St Agnes was born in 291 AD in Rome into a noble family. At a young age, she was a staunch Christian who refused to be betrothed to rich suitors, remained a virgin and also refused to denounce her faith.
She, consequently, was dragged naked through the streets to a brothel, beheaded and died as a martyr in 304 AD at the age of 12 or 13 years.
St Agnes is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and is one of the martyrs whose names are embedded in the Roman Canon, Eucharist Prayer I. Her feast day is celebrated on January 21 every year in the Catholic Church.
St. Agnes of Rome, Virgin and Martyr is the Patron Saint of
- Betrothed couples
- Chastity
- Children of Mary
- Colegio Capranica of Rome
- Crops
- Gardeners
- Girl Guides
- Girls
- Rape victims
- Virgins
- The Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York
- The city of Fresno
| St Agnes of Rome Biography | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Date of Birth | 291 AD |
| Place of Birth | Rome, Italy |
| Profession | Virgin and Martyr |
| Place of Work | Rome, Italy |
| Date of Death | 304 AD (aged 12–13) |
| Place of Death | Rome, Italy |
| Feast Day | January 21 |
| Canonization | Pre-Congregation |
| Patron Saint of |
|
St Agnes of Rome Life History
St. Agnes was but twelve years old when she was led to the altar of Minerva in Rome and commanded to obey the persecuting laws of Diocletian by offering incense.
In the midst of the idolatrous rites, she raised her hands to Christ, her Spouse, and made the sign of the life-giving cross.
She did not shrink when she was bound hand and foot, though the gyves slipped from her young hands, and the heathens who stood around were moved to tears.
The bonds were not needed for her, and she hastened gladly to the place of her torture. Next, when the judge saw that pain had no terrors for her, he inflicted an insult worse than death: her clothes were stripped off, and she had to stand in the street before a pagan crowd; yet even this did not daunt her.
“Christ,” she said, “will guard His own.” So it was. Christ showed, by a miracle, the value which He sets upon the custody of the eyes.
Whilst the crowd turned away their eyes from the spouse of Christ, as she stood exposed to view in the street, there was one young man who dared to gaze at the innocent child with immodest eyes.
A flash of light struck him blind, and his companions bore him away half-dead with pain and terror.
Lastly, her fidelity to Christ was proved by flattery and offers of marriage. But she answered, “Christ is my Spouse: He chose me first, and His I will be.”
At length, the sentence of death was passed. For a moment she stood erect in prayer, and then bowed her neck to the sword.
At one stroke her head was severed from her body, and the angels bore her pure soul to Paradise.
Today’s St. Agnes of Rome Feast Day Quote:
Her innocence endeared St. Agnes to Christ, as it has endeared her to His Church ever since. Even as penitents, we may imitate this innocence of hers in our own degree.
Let us strictly guard our eyes, and Christ, when He sees that we keep our hearts pure for the love of Him, will renew our youth and give us back the years that the canker-worm has wasted.
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