I LOVED this so much! I could only start writing novels once I let go of needing to know what impact (if any) they’d have on the world. Agnes was doing what she felt was right not knowing you’d be writing about her all these years later and strengthening my faith! 😊
So when I was researching my novel I met a cousin for the first time. He was in his late 80s and we shared a love for an ancestor we have. There was no way of knowing when I published the book that he would be starting to have trouble with his memory. I sent him a copy and he’s read through it twice. It’s about where he grew up and about this relative we love. And it’s helping him to remember himself. If that’s all the novel ever does for anyone it’s enough.
Love the way you write about farm life too. Oh and the tradition of the lambs visiting the Pope! 🩵🩵🩵
Diana and I prayed to St. Agnes during our engagement because of a prayer card I have since lost. Then, while exploring Rome during our honeymoon, we walked into a Church around Piazza Navona and behold, St. Agnes skull beneath the high altar of the Church. It was a nice wink from the saint.
Dear Kristin, this lovely essay was waiting in my Inbox for a few days before I could make a mug of tea and sit with your reflections. I for one like to read your thoughts all at once rather than in parts, if that's helpful :-)
Alack and alas, though our world is wont to ever remove itself from the God-given anchors of the life of the church around which to revolve our lives, I am ever grateful for your beautiful, quiet voice reminding us....."this is how to orient yourself, my friends. Towards Christ and those who loved Him."
Thank you.
PS I've read Keats' and Tennyson's St Agnes poems and couldn't quite place them, not being British and all. Clearly she is/was a part of Anglican culture and poems in her honor make perfect sense.
The correlation of an increase in technology and the feeling of needing control and consistency is something I've been coming to terms with in my own life and consciously try to pull back from. Also, I love learning this much about a saint!
This is why I like your posts. I know nothing about this Saint and her traditions and the whys and wherefores. Her approach to life and what that is to us who come after, the guidance of trying our best and pruning the branches we do have despite the unknown outcome, is completely relatable to me. And I’m in Australia where it was 30 degrees Celsius today. I have to do what I do in my little Domestic Monastery and trust God with the outcome. Thank you for the post and the sweet reminder. I greatly needed it and so I will celebrate this feast for the first time with joy in my heart.
I was gulping this down faster and faster as I went. I will need to read at least three more times! Such wonderful poetry, drawings and thoughts collected. A feast! Thank you!!
This is so beautiful, thank you Kristin! My second daughter's birthday is the Feast of St Agnes (and she was born at St Agnes hospital even!) so clearly she is meant to be an important saint in our lives, but I know so little about her. This was the perfect introduction.
Such an important lesson to only control the *very little* that we can and trust and hope for the best. Something I really need to learn! Also I love this tradition of the lambs!!
I grew up in a Christian tradition entirely devoid of the saints. I would go so far as to say that I was taught that if it wasn't contained within the pages of the protestant Bible, we ignored it. We never even talked about Luther or Calvin or Wesley. Those things being said, you might easily imagine the mingled grief and delight I regularly experience when I learn about a saint for the first time, like I did today, with St. Agnes. Not so long ago, I would've dismissed, not only the miracles in the story, but the telling of the tale altogether. Today I embraced both with my whole heart. I never would've imagined I could cry while reading the story of a venerated brother or sister in Christ from hundreds of years ago, but there were tears today.
I'm grateful for your ministry.
p.s. To answer your question, I also prefer the longer format, instead of the subject split into multiple posts.
The last time I went out in an ice storm looking for suet for a recipe was actually not that long ago. I think I just ended up with the brandy. 😂
This one is new to me, but I love the lamb blessing! Our parish is doing a collection for the homeless, and I think it would be nice to throw in some wool socks in honor of Saint Agnes.
I LOVED this so much! I could only start writing novels once I let go of needing to know what impact (if any) they’d have on the world. Agnes was doing what she felt was right not knowing you’d be writing about her all these years later and strengthening my faith! 😊
So when I was researching my novel I met a cousin for the first time. He was in his late 80s and we shared a love for an ancestor we have. There was no way of knowing when I published the book that he would be starting to have trouble with his memory. I sent him a copy and he’s read through it twice. It’s about where he grew up and about this relative we love. And it’s helping him to remember himself. If that’s all the novel ever does for anyone it’s enough.
