Today is Jan. 21, the memorial of St. Agnes.
In today’s Mass, we read: “This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 6:19-20).
A few weeks ago, a video went viral on social media of a Christian pastor denouncing the way Catholic priests live. In his tirade against poverty and chastity, he declared, “I don’t want to die a broke virgin.” It seems to me that he needs to take another look at the Gospels. After all, it was Jesus, our High Priest, who modeled the Christian life. He was poor, chaste and obedient.
All the evangelical counsels are challenging, but chastity seems to be the most virulently rejected by our age. But the counsels will endure. Father Raniero Cantalamessa writes, “All the forces and wisdom of this world, all the so-called human sciences may join together in protest against this form of life, calling it ‘an outdated abomination’ and raising all kinds of suspicion against it; all the sins and infidelities of the very people who have chosen to embrace it may be added to this, and still it would remain, because it was instituted by Jesus.”
Following St. Agnes’ example of chastity
All of this is worth considering as we celebrate St. Agnes today. A virgin martyred during the Diocletian persecution, St. Agnes embodies the teaching of Jesus to be obedient, poor and chaste. The Church has always taught this truth consistently. Across different cultures — Romans, Greeks, Syrians, and others — many holy virgins joyfully chose suffering and even death over breaking their vow to remain pure in mind and body. From the time of the apostles, the Church Fathers have praised holy virginity as a virtue that pleases God, who delights in pure hearts and dwells within them.
Every Christian, unmarried, married or widowed, is called to live chastely, according to what is appropriate for their state in life. But to demean chastity, to insult and mock the example of Christ– that simply won’t do. Today, let us ask for the intercession of St. Agnes, that we may grow in our imitation of Christ.
Let us pray,
Almighty ever-living God, who choose what is weak in the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of your Martyr Saint Agnes, may follow her constancy in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.