Today is the feast day of St Agnes, an early martyr. Hers is the name I took as my Confirmation name about 55 years ago. As a third grader, I was impressed how a girl not much older than I was had the courage to stand up for her faith. I was impressed with her spunk. I wanted to be that spunky. Honestly that was all that really drew me to St. Agnes. Yes, my sponsor’s middle name was Agnes, but that was just the extra nudge for me to choose her. So when the Bishop asked me what my new name was going to be, I proudly said “Agnes”! I don’t remember if he had any reaction to my selection.
Now as an adult, I am still proud of the name I selected as a young girl. St. Agnes is a strong role model for not only young girls, the appeal to the third grader, but to women. I still want to be a spunky woman. I still want to have the courage to stand up for my faith and suffer the consequences of that profession if need be. I am not intending to go out of my way to engage in activity that might call attention to myself, but I want never to back down should the occasion arise. I am a woman of 65 now. I have an outgoing demeanor and could be called spunky. This blog is my way of witnessing my faith to a broader world. So, St Agnes, thank you for sharing a bit of your courage and spunk with me. I made a good choice all those years ago.