Love the way you write about farm life too. Oh and the tradition of the lambs visiting the Pope! 🩵🩵🩵
Diana and I prayed to St. Agnes during our engagement because of a prayer card I have since lost. Then, while exploring Rome during our honeymoon, we walked into a Church around Piazza Navona and behold, St. Agnes skull beneath the high altar of the Church. It was a nice wink from the saint.
Dear Kristin, this lovely essay was waiting in my Inbox for a few days before I could make a mug of tea and sit with your reflections. I for one like to read your thoughts all at once rather than in parts, if that's helpful :-)
Alack and alas, though our world is wont to ever remove itself from the God-given anchors of the life of the church around which to revolve our lives, I am ever grateful for your beautiful, quiet voice reminding us....."this is how to orient yourself, my friends. Towards Christ and those who loved Him."
Thank you.
PS I've read Keats' and Tennyson's St Agnes poems and couldn't quite place them, not being British and all. Clearly she is/was a part of Anglican culture and poems in her honor make perfect sense.
The correlation of an increase in technology and the feeling of needing control and consistency is something I've been coming to terms with in my own life and consciously try to pull back from. Also, I love learning this much about a saint!
This is why I like your posts. I know nothing about this Saint and her traditions and the whys and wherefores. Her approach to life and what that is to us who come after, the guidance of trying our best and pruning the branches we do have despite the unknown outcome, is completely relatable to me. And I’m in Australia where it was 30 degrees Celsius today. I have to do what I do in my little Domestic Monastery and trust God with the outcome. Thank you for the post and the sweet reminder. I greatly needed it and so I will celebrate this feast for the first time with joy in my heart.
I was gulping this down faster and faster as I went. I will need to read at least three more times! Such wonderful poetry, drawings and thoughts collected. A feast! Thank you!!
My favorite Saint Agnes tradition (also associated with other feasts) is the “dumb cake”! Definitely superstitious and not approved by the church but too funny - just reeks of teenage slumber party shenanigans. https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2016/10/the-dumb-cake.html#:~:text=The%20dumb%2Dcake%20was%20a,April)%2C%20and%20Midsummer%20Eve.
This is so beautiful, thank you Kristin! My second daughter's birthday is the Feast of St Agnes (and she was born at St Agnes hospital even!) so clearly she is meant to be an important saint in our lives, but I know so little about her. This was the perfect introduction.
Such an important lesson to only control the *very little* that we can and trust and hope for the best. Something I really need to learn! Also I love this tradition of the lambs!!
Such beautiful poems, images and thoughts, Kristin! I enjoy learning about these holidays from you so much! ❤️
Kristin,
I grew up in a Christian tradition entirely devoid of the saints. I would go so far as to say that I was taught that if it wasn't contained within the pages of the protestant Bible, we ignored it. We never even talked about Luther or Calvin or Wesley. Those things being said, you might easily imagine the mingled grief and delight I regularly experience when I learn about a saint for the first time, like I did today, with St. Agnes. Not so long ago, I would've dismissed, not only the miracles in the story, but the telling of the tale altogether. Today I embraced both with my whole heart. I never would've imagined I could cry while reading the story of a venerated brother or sister in Christ from hundreds of years ago, but there were tears today.
I'm grateful for your ministry.
p.s. To answer your question, I also prefer the longer format, instead of the subject split into multiple posts.
The last time I went out in an ice storm looking for suet for a recipe was actually not that long ago. I think I just ended up with the brandy. 😂
This one is new to me, but I love the lamb blessing! Our parish is doing a collection for the homeless, and I think it would be nice to throw in some wool socks in honor of Saint Agnes.
What a wonderful piece! Love the excerpts from Keats and Tennyson as well, I had no idea they wrote such beautiful St Agnes Day poems!
I love the new, longer format!! Easier to reference, too :)
Thank you for the work you do! I learn so much with every read.
lovely and thoughtful..........
Beautiful, Kristin. Without attachment to outcome ....