Agnes of Montepulciano, Saint

AGNESE da MONTEPULCIANO, saint. — Dominican, born at Gracciano Vecchio in 1274 (or 1268, or even earlier), died at Montepulciano on 20 April 1317. At the age of nine she entered the monastery of the Sacco nuns in nearby Montepulciano, where she distinguished herself through her exceptional piety. At thirteen she was appointed bursar of the community. At the request of delegates from Proceno, a small town in the diocese of Acquapendente, in the province of Viterbo, she was sent there to establish a new house together with Sister Margherita, formerly mistress of novices. At the age of fifteen A. was elected superior and confirmed by ecclesiastical authority, receiving the abbatial blessing. Upon returning to Montepulciano, she founded a new monastery, called S. Maria Novella, outside the Gracciano gate. Dated from 31 July to 20 September 1306, we possess documents concerning the foundation, the profession of A. and her companions, made into the hands of the Servite prior Fra Bonaventura Forteguerri, under whose direction the nuns came, and A.’s appointment as abbess. Blessed Raimondo states that, after some time, the monastery was placed under the care of the Dominicans (Acta SS. Aprilis, II, p. 800, 48). From then on he calls her prioress (ibid., p. 805, 73 ff.). Gravely ill, the Saint used the waters of Chianciano, where a spring was named after her. In her simply, humbly, and austerely cloistered life, prayer predominates even in its most extraordinary manifestations. After her death she was greatly venerated, particularly by s. Caterina in 1374. Her feast was celebrated at Montepulciano from 1532 and in the Dominican Order from 1601. Benedict XIII canonized her on 10 December 1726.