Saint Agnes
I saw a graceful and delicate virgin dragged along by the soldiery. She was covered with a long woolen dress of a dark color and a veil over her head, her hair braided. The soldiers carried her, clutching her by her skirts, in such a way that parts of her dress were torn. A large crowd followed her, among them some women. Passing through a high wall and entering a square courtyard, she was brought into a room where there was nothing inside except a large box with a few cushions. They put the holy virgin inside, and dragging her from side to side, they tore off her cloak and veil. She stood there like an innocent and patient lamb in the midst of the executioners, moving swiftly and lightly like a little bird. As they pushed her from side to side, she seemed to fly. They removed her cloak and left her. Agnes then remained in a corner of the room, wrapped in a sleeveless white tunic open at the sides; her head was raised, and with uplifted hands she prayed quietly. The women who had come after her could not enter the house. Some men of ill repute waited at the door, as if the saint were to be abandoned to their outrages. I saw her bleeding from the neck due to a wound she had perhaps received on the way to prison. First, two or three heartless young men entered the enclosure, threw themselves upon the delicate virgin, dragged her back and forth, and tore from her body the semi-open dress that covered her. I saw blood on her neck and on her breast; but she did not have to defend herself, for at that moment her hair unbindingly cascaded over her, covering her. I saw a luminous youth flying above her, wrapping her as if in a garment of light. Those wicked men were terrified and fled immediately. Then a reckless lover, mocking the cowardice of the others, rushed inside. He wanted to seize her, but she resisted so fiercely with both hands that she repelled him. He fell to the ground, but rose and threw himself at her with even greater fury. The young Agnes pushed him back with force to the threshold, and there the young man fell motionless to the floor. She stood firm and continued praying; she was luminous, and her face resembled a glowing rose. At the cries of the fallen man, several people arrived, one of whom was his father. He appeared angry and spoke of magic; but when he heard the virgin say that if he asked in the name of Jesus, she was ready to implore for the life of that unfortunate youth, he was appeased and begged her to do so. Then Agnes called out to the dead man, who immediately stood up and, still faltering, was led away. More men came against her, but all of them, terrified, had to flee. After some time, I again saw executioners approaching, who brought her an open dark garment suspended on one side and a wretched veil, like those given to those destined for martyrdom. She dressed herself, gathered her hair upon her head, and was led to the praetorium. It was a square space surrounded by walls and buildings containing chambers and prisons; at the top, people could stand and look down into the square below. There were quite a few people there.
Many other people were also brought before the judge; they were taken from a prison that seemed not far from where Agnes had been mistreated. I believe those prisoners were an old grandfather with two sons-in-law and his young children: they were tied together with ropes and knots. When they were presented to the judge, seated in that square courtyard on an elevated marble chair, Agnes was also presented, gently admonished, and exhorted by the judge. Then the others were questioned and admonished. They were brought there only to be examined and to witness the martyrdom of others. The wives of these men were still pagans.
After they were examined one after another by the judge, Agnes was presented again, three times. The virgin was led to a place where there was an elevated platform with three steps; a stake stood there to which they intended to tie her, but she did not consent. Around her was a pile of firewood that was set on fire. I saw above her a winged apparition spreading a great quantity of luminous rays that served as a shield, causing the flames to lean toward the executioners, who suffered great harm. She remained unharmed. Then other executioners took her from there and led her once again before the judge. Once more she was led to a stone block, and they attempted to bind her hands; she did not consent, keeping them joined over her chest. I saw a luminous figure above holding her by the arms. Then an executioner grabbed her by the hair and severed her head, as was done to Cecilia. Her head hung to one side, almost entirely separated from the torso. Then her clothed body was thrown into the fire, and the other prisoners who had been examined were taken back to prison.
During the trial and execution, I saw some relatives and friends weeping from afar. Many times it seemed wonderful to me that in such martyrdoms no harm befell the friends who participated in the act by helping or comforting the martyrs. Agnes’s body and garments did not burn. I saw her soul, detached from the body, flying to heaven pure and bright like a moon.
This execution took place, it seems to me, before noon, and before evening fell, her friends had retrieved her body from the pyre and buried it honorably. Many attended the funeral, but covered and hidden in their cloaks, perhaps so as not to be recognized. It seems to me that the young man whom she had raised was present at the place of martyrdom, but had not yet converted.
Afterward, I saw the saint outside the general picture, as an isolated apparition near me, extraordinarily luminous and resplendent, with a palm in her hand. That halo of glory surrounding her entire person was internally rosy and ended in blue rays. She comforted me kindly in my intense pains and said to me: "To suffer with Jesus and in Jesus is a sweet thing."