SAINT AGNES

Saint Agnes is one of the early martyrs mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. She was only 13years of age when she was martyred during the reign of Diocletian about the year 304. Because she was rich and very beautiful, Agnes had many suitors. For all, she had the
same answer: that she had consecrated her virginity to  a heavenly spouse. For this she was accused as a christian and condemned to death. Saint Agnes is a
most popular Saint. Her relics are venerated in Rome  in the Basilica that bears her name. She is a special patroness of purity. Her Feast is celebrated on
January 21.

St. Agnes may be invoked for all your spiritual and temporal needs  and especially those matters despaired