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Apr 20 – St Agnes of Montepulciano O.P. (1268-1317)

20 April, 2012

Summary: Saint Agnes is sometimes represented with a model of her home town of Montepulciano in her hand and is still revered there and throughout Tuscany. She had a reputation as a miracle worker.

Patrick Duffy outlines her life.

Montepulciano
 Agnes of MultiAgnes was born into a noble family in Gracciano, a small village near Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy, where, at the age of nine, she entered the local convent. When in 1281 a new foundation was made at Proceno, Agnes went there and later became the superior. Later again the citizens of Montepulciano invited her to return and she set up a convent under the Dominican order in the town in houses that had been used as brothels. The convent prospered under her direction.

Reputation for Miracles
A
gnes had a reputation for prophecies and miracles: curing people suffering from physical and mental sickness, multiplying loaves as Jesus did, and so on. She seems to have been a no-nonsense, energetic woman.

Her Death
I
n her forties Agnes suffered a long and painful illness and the sisters persuaded her to take the waters of the local spa. When her health did not improve she said to the sisters: “If you loved me, you would be glad that I am about to enter the glory of my spouse. Do not grieve over my departure: I shall not lose sight of you. You will find I have not abandoned you and you will possess me forever.” She died aged forty-nine.

Dominican's unite around the Cross of Jesus

Dominicans unite around the Cross of Jesus

Still Revered in Tuscany
A
gnes’s tomb was much visited by pilgrims including the Emperor Charles IV and St Catherine of Siena. In art she is sometimes represented with a model of her town in her hand. She is still greatly revered in Tuscany.