Today is the Memorial of St. Agnes of Rome. St. Agnes is the patroness of Bodily Purity and is featured in the Devout Heart material and talk on "Gluttony". Let us thank God for giving us such a beautiful example to follow in St. Agnes. If possible, take some time today to read about her on page 23 in Module One: Need Him. Also, let's ask for her prayers as we prepare to learn about the Cardinal Virtue of "Temperance" this coming Tuesday. Below is an excerpt from St. Ambrose about St. Agnes:

“Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve. There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Dragged against her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord in the midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs. In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck. You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned. His right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl’s peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and religion; Agnes preserved her virginity and gained a martyr’s crown.” 

-St. Ambrose of Milan, from an essay On Virgins