The Eve of St Agnes was the day when young maidens would ask the virgin martyr for a vision or dream of their future husband. The English have a custom of putting a piece of wedding cake (which is hard fruit cake with marzipan frosting) under the pillow in order to dream of one's husband to be. Most girls just wake up with squashed pieces of cake under their pillows.
John Keats, an interesting Romantic poet, wrote a poem on this event The Eve of St. Agnes, which is a Romeo and Juliet type of poem.
I am reminded today of all the beautiful, single TLM women I know who cannot find husbands who are trad Catholics.
Here is the NO Collect of the day. Almighty ever-living God, who choose what is weak in the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of your Martyr Saint Agnes, may follow her constancy in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
