Readings: Sirach 51:1–8, 12; Matthew 25:1–13
Feast: Sanctae Agnetis, Virginis et Martyris ~ III Classis
On this blessed day when Holy Church commemorates Sancta Agnes, virgin most pure and martyr most valiant, the sacred texts for the Mass invite us to contemplate not merely the glory of her witness, but the spiritual virtues that formed her inward light. Today’s readings from Sirach 51:1–8,12 and Matthew 25:1–13 offer a rich foundation for reflection upon divine deliverance, the wisdom of vigilance, and the beauty of a soul espoused to Christ.
I. “I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord and King” (Sir 51:1)
The book of Sirach, rich in praise of divine providence, opens today’s Liturgy with a hymn of thanksgiving: “I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord and King, and will praise Thee, O God my Saviour.” This outpouring of gratitude from the wise scribe Ben Sira is echoed in the soul of Saint Agnes, whose whole life was an offering of praise. In Sirach’s words, the soul recounts being delivered from “the snare of an unjust tongue” and from “the lips of them that forge lies.” Is this not a fitting figure of the virgin-martyr, who stood firm amidst the enticements and threats of the world, refusing to betray her Spouse?
St. Ambrose, reflecting on the courage of holy virgins, declares:
“She who guards her virginity is the temple of God, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. What violence can destroy such a temple when it is founded upon faith and love?” (De Virginibus, I.6)
The soul in Sirach is surrounded by dangers, falsely accused, and brought near to death—but the Lord delivers her. Saint Agnes, a mere girl in age but a giant in virtue, was faced with the might of the Roman Empire, its lures and tortures alike, yet triumphed with a serenity born of divine aid. Her thanksgiving is our own: the Lord is faithful, and He delivers those who cling to Him.
II. “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh” (Matt 25:6)
The Gospel parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt 25:1–13) turns our gaze to vigilance. Saint Agnes, like the wise virgins, kept her lamp burning with the oil of charity, virginity, and faith. While others slumbered in the darkness of worldliness, her heart was alert to the coming of the Bridegroom.
St. Augustine, in his homily on this Gospel, teaches:
“The five wise virgins are those who, though they may sleep as do the others, have with them the oil of good works… they bear within their conscience something which the foolish lack.” (Sermon 93)
In this, we are invited to examine our own readiness. The oil that sustains the lamp is not merely external action, but a life steeped in sanctifying grace, nourished by the sacraments, and purified by holy discipline. Saint Agnes did not simply believe; she lived that belief in a manner so luminous that even the pagans were confounded. Her lamp burned brightly because her heart belonged wholly to Christ.
III. The Martyr’s Lamp: Ever Burning Before the Bridegroom
Though young in years, Saint Agnes grasped the deepest truths of today’s Gospel. She did not delay in preparing herself for the Bridegroom. While the foolish virgins went to buy oil—symbolizing souls who seek virtue too late—Agnes already had her lamp trimmed and burning.
St. Gregory the Great, reflecting on the virgins, writes:
“The foolish virgins lacked oil, for they sought the praise of men in their virginity; the wise had oil, for they kept their virtue in secret and desired only to please the heavenly Bridegroom.” (Hom. in Evang., XII)
Saint Agnes, whose name means “pure” or “lamb-like,” sought no human praise. She went to her martyrdom not with fear, but with joy, as to a wedding feast. Her heart had already wedded the Lamb, and she longed to enter His eternal chamber. Even the executioner, tradition tells us, trembled before her youth and innocence. But she feared not death, for her love had already cast out fear (cf. 1 John 4:18).
IV. A Final Praise (Sir 51:12): “And therefore will I give thanks and praise Thee”
The Liturgy today concludes the reading from Sirach with the joyful refrain: “And therefore will I give thanks and praise Thee, and bless the name of the Lord.” It is the voice of the Church, exulting in the victory of one of her youngest daughters. It is the voice of every soul who sees in Agnes a model of steadfast love.
May we, too, learn from her. May we store up the oil of grace while there is time. May we not be lulled by the world’s false lights, but keep watch in faith, that when the cry rings out at midnight, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,” we may arise with joy and enter into the eternal wedding feast.
Prayer:
O glorious Saint Agnes, lily among thorns, mirror of chastity and faith, obtain for us the grace to keep our lamps ever burning, that like thee we may love Christ alone, and be ready to meet Him when He comes in glory. Amen.