Category:Saint Agnes of Rome



Virgin and martyr. Memorial on January 21. Agnes was born either about the year 241 or about the year 291. When she refused to marry Procop, the governor's son, he accused her of being a Christian before her father, who had her put to death on either January 21, 254, or January 21, 304. She was buried beside the Via Nomentana in Rome. On her feast day, two lambs are blessed at Sant'Agnese fuori le mura by the pope, and their wool is used to make the palliums the Pope gives to new archbishops.

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January 21 — ST. AGNES, Virgin, Martyr

Born: c. 291 Died: c. 304 Honored in: Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism Canonized: Pre-congregation Major shrine: Church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura and the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, both in Rome Feast: 21 January; before Pope John XXIII revised the calendar, there was a second feast on January 28 Attributes: a lamb, martyr's palm Patronage: Betrothed couples; chastity; Children of Mary; Colegio Capranica of Rome; crops; gardeners; Girl Guides; girls; victims of violence; virgins; the diocese of Rockville Centre, New York

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============================================================================ excerpt from Lives of the Saints,1894 by Alban Butler, Benziger Brothers edition, 1894

ST. AGNES was but twelve years old when she was led to the altar of Minerva at 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.

Reflection.—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 love of Him, will renew our youth and give us back the years which the canker-worm has wasted.