by Anthony Parente

I was born in Gracchiano Vecchio, a town in Tuscany, in 1268 to the very wealthy de Segni family. It is said that on the day of my birth lights surrounded my home. At the tender age of six I pleaded with my parents to allow me to join a convent. When I was nine years old I entered a Franciscan convent in Montepulciano called "Sisters of the Sack". Four years later I assisted my director in creating a new convent in Procena. Two years later under special dispensation by Pope Nicholas IV I was appointed the convent's superior. I was known for sleeping on the ground and using a stone for my pillow and I fasted on bread and water.

Throughout my life I was blessed with many visions. The most noted was the one in which the Virgin Mary came to me and allowed me to hold the infant Jesus in my hands. I was so touched and honored that I was unwilling to give him back. When the Virgin Mary reached for the infant I woke up to notice that I had the gold cross-worn by Jesus clutched in my hands.

There are many stories about my life. Some of the most noted are while I would pray I was known to levitate in the air. I could pray over a handful of bread and be able to feed the entire convent. Lilies, roses and violets would bloom wherever I knelt to pray.

In 1298 I established the convent of Dominican nuns at Montepulciano. The convent was built on the very site that I was attacked, when I was a child, by crows acting as devils trying to keep me away from this land, which housed a bordello. I was prioress of the convent up until the time of my death, which occurred on April 20, 1317.

In 1435 my body was moved to the Dominican church in Orvieto where it remains to this day. In 1534 I was beatified and in 1726 Pope Benedict XIII canonized me. My feast day is celebrated on April 20th. I am most noted for my self-discipline and supernatural visions.

For those of you who haven't figured out my identity I wish to introduce myself.

My name is Agnes of Montepulciano.