Saint Agnes of Assisi

Agnes was the sister of Saint Clare (of the Poor Clare Nuns). She was also Saint Clare’s first follower.

Agnes was born in 1197 in Assisi, Italy. When Clare left home, Agnes followed her against her parents’ wishes. They found Agnes and tried to bring her home, but Agnes resisted. Her entire body became so heavy when she was inside the monastery with Clare that no one could move her, not even several knights. So they had to leave her.

In the year 1221, Agnes was sent by Clare to oversee a group of Benedictine sisters who wished to become Poor Clares. Agnes went on to establish other

Poor Clare monasteries in Northern Italy.

When Agnes’ sister was dying in 1253, Agnes was ordered back to Clare’s monastery where she died three months after the death of her sister. Saint Agnes was canonized in 1753.