Agnes of Poitiers

Saint Agnes was the abbess of the Holy Cross convent in Poitiers, France, in the sixth century, and a spiritual daughter of Saint Radegund. She is remembered as a model of the common life and as a woman gifted with wisdom. She led the convent until her death, in 586 according to some sources and 588 according to others.

She was raised at court and became the adopted and spiritual daughter of Saint Radegund, a Thuringian princess and Frankish queen. Radegund founded the Holy Cross convent in 557, a double monastery that housed 200 nuns and was known as a place of learning. It is said that Radegund, unhappy in her life beside the king who had conquered her country, fled from him and took the monastic habit, and Agnes followed her. Out of humility Radegund refused to be abbess, so at her request Bishop Germanus of Paris installed Agnes in that office.

Around 570 Agnes and Radegund went to Arles to study the Rule of Saint Caesarius, which was afterwards adopted at Poitiers. One scholar says the two were almost forced to accept it, since they lacked the local bishop's support. The convent became a notable centre of prayer, of care for the poor and lepers, and of the copying of books. Radegund obtained from Constantinople a portion of the Holy Cross, which drew pilgrims.

Agnes is also remembered for her friendship with the poet and hymn writer Venantius Fortunatus, who visited the convent and settled nearby for the rest of his life. The two women were his patrons, sending him gifts and food, and he wrote them letters in verse, including greetings to Agnes on the anniversary of her installation as abbess. The light, familiar tone of these poems stirred malicious rumours, and Venantius had to write to her that he thought of her only as a spiritual brother. The nuns kept him out of the convent for a time.

Agnes fell asleep in 586, and Radegund followed a year later. Saint Agnes's relics are kept in the church of Saint Radegund in Poitiers, and her tomb is a place of pilgrimage in the region. The Church keeps her feast on 13 May.