Saint Agnes of Prague

Biography

Saint Agnes of Prague, also known as Anežka Ceská or Anežka Premyslovna, was born in 1205 in Prague, Bohemia (modern Czech Republic). She was the youngest daughter of King Ottokar I and Queen Constance of Bohemia, and a relative of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. The nobility of her birth ensured that she received a privileged upbringing. At a young age, Agnes was sent to be educated by Cistercian nuns at Trebnitz, Germany. It was during her time there that she felt a calling to religious life. However, due to political reasons, she was promised into a series of arranged marriages. At the age of three, she was promised to Prince Boleslaus, but he died before the marriage took place. She was then betrothed to Prince Henry, son of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. However, when Henry chose to marry another, Agnes was betrothed to Emperor Frederick himself. Recognizing her desire for the religious life, Agnes sought the help and intervention of Pope Gregory IX. With his assistance, Frederick was convinced to release Agnes from her marriage obligations, acknowledging that he had lost her to the king of heaven. Agnes used her wealth and influence to serve the poor and those in need. She built a Franciscan hospital on land donated by her brother, King Wenceslaus I. To staff the hospital and its related clinics, Agnes established the Confraternity of the Crusaders of the Red Star. She also constructed a Franciscan friary and, in 1234, with the aid of five nuns sent by Saint Clare of Assisi herself, she founded the Poor Clare convent of Saint Saviour in Prague. On Pentecost Sunday in 1234, Agnes entered the convent of Saint Saviour herself and eventually became its abbess. She dedicated the next 50 years of her life to a contemplative existence within the cloister. Agnes was renowned for her generosity and kindness. She freely shared her wealth with the poor, and personally attended to their needs. She enjoyed cooking for her fellow sisters and mending the clothes of lepers. Agnes was gifted with healing and prophecy and often experienced ecstatic states. Despite never meeting in person, she maintained an extensive correspondence with Saint Clare of Assisi for two decades. Saint Agnes of Prague died on 6 March 1282, at the Saint Saviour convent in Prague, Bohemia. Her death came as a result of natural causes. Recognizing her holiness and virtues, she was beatified on 28 November 1874 by Pope Pius IX and later canonized on 12 November 1989 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy. Agnes is remembered and celebrated on 2 March, 6 March (on some calendars), and 8 June (on some older calendars). Although Saint Agnes of Prague is not widely known as a patron saint, her life serves as an inspiration for those seeking a life dedicated to service and selflessness. Her legacy endures in the hearts of believers who admire her devotion to God and her tireless efforts to alleviate the sufferings of others.