St Agnes of Montepulciano (1268-1317) nun and foundress
Montepulciano
Agnes was born into a noble family
in Gracciano, a small village near Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy,
where, at the age of nine, she entered the local convent.
When in 1281 a
new foundation was made at Proceno, Agnes went and later became the
superior there.
Later the citizens of Montepulciano invited her to
return and she set up a convent under the Dominican order there in
houses that had been used as brothels.
The convent prospered under her
direction.
Reputation for miracles
Agnes had a reputation
for prophecies and miracles: curing people suffering from physical and
mental sickness, multiplying loaves as Jesus did, and so on.
She seems
to have been a no-nonsense, energetic woman.
Her death
In her forties she suffered a long and
painful illness and the sisters persuaded her to take the waters of the
local spa.
When her health did not improve she said to the sisters: "If
you loved me, you would be glad that I am about to enter the glory of my
spouse. Do not grieve over my departure: I shall not lose sight of you.
You will find I have not abandoned you and you will possess me
forever."
She died aged forty-nine.
Still revered in Tuscany
Agnes's tomb was much
visited by pilgrims including the Emperor Charles IV and St Catherine of
Siena.
In art she is sometimes represented with a model of her town in
her hand.
She is still revered in Tuscany.