AGNESE DI MONTEPULCIANO, SANTA

AGNES of Montepulciano, St. — Born on Sunday, in Gracciano Vecchio in 1274 (or 1268 or even earlier), died at Montepulciano on 20 April 1317. At a young age she entered the monastery of the Sack Sisters in nearby Montepulciano, where she distinguished herself by her singular piety. At thirteen she was appointed cellarer 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 along with Sister Margherita, who had already been mistress of novices. At the age of fifteen Agnes was elected superior and confirmed by ecclesiastical authority, receiving the blessing of abbess. Returning to Montepulciano, she founded a new monastery called Santa Maria Novella, outside the gate of Gracciano. Dated from 31 July to 20 September 1306, we have documents on the foundation, on the profession of Agnes and her companions made into the hands of the Servite prior Fra Bonaventura Forteguerri, under whose direction the sisters passed, and on the appointment of Agnes as abbess. Blessed Raymond asserts that after a certain time the monastery was placed under the care of the Dominicans (Acta SS. Aprilis, II, p. 806, 48). From then on he calls her prioress (ibid., p. 805, 73 ff.). Seriously ill, the saint used the waters of Chianciano, where a spring took her name. In her cloistered life, simple, humble and austere, prayer dominates even the most extraordinary manifestations. After her death she was greatly venerated, especially by St. Catherine 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.