastery on a stretcher.[3]
Agnes of Montepulciano by Diego de Robles (c. 16th century). Santo Domingo Convent,Quito.
Agnes died the following 20 April, at the age of 49. The Dominican friars attempted to obtain balsam (ormyrrh) to embalm her body. It was found, however, to be producing a sweet odor on its own, and her limbs remained supple.[3] When her body was moved years after her death to the monastery church, it was found to be incorrupt.[6] Her tomb became the site of pilgrimages.
Some fifty years after her death, a Dominicanfriar,Raymond of Capua, who served asconfessor toCatherine of Siena, wrote an account of Agnes' life. He described her body as still appearing as if she were alive. Catherine herself referred to her as "Our mother, the glorious Agnes".[3] Catherine made a pilgrimage to Montepulciano while visiting her niece, Eugenie, who was a nun there.[4] Another Dominican, Lorenzo Mariani of Rome, wrote another early biography of Agnes, in which he already referred to her as a saint.[7]
^Martyrologium Romanum, ex decreto sacrosancti oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum auctoritate Ioannis Pauli Pp. II promulgatum, editio [typica] altera, Typis Vaticanis, A.D. MMIV (2004), p. 245ISBN88-209-7210-7 ""At Montepulciano in Tuscany, Saint Agnes, virgin, who at the age of 9 was clothed in the habit of holy virgins and aged only 15 was put in charge of the nuns of Proceno. Not long afterwards she gave an marvellous example of true humility in the monastery (Montepulciano) she had founded according to the teaching of St Dominic.""
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Agnes of Montepulciano".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
