Thursday 12th November will mark the 20th anniversary of an exceptional event for both our nation and the Czech church – the canonization of St. Agnes of Bohemia, member of Přemysl Dynasty, nun, “mother of the poor“, founder of the only originally Czech order – Knights of the Cross with the Red Star – friend of St. Clare and follower of St. Francis. 12th November was the culmination of great expectations that religious people had held at least since January1989.
Hundreds of buses from the socialist Czechoslovakia
Recently, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the Vatican organized a concert which was opened with a speech by the Prague Archbishop Cardinal Vlk . In his speech, Cardinal Vlk talked about the “Miracle of St. Agnes“. He said that the turnout of some ten thousand Czechs that the Communist regime allowed to visit Rome to attend the canonization was a sign that the Communist era was coming to an end. He said it was some kind of small exodus. Only five days after the canonization, on 17th November, Czechoslovakia set off on the road to freedom and less than six months after that, Pope John Paul II came to Prague where he was welcomed by the memorable words spoken by President Václav Havel: “I do not know what miracle this is, but I know that I am living it right now.”
Hundreds of buses mostly from Moravia left the Republic on Saturday 11th November and headed for Rome. Participants in the journey had held the event in their memories until then. Suddenly, they were allowed to leave the country and they could not believe it! It was a pilgrimage and according to the Charter of Human Rights any citizen could take part in it.
And a lot of people took the opportunity. The fact that people could go and see the canonization ceremony was not only of religious significance, it also had a deep human meaning. For many of the pilgrims, it was the first time they had crossed the western border and the first time they could confront the standards of their lives.
They could compare what they saw at home and what they saw when passing through western countries. This, without any doubt, contributed to their loud calls for a change when they returned home.
Solemn Mass and memorial medals
To mark the anniversary, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk will celebrate Mass in Prague cathedral. Those who wish to give praise to the relics of St. Agnes will have a unique opportunity to do so, as they will be exhibited in the cathedral during the Mass.
Memorial medals will be issued to mark the occasion. They are made of precious metals in the highest quality possible. Their number is limited. The designer of the medals is the renowned artist and sculptor Miroslav Kovařík.
Charles Bridge Museum
Charles Bridge Museum will also join in the celebrations. It has prepared a small exhibition and a cycle of lectures led by a number of historians, historians of art and representatives of the Church. The opening will take place on 12th November 2009 at 11 a.m. Lectures will start at 1 p.m. and continue until 6 p.m. A holy mass will be celebrated in the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Křižovnické Square. All those who are not indifferent to our history and the values that should not be forgotten are welcome to come.
Blockbuster or a trick
It sometimes happen that on similar occasions people come up with sensational news. This time, there was the assertion of Denis Anfilov, a restorer, who claimed that a radar research in St Haštal’s Church, Prague confirmed a possible finding of a case with St. Agnes’ relics.
There were reactions that the restorer only based his assertion on the conviction of one nun from Moravia, that it is only his wish and not a fact and that everything will only become clear when the tomb is opened.
Mr. Anfilov himself does not deny that he has been influenced by Ana Koláčková, a Franciscan nun from Kroměříž, who bases her theory on information from the 1920‘s and 50‘s.
Another thing is that St. Haštal’s Church is undergoing vast renovation so any archaeological research is co-ordinated with other works.
Thus it seems, that the question will be answered in the near future. However, in connection with the news, another prophecy from the 15th century has been quoted: “Peaceful and happy times in the Czech Land will only come when the inhabitants find the body of the beatified St. Agnes.“
Remains as relics
There is no saint without bones, just as there is no Catholic Church without relics or at least some fragments of bones of one of the Saints. For a long time this was the reason why Agnes of Bohemia had not been beatified (it happened in 1874) and later canonized (1989). For centuries the rule was that if somebody’s tomb or remains were not found, this person could not be declared a saint.
It is one hundred percent sure, that after her death in 1282, St Agnes was buried in the church in Na Frantisku Convent. It is equally certain, that later, probably in the Hussite times, her remains were relocated. And this is where we lose track of them.
According to some sources, St. Agnes' jaw was taken to Spain by the Spanish Queen Maria, widow of Emperor Maxmilian in 1576.
All subsequent references of St. Agnes relics only concern the jaw, which has, by the way, never been an object of genetic research, so it cannot be said for certain that it belonged to a member of the Přemysl Dynasty.
It is said that it was not until 1952 that the relic was found in El Escorial, an Augustinian monastery in Spain. In 1982, part of the relic was moved to St. Francis Church, Prague. The full relic itself was handed to Prague in 1988 by an El Escorial prior. It is placed in the treasure chest of St. Vitus Cathedral.
