Born in 1268 to a wealthy family in a small Italian village, Agnes seemed destined for sainthood from birth when townspeople reported seeing lights in the sky surrounding the house where she was born. At the age of six she would spend hours in prayer and begged to enter a convent, and by nine her parents obliged. Known by the Franciscan sisters for her miracles and prophecy, at 15 she was appointed abbess of a Dominican abbey by Pope Nicholas IV and lived a life of severe asceticism. She had mystical visions, frequent ecstasies, performed miracles including raising a dead boy to life, established a convent, and was an example of piety, humility, and charity every day of her life until she died of natural causes at the age of 49.
CHALLENGE
As abbess, St. Agnes of Montepulciano and her sisters gave freely to the poor. As a result, there were times when their cupboards were bare and St. Agnes performed miracles to feed the sisters. How freely do you give to the poor your first fruits directly from your cupboards? And do you have the faith that God will refill them? Today, get a grocery bag and fill it with items from your cupboard, then give it to St. Vincent de Paul or another food bank.
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