Of The Three Lovely Garments Of Most Blessed Agnes, Virgin
SERMON XXVI
ON THE FEAST OF ST. AGNES, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
OF THE THREE LOVELY GARMENTS OF MOST BLESSED AGNES, VIRGIN
THE Lord hath clothed me with the garment of salvation: and with the robe of gladness He hath encompassed me. Beloved brethren, these words are recited and sung of the holy virgin Agnes, the noble spouse of Christ and our glorious patroness: whose festal day in the yearly cycle we must solemnly celebrate: and implore her glorious suffrages with devout prayer. And may she deign to pray for us all, who is greatly loved by Our Lord Jesus Christ; and most favourably regarded in His eyes and by His most sacred Mother Mary: when she petitions for any pious cause. O may she not forget now to pour forth her prayers so devout and acceptable to God in the heavenly kingdom; as formerly she wept and prayed for the Prefect’s son who had perished miserably: whom she raised from the dead by the gift of the grace of Christ. Mark therefore the words quoted above in the beginning of this sermon: as if you now heard them with your own ears from the mouth of the most blissful Agnes. Consider the loveliness of the garments of the most noble virgin: wherewith Jesus Christ her heavenly Spouse clothed and adorned her within rather than without. For she was worthy to be clothed by Christ with the garment of salvation, and to be decked with the robe of gladness: who spurned all worldly adornment, and for the love of her immortal Spouse shed her blood: and cheerfully accepted precious death for eternal life. There she now rejoices with her most loving Spouse and the holy angels, with the most glorious Mother of Jesus and numberless bands of maidens, set in the higher choirs of the virgins; following the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, and singing the sweet canticles of joy given to virgins only to sing: which surpass the music of all organs and the melody of all minstrelsy. Moreover she merited to have this prerogative on earth: that the memory of her most blissful name should be venerated with never-ending praise in the Church, and most devoutly celebrated: and should be magnificently honoured by all the faithful of Christ. For truly great and holy doctors often commend, eminently praise, openly preach; and relate as an example to us all of lovable chastity the story of her passion and exhort with sublime encomium noble youths and maidens to love Christ.
But let us see now the lovely garments of holy Agnes: wherewith she is resplendent above all the raiment cunningly wrought by man. For very precious and beautiful are the robes, wherewith the souls of the saints are decked interiorly: which Christ brought to the world from the treasury of Heaven: when born of the Virgin Mary of a royal race for our salvation. Now there are in particular three kinds of garments, woven by the skill of the Holy Ghost: which Christ gave to St. Agnes His spouse as a present: so that she might love no other wooer but Himself alone: nor look upon, nor admit to her speech: lest haply he should lessen, or darken, or extinguish her love: which would be most unbecoming, and would especially hinder the devoutness of her prayer.
The first garment then wherewith most blessed Agnes, one of the wise virgins, was clothed is a long white robe: brighter than glass, more spotless than fine linen, whiter than the snow. And this is called inviolable virginity: dear to God, agreeable to the angels: most venerable to men. This holy garment, pleasing to God, from her childish years, yea from the very cradle did the most chaste Agnes put on, and preserve unspotted: who in the very beginning of creeping babyhood was offered by her parents to God, and espoused to Christ with the ring of faith: so that she could never be torn from the love and espousals of her heavenly Bridegroom by any reasoning, or power, or threats or flattery: but she remained a virgin for ever: and for faith and chastity hesitated not to die. This garment has at the bottom a golden hem cunningly worked by the finger of God: whereon are contained the honied names Jesus and Mary, as also the noble names of all the other holy virgins, befittingly inscribed in alphabetical order; examples to follow the blessed footsteps of Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother the ever Virgin Mary: for the blissful obtaining of heavenly glory.
The second garment is red or purple, coloured with the precious blood of the Lamb without spot Jesus Christ: and brightly adorned with numerous white flowers. And this is called unconquerable patience: or unwearying constancy. On this robe are found all the symbols of the Lord’s Passion, and the holy stigmata: which also are seen imprinted on the loving soul by the goad of interior sorrow at the four corners, before and behind. Now these are signs of divine love: and a shield of invincible patience against the shafts of the devil: namely, the holy cross, the nails, the lance, the rod, the cord, the pillar: the white robe and the purple: the gall, the reed, the spittal, the scourges, the thorny crown: and the other many insults and cruel wounds. This garment also has a hem of silver, deep and broad: that is, a faith right, enlightened and strong unto death: whereon are discovered written in the colour of the rose the names of all the blessed martyrs, in Greek, Latin and Hebrew characters, according to the alphabetical order; which when diligently examined and read: encourages the distressed and tempted soul unto bearing all the adversities of this world. With this noble and purple robe was clad Our Lord Jesus Christ the King of Martyrs and the Spouse of Virgins in His happy and blessed Passion, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment for our salvation: to strengthen the hearts of the weak in their tribulation for whatsoever insult or wrong done them: that after short and passing distress in the world: they may merit to receive an unperishable crown in Heaven. For every tribulation patiently borne for Christ: brings a certain hope of reigning for ever with Christ. This holy and royal robe Christ gave His beloved bride, the noble maiden St. Agnes, at the time of the persecution of the Christians in the holy Roman city: that she might follow the footsteps of His sacred Passion; bear the insults and threats of the wicked with great constancy for the faith and for chastity: after the example of many martyrs and innumerable maidens, slain without cause for the name of Christ. For whose praise-worthy triumph and unspeakable glory: holy Mother Church now praises Christ and rejoices magnificently throughout the whole world. Happy the soul which struggles manfully against inrushing vices: and often sighs, and prays amid divers perils and burdens: to be speedily delivered from all stress and misery.
