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 Titular Window
A titular window is a special type
of window that portrays the life of the patron or patroness of a
particular church. Not all churches have titular windows. The St. Agnes
Titular Window is in the form of a rose window which are a common feature
found in many cathedrals around the world. St. Agnes Cathedral's rose
window located over the main entrance is made up of multiple sections framed in
stone tracery. At the center of the window is a portrait
of St. Agnes (Center Section) surrounded by
"petals". The story of St. Agnes' life and death
starts at the "petal" at the lower left and continues clockwise.
St. Agnes of Rome, Patroness of our
Parish and Diocese was a young girl of 13 when she was martyred around 304
A.D. during the Christian Persecutions of Emperor Diocletian. Much
of what we know about St. Agnes comes to us through legend as well as the
writings of St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, Pope Damasus and the poet
Prudentius.
The popular legend of St. Agnes states that
Procop, son
of a Roman Governor had promised her many riches if she would only marry him.
Agnes refused saying she was already espoused to Jesus. In anger, he
turned her over to his father for being a Christian.
The Governor also promised her fame and fortunes if she would
only turn against Jesus. He had her brought to the Temple of
Minerva where she refused to worship the pagan goddess. (Section
1) Knowing what may happen to her many other men approached
Agnes apparently out of pity and asked her to marry them. (Section
2) The governor continued to try and force Agnes to change her
mind. He had her publicly stripped of her clothes but her hair is said to
have grown to cover her nakedness from the stares of onlookers. (Section
3) The governor then threatened her with
many forms of torture including fire. (Section
4) When these failed he had her thrown into a brothel where
many men attempted to take advantage of her. One of these men is said to have fallen to the ground blind
when he looked lustfully upon Agnes. (Section
5).
Through all of this Agnes,
miraculously retained her
purity. A mere girl and daughter of a wealthy Roman family (Section
6) she was eventually ordered executed by the Governor. St. Agnes was
martyred by means of a sword. (Section 7)
St. Agnes was buried along the Via Nomentana where the Emperor
Constantine’s daughter had a basilica built in her honor 50 years after
her death.
St. Agnes is frequently represented
holding a lamb because her name is similar to the Latin word agnus
which means lamb. Traditionally lambs are also a symbol of
virginity. Each year on her feast day, January 21st, 2 lambs are blessed
in Rome and their wool is
woven into palliums, a stole worn over the shoulders. Palliums are given
by the pope to archbishops and some bishops as a symbol of their role as
shepherds of the faithful.
St Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, was highly
revered in the early church and to this day her name is mentioned in the
First Eucharistic Prayer.
St. Agnes' feast day is January
21st.
Additional
Information
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