Embracing an ancient custom, two lambs are sanctified on the feast day of Saint Agnes at the basilica dedicated to her on Via Nomentana in Rome. This sacred ritual, which takes place at the traditional site of her burial, involves weaving the wool from these lambs into palliums for newly appointed archbishops, keeping alive a tradition steeped in history.
By Dorota Abdelmoula-Viet – Vatican City
The practice of blessing lambs at the tomb of St. Agnes, a young Roman martyr from the early 4th century, traces back to the 6th century. Legend has it that St. Agnes appeared to her parents after her death, holding a pure lamb in her arms and surrounded by a choir of virgins. Historical accounts mention the exchange of two lambs as a form of tribute from the monks of the Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Walls to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, presented to the pope for his blessing.
Records from the Basilica of St Peter in Chains shed light on the origins of this custom dating back to 1550, tying it to St. Constantina, daughter of Emperor Constantine, or King Charles I. The lambs were offered as a symbolic acknowledgment of the monastery’s ties to the church. During a solemn Mass, the lambs were blessed and handed over to the canons, with a notary documenting the exchange. Those delivering the lambs received gold coins as payment.
The lambs that were blessed on the feast of St Agnes
Wool for Palliums for Archbishops
For generations, lambs from the Trappist farm at the Abbey of Tre Fontane were brought from the Basilica of St Agnes to the Holy Father, who would bless them in a solemn ceremony. The lambs were then entrusted to the Benedictine nuns of the Basilica of St Cecilia in Trastevere, who sheared them months later. The wool from these lambs was then used to create palliums for newly appointed archbishops.
While certain aspects of this tradition have evolved over time, such as the Trappists no longer managing the sheep farm and the pope not blessing the lambs in the Vatican, the practice of handing over the lambs to the Benedictine nuns remains unchanged. During Holy Week, the nuns shear the lambs and weave their wool into palliums. This year held special significance as it coincided with the ongoing Jubilee Year and the 150th anniversary of the Congregation’s founding.
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth with the lambs prepared for the blessing
Caring for the Lambs: A Reflection of Hidden Life in Nazareth
In the 1880s, the newly established Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth took over the care of the lambs, seeing it as a way to serve the Church. Sister Dorota Podwalska, CSFN, the provincial superior of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Rome, emphasized the importance of this tradition as a demonstration of love and fidelity to the Church.
The preparation of the lambs remains consistent: they are brought to the Holy Family Sisters’ house on Via Machiavelli on the eve of St. Agnes’ feast day. The sisters attend to the lambs, washing, feeding, and caring for them overnight. On the day of the feast, the lambs are placed in two baskets, symbolizing martyrdom and virginity, and taken in a procession to the Basilica of St Agnes Outside the Walls for a Mass celebration.
Imagine a tradition where lambs are entrusted to the Benedictine nuns in Trastevere, continuing a practice that has been passed down through generations. It is a beautiful connection to spirituality that resonates deeply with the Sisters of Nazareth.
The provincial superior of the Sisters of Nazareth explains, “Our care for these lambs and their preparation for the blessing mirrors the simplicity and hiddenness of the life of the Holy Family in Nazareth. It is a reflection of our dedication to a humble and ordinary way of life.”