The third garment of St. Agnes is a golden mantle made of silk throughout as a veil of virginity: which encompasses, covers and decks the whole body of the virgin. And that it may shine the more brightly and please the beholders, it is interwoven and ornamented with many brilliant pearls, with many precious stones and sparkling gems. And this more noble than the other robes is woven by the skill of the Holy Ghost; and it is called fitly and justly by the men of learning and understanding undying charity: of which it is said by blessed Paul: “Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease: or knowledge shall be destroyed.” With this robe was clad most blessed Agnes: when questioned of her Spouse, as to who He was, she faithfully replied: “I love Jesus Christ, Whose chamber I have entered: Whose Mother is a Virgin: Whose Father knoweth not woman. Whom when I love I am chaste, when I touch I am pure: when I receive I am a maiden.” This charity is supremely necessary for the adornment of the robe of virginity: for without charity virginity cannot please God: neither also shall the proud virgin be numbered among the wise virgins: who has not the oil of charity and of fervent devotion in the lamp of her heart. That therefore the virginal robe may shine brightly in the sight of God and the angels: the lover of chastity must guard herself from all pride of mind, and dissoluteness of mouth: lest haply deceived by negligence of interior things and concupiscence of the eyes for exterior things, she very much displease the eyes of the heavenly Bridegroom. Therefore let her hold all her senses and words in every place and at all times strictly under religious discipline: and attribute the whole good of chastity faithfully and entirely to God: Who has deigned to bestow upon her so chosen a gift unto the beauty of her soul. Moreover with great humility and daily supplication let her longingly seek from Christ: that she may constantly persevere even unto the end chaste, sober and modest, as becomes a virgin of Christ; and that she may be able to overcome all the lusts of the flesh, and cast away all worldly cares, as long as she subsists in this frail body: for she lives in the midst of foes and many perils. This charity is also very needful for the adornment of the second virginal robe, which is called unconquerable patience: for patience without the charity of Christ does not profit unto salvation and the merit of life eternal: even if a man bear the tearing of wild beasts, or fire, or sword, or the torment of the cross. For suffering does not make the martyr: but the good cause makes the holy martyr; who suffers for the faith of Christ, or for justice, or for chastity: and especially for the salvation of souls. Now Christ bestowed these three precious garments upon most blessed Agnes in sign of His exceeding love and perpetual espousals; which she very gratefully received: and with great joy adorning herself within said: “The Lord hath clothed me with the garment of salvation: and with the robe of gladness He hath encompassed me.” And again: “The Lord hath clad me with a mantle wrought in gold: and with large jewels He hath decked me.” Clothed then from Heaven in these sacred garments, and protected as by a triple buckler: the most blessed maiden the youthful Agnes went forth, to fight against the three battalions of the devil; to wit, against the delights of the flesh, the riches of the world: and against the threats of wicked men. Thanks be to Almighty God, our most mighty helper, the King invisible, and the immortal Spouse, the Creator of all things; Who strengthened the heart of the maiden that she might conquer: guarded untouched the body of His bride; preserved unharmed the innocent lamb amid the flames: and so strongly enkindled her heart unto the love of His most holy and honied name: that she chose rather to die, than break troth with her heavenly Spouse: Whom she had vowed herself to serve by an everlasting bond. O truly admirable constancy of the maiden: O how praiseworthy the patience of holy Agnes: who amid such great temptations and persecutions, amid so many clamours, derisions, flatteries, terrors, and armed men brandishing their swords, held to the purpose of virginity; and feared not to acknowledge openly before her foes that Christ was her Bridegroom: but with great constancy describing in terms of praise many wondrous things of the nobility, of the beauty and power of Christ her Spouse, cried saying: “I am espoused to Him, Whom angels serve: at Whose beauty the sun and the moon marvel. To Him alone I keep troth: to Him with utter devotion I commit myself.” And rightly, indeed. For He alone is the true God, mighty in Heaven and on earth: seated above the cherubim and seraphim He beholds the abysses and the secrets of the heart. He regards the humble: and the proud He knows only afar off. He does not accept the person of man: but in all keeps a right judgement: giving to each truly that which is due. He knows all things from eternity: and with supreme providence He rules all things. He tries His elect in many ways, and rewards them richly for much patience in Heaven; but the wicked on account of their malice He severely punishes and condemns: preserving in all this great mercy with full justice. To Whom be everlasting praise and glory: for unending ages of ages. Amen.