[聖人Saint] 一月廿一日：聖依搦斯(貞女,殉道)(紀念) St. Agnes

[聖人Saint]

一月廿一日：聖依搦斯(貞女,殉道)(紀念) St. Agnes, Feastday: January 21

主保：瑪麗亞的子女、貞潔、園丁、小女孩、訂婚男女、遭玷污者與貞女

　聖女的名字，在希臘文中有「純潔」之意；在拉丁文中則讓人想起「羔羊－Agnus」。

　對於這位聖女，我們除了知道她在第三世紀末，以約12、13歲的稚齡殉道致命之外，其他幾乎一無所知，僅有一些傳說流傳下來。傳說 中，聖女致命的方式有數種說詞：有斬首、焚燒或是絞刑等說法，莫衷一是。

　根據傳說，聖女是羅馬貴族的後裔，在13歲時因堅持信仰而殉道致命。依搦斯年幼之時，曾向天主誓許永保童貞，她愛主至深，痛惡罪惡甚 於死亡！由於聖女容貌甚美，因此許多年輕人皆想娶依搦斯為妻，但聖女的回覆總是：「耶穌基督是我唯一的夫君。」

魂，因此我只屬於這位天使們所服事的天主。」說完，聖女即低頭等候致命的大刀了。

　據載，聖女被囚禁的期間，曾有一位男子帶著情慾的眼目注視著聖女，結果瞬間雙目失了明，賴聖女代求，才又使該名男子恢復視力。

　又有一種傳說這樣描述：由於羅馬法律不許處決貞女，所以在執刑前，羅馬官長命人先將聖女予以玷污。然而，聖女貞潔的榮冠卻奇跡地被保 留了下來。之後，當士兵將聖女拖至外頭，準備施以火刑時，乾柴卻無法點燃。無奈之下，官長只好命兵士拔出劍來，砍擊聖女的頭部，依搦斯遂光榮致命了。聖女 致命後被葬在羅馬附近的地下墓穴之中。君士坦丁大帝的女兒為她蓋了一座大殿，以尊崇這位聖女。

　按歐洲部份地區的習俗，據聞只要在聖女慶日的前夕舉行特定的儀式，少女們就能看見自己未來夫婿的相貌。這種迷信的行為，在若望基德 （John Keat）的詩中「The Eve of Saint Agnes」曾被提及。

　聖女是貞潔、園丁、小女孩、訂婚男女、遭玷污者與貞女的主保。聖女的主要慶日是在1月21日，但在羅馬教會的禮儀裡，也常在1月28 日紀念這位聖女。

　在聖像中，聖女常被描繪成手持棕櫚樹枝，腳旁則伴有一隻羔羊，或懷中抱著羔羊的一位少女。

St. Agnes, Feastday: January 21

St. Agnes was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes had made a promise, a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death! Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry Agnes, but she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."

Procop, the Governor's son, became very angry when she refused him. He had tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, "I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!" In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy. Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such a young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. "I would offend my Spouse," she said, "if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!" Then she prayed and bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.

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