The Witness of Early Christian Women: Mothers of the Church by Mike Aquilina

Author:Mike Aquilina
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781612788029
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Published: 2014-09-28T06:00:00+00:00

Ambrose: Hymn to St. Agnes

This hymn to St. Agnes seems to have been popular immediately, and its reputation has never wavered. Countless poets have translated it into countless languages. Our translation tries to stick as close as possible to the literal meaning of Ambrose’s words, while preserving something like his meter.

For Agnes, blessed virgin girl,

This is the day of festival,

When, sanctified by her own blood,

She gave her spirit up to heaven.

She was of age for martyrdom,

Though not of age for marrying —

Yet anyone would think she came

To wed, so happy does she look.

To altars of a devilish god

She’s led to burn an offering:

But she responds, “No, never will

Christ’s virgins hold a torch like that.

“This is the fire that snuffs out faith;

This is the flame that steals our light.

Here — strike me here — and let my blood

Spring forth at once to douse the fire!”

They strike her — but what dignity!

She pulls her robe to cover her

And seeks the ground on bended knee,

And, in all modesty, falls down.

Jesus, to you be glory given,

To you, who were of Virgin born;

And to the Father and the Spirit,

Throughout the everlasting ages.

—St. Ambrose, Hymn to St. Agnes, new translation

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