AGNESE of ASSISI, saint. - Younger sister of St. Chiara, born at Assisi in 1197 and died there on 16 Nov. 1253. Fifteen days after Chiara had joined the movement inspired by St. Francesco (1212), A. followed her to the monastery of S. Angelo di Pansa outside Assisi. In vain did her uncle Monaldo attempt to tear her from the cloister and bring her back to the family. Shortly afterward St. Francesco took the two sisters to S. Damiano, whence later A. was temporarily sent to Florence as abbess of the monastery of the Clarisses, founded there in 1219. Having returned to S. Damiano, she was favoured by an apparition of the Child Jesus. She died three months after St. Chiara. Her tomb was distinguished by miracles. Her cult was permitted by Benedetto XIV in 1752. Her feast is celebrated on 16 Nov.
Agnes of Assisi, Saint
BIBL.: Vita di s. Agnese di Assisi, compilata da una suora Clarissa, Lecce 1913; Leone (de Clary), L'Aureola serafica, IV, Quaracchi 1900, pp. 204-99; an ancient legend (14th cent.), with a letter to St. Chiara, is reproduced in Analecta Franciscana, III, Quaracchi 1897, pp. 173-82, based in part on the Legenda s. Clarisse, nn. 24-26, ed. F. Pennacchi, Assisi 1910, pp. 33-37. Livario Oliger
Cite this article
“AGNESE DI ASSISI, SANTA.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I (1948), p. 299. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/agnese-di-assisi-santa.