Today is the feast of St. Agnes of Montepulciano. If you have been there, you may have seen her (partially) incorrupt remains in her tomb, presumably in the Dominican convent where she died many years ago in 1317. (She was perfectly incorrupt for years, but when they moved her body to another crypt where there was excessive moisture, she started to decay, except for her extremities.) St. Thérèse, who wanted to join a convent at age 15, might envy Agnes, because she blithely joined one at age 9. They were informally called the "Sack Sisters" because of the material of the clothes they wore. At 15, Agnes volunteered to man (or I supposed the more proper verb is "woman") the new convent at Procena, where she was immediately elected prioress. A special dispensation was needed (and was obtained) from Pope Nicholas IV to allow a 15-year-old to be head of a convent!
She was wise beyond her years, greatly given to prayer and penance, and miracles attended her. Often a mysterious white manna appeared covering her and where she had been praying. It looked like the aftermath of a gentle snowfall. Another saint even duplicated it at her tomb: St. Catherine of Siena said to her sister and nieces who were also venerating Agnes there: "What, do you not observe the present that heaven sends us: do not be ungrateful" and suddenly a flurry of the white manna fell from the sky. The artist in me is just enchanted that if you looked really carefully at each flake, you'd see it was in the shape of a cross.
Agnes got the chance to lead a new convent back in her home town of Montepulciano. I think she probably smiled at the irony -- and felt she couldn't refuse -- when she found out it was in a former brothel. Kind of like setting up your convent in Times Square, eh? :) Agnes decided to adopt the Dominican rule, since it provided the nuns with more permanence than they had had either as Sack Sisters or Augustinians.
Miracles attended her here too: numerous levitations, cures, and miraculous replenishment of the flour and the oil jars. (I like that miracle!)
When she finally died, she smiled at her sisters and said, "If you loved me, you would be glad because I am about to enter the glory of my Spouse. Do not grieve overmuch at my departure: I shall not lose sight of you. You will find that I have not abandoned you and you will possess me forever." If only we could hear that at the death of ALL our loved ones, for that is the way it is.
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