- James Martin, SJ, My Life with the Saints
St. Agnes of Bohemia was born in Prague in 1200, the daughter of the King of Bohemia, and the niece of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
From an early age, her marriage prospects were a matter of political importance. She was betrothed to King Henry III of England, and then to the Holy Roman emperor. But Agnes had other plans - she wanted to devote her life to God. Inspired by the lifestyle of St. Francis of Assisi, she built and joined a Franciscan convent in Prague, to which St. Clare of Assisi had sent five sisters from Italy. Clare and Agnes became friends. Four of Clare's letters to Agnes are available to read today.
Although the pope preferred the order follow the more structured rule that he had written, Agnes wanted her community to live Clare's lifestyle of poverty. Agnes was abbess of her monastery for 47 years.
She died on this day in about 1282, and was canonized by Pope John Paul Ii in 1989. Today is her feast.
- Little Black Book, Diocese of Saginaw