Saint Agnes of Poitiers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Agnes of Poitiers |
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| Born | unknown |
| Died | 586 France |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | Pre-congregation |
| Feast | 13 May |
Saint Agnes of Poitiers was a respected French saint and abbess. An abbess is the leader of a group of nuns in a monastery. Agnes was known for being very wise and holy, and she was seen as a great example of how to live a religious life. She led the Holy Cross convent in Poitiers, France, until she passed away in the year 586.
Early Life and Holy Cross Convent
Agnes grew up in a royal court. She was the adopted daughter of Saint Radegund. Radegund was a princess from Thuringia and a queen of the Franks. She founded the Holy Cross convent in 557.
This convent was special because it was a double monastery. This means it had both nuns and monks, though Holy Cross mainly housed nuns. It was home to about 200 nuns and was famous as a place for learning.
Around the year 570, Agnes and Radegund traveled to Arles. They went there to learn about the rules for monasteries written by Saint Caesarius. These rules were later used at their convent in Poitiers.
Friendship with Venantius Fortunatus
Agnes is also remembered for her close friendship with Saint Venantius Fortunatus. He was a famous poet and writer of hymns. He visited the Holy Cross convent and later decided to live nearby for the rest of his life.
Agnes and Radegund became his supporters. They sent him gifts and food. In return, he wrote them many special poems and letters. Some of these letters were greetings to Agnes on the anniversary of her becoming abbess.
These poems showed a very friendly and fun relationship between the poet and the two women. However, some people misunderstood how close they were. Venantius had to write to Agnes to explain that he only thought of her like a brother or a spiritual friend. For a short time, the nuns did not allow him to visit the monastery.
Legacy and Feast Day
Agnes's remains are kept safe in the Church of Saint Radegund in Poitiers. Her tomb is a popular place for people to visit on religious journeys. Her special day, called a feast day, is celebrated on May 13th each year.
