Saint Agnes, Early Christian Martyr
Feast Day: January 21

Patron Saint: The Children of Mary. Symbol: Lamb
by Catherine Fournier

St. Agnes by Giovanni Battista
                        Moroni, Columbus Museum of Art

Young Families

Young Saint Agnes is one of the most famous of the early Roman martyrs. Her name means 'lamb' or 'victim' in Latin and 'pure' in Greek. Remember that Jesus is sometimes called the 'lamb of God.'

Agnes lived in Rome at a time when it was against the law to be Christian. She was young, wealthy and beautiful. There were many young men in Rome who wanted to marry her, but she refused them all, saying that she had chosen Someone else. The suitors (young men who wanted to marry her) accused her of being a Christian.

Her accusers and the judge tried to frighten her into abandoning her faith by showing her instruments of torture, and fires, but she won't change her mind. Then they sent her to a prison where there were many rough people, but she still wasn't frightened. One young man tried to hurt her, but he was struck blind and fell down shaking. Agnes remained loyal to Christ throughout all these trials.

Finally, the judge ordered that she be executed. Everyone thought that this last threat would make her change her mind and worship another god. But Agnes went to the place of execution cheerfully, because she knew that she would meet her beloved Jesus soon. She was beheaded, and her body was buried close to Rome on the Nomentan Road (Via Nomentana).

A big church, called a basilica, was built in her honor over the place where she was buried about 50 years after she died. For centuries, two lambs have been brought to the church and blessed every year. The lambs are then reared in a cloister. When they have grown into sheep, their wool is used to make 'palliums' which are special stoles. The Pope sends these stoles to archbishops to wear on their shoulders as symbols of the sheep carried by the Good Shepherd.

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Practiced Families

Saint Agnes is one of the best known and honored of the Roman martyrs. She suffered martyrdom during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian in 304 or 305. She was only twelve years old. Her name which means 'lamb' or 'victim' in Latin, and 'pure' in Greek, is still invoked in the First Eucharistic Prayer for Holy Mass.

The stories of her martyrdom date from the 5th century, about one hundred years after her death, so there are not many details known about her life. It is certain though that young noblemen of Rome, attracted by her youth, wealth and beauty, courted her, asking her hand in marriage. She declined all their offers, saying that she had chosen a Spouse who could not be seen with mortal eyes. Hoping to change the young saint's mind, the suitors accused her of being a Christian.

Saint Agnes was brought before a judge, who at first treated her gently and kindly, because of her young age. In spite of his kindness, she refused to offer incense to the goddess Minerva. Then the judge tried to frighten her with threats of torment. She was shown terrible fires, and tools of torture but remained calm and steadfast in her loyalty to Christ.

Finally, angered by her stubbornness, the judge ordered that she be sent to a house of prostitution, a rough and immoral place. Here, the sight of the saint struck respect and awe into most, but one youth, bolder than the rest, attempted to molest her. He was 'struck down, as if by lightning' and fell to the ground, blind. Throughout this ordeal Agnes remained chaste and pure, still a spotless spouse of Christ.

The most influential of her suitors was angered by this event, and convinced the judge to order Agnes executed. Spectators wept to see the young and beautiful virgin, hampered by fetters, joyfully making her way to the place of execution. The executioner had secret orders to make one last attempt to persuade her to deny Christ and live. Again, Agnes refused.

Finally, with a trembling hand, the executioner beheaded this most famous of martyrs. Agnes went to meet Jesus, who she loved more than life. She was buried on the Via Nomentana, just outside of Rome, and the Christian emperor Constantine erected a church in her honor about the year 350.

For centuries, an annual celebration blesses two lambs at the altar in this church where her relics lie. The lambs are then sent to a cloister and raised. Their wool is used to make the palliums sent by the Pope to archbishops. The palliums are worn around the archbishop's shoulders as symbols of the sheep carried by the Good Shepherd.

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Experienced Families

Saint Austin observes that Saint Agnes' name means chaste or pure in Greek and lamb or victim in Latin. She has always been regarded by the Church as a special patroness of purity.

Agnes was martyred early in the persecution of Diocletian, who began his persecution of Christians in March of 303. She was only twelve or thirteen years old at the time of her death (accounts differ) Even at that young age, her wealth and beauty had attracted the attention of the young noblemen of Rome, who competed with each other for her hand in marriage. She spurned them all, saying that she had consecrated her virginity and chosen a Spouse who could not be seen with mortal eyes.

Her suitors accused her to the governor as a Christian. At first, the judge was mild, gentle and kind to the young saint, promising her money and position if she would offer incense to another god. Agnes refused. He then threatened her with terrible fires, iron hooks, racks and other instruments of torture, but the young girl was filled with courage and remained steadfast, unafraid of what might befall her.

Seeing that his threats were ineffective, the judge then threatened to send Agnes to a house of prostitution. Agnes replied that Jesus Christ was too jealous and protective a spouse to allow her purity to be violated. Angered, the judge ordered that she be taken immediately to the public brothel with instructions that all persons were at liberty to abuse her person.

Many people came to see and join in the spectacle. But at the sight of the young saint, still calm and trusting in Christ to protect her, they were frightened and dared not approach. Only one young man, bolder than the rest, attempted to molest her. At that instant, in a flash, he was struck blind and fell to the ground trembling. His friend picked him up and brought him to Saint Agnes whose prayers restored him to sight and health.

The governor, finally realizing that little or nothing would sway her conviction, condemned her to be beheaded. The executioner had secret instructions to induce her to change her mind when faced with death, but Agnes answered that she would never betray Jesus Christ in that way, by serving another god. Making a short prayer, she knelt and allowed the executioner to carry out his work.

She went to the arms of her Heavenly Spouse, whom with her faithfulness and courage proved that she loved more than life itself.

PRAYER:
All-powerful and ever-living God,
You chose the weak in this world to confound the powerful.
As we celebrate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Agnes,
may we like her remain constant in faith. Amen.

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