S. AGNETIS, VIRGINIS ET MARTYRIS

Ad Officium lectionis: Alfanus I salernensis: Saint Alfanus I or Alfano I (died 1085) was the Archbishop of Salerno from 1058 to his death. He was famed as a translator, writer, theologian, and medical doctor in the eleventh century. He was a physician before he became archbishop, one of the earliest great doctors of the Schola Medica Salernitana.

Igne divíni rádians amóris

córporis sexum superávit Agnes,

et super carnem potuére carnis

  claustra pudícæ.

Spíritum celsæ cápiunt cohórtes

cándidum, cæli super astra tollunt;

iúngitur Sponsi thálamis pudíca

  sponsa beátis.

Virgo, nunc nostræ miserére sortis

et, tuum quisquis célebrat tropæum,

ímpetret sibi véniam reátus

  atque salútem.

Redde pacátum pópulo precánti

príncipem cæli dominúmque terræ,

donet ut pacem pius et quiétæ

  témpora vitæ.

Láudibus mitem celebrémus Agnum,

casta quem sponsum sibi legit Agnes,

astra qui cæli moderátur atque

  cuncta gubérnat. Amen.

Radiating with the fire of divine love.  Agnes overcame the sex of her body, and rising above her flesh was enclosed in pure flesh. The heavenly cohorts take her bright spirit and carry her beyond the stars; the pure bride is united to the wedding chamber of the Bridegroom. O Virgin, now have mercy on our lot and, for those who celebrate your triumph, seek pardon for our sins and salvation. Make peaceful the people who entreat the Prince of heaven and Lord of earth that He in love may give us times of of a restful life. With praises let us celebrate the gentle Lamb, who chaste Agnes chose as her bridegroom, He who governs the stars of heaven and guides all things. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas & ad Vesperas: Ambrosius

WALSH AND HUSCH: The close correspondence between the content of this hymn and Ambrose's De virginibus, which incorporates a sermon delivered on the feast of Saint Agnes, sufficiently justifies the ascription of this hymn to Ambrose. . . he drew upon oral accounts of the martyrdom of the saint, who was executed probably in the persecution of Diocletian in 304—5.  It is the birthday of St. Agnes, i.e. the day of her death.

Agnes beátæ vírginis (1)

natális est, quo spíritum

cælo refúdit débitum,

pio sacráta sánguine.

Matúra martýrio fuit (2)

matúra nondum núptiis;

prodíre quis nuptum putet,

sic læta vultu dúcitur.

Aras nefándi núminis (3)

adolére tædis cógitur;

respóndet: «Haud tales faces

sumpsére Christi vírgines.

Hic ignis extínguit fidem,

hæc flamma lumen éripit;

hic, hic feríte, ut prófluo (4)

cruóre restínguam focos».

Percússa quam pompam tulit!

Nam veste se totam tegens,

terram genu flexo petit

lapsu verecúndo cadens.

1.       Agnes. . . natalis: Agnes is a Greek genitive, literally meaning "of the pure one." 2. matura nondum nuptiis: She is said to have been twelve years old, the minimum age for marriage according to Roman law. 3. According to Prudentius the deity was Minerva. 4. Agnes offers her breast to the sword, but she is decapitated.

It is the birthday of the blessed virgin, Agnes, when she paid the debt owed the heaven with her loving and holy blood. She was old enough to die a martyr, but not to wed; but one would think that she was going to her wedding with such a joyful countenance was she led. Compelled to lite the altar of the profane and loathsome god, she responded: “torches such as these the virgins of Christ have never borne.  This fire extinguishes faith, this flame removes the light; strike here, here, that my blood may put out the torch.” Struck she displayed a noble character, covering herself with her robe, on bended knee she seeks the ground, but even falling she maintains her modesty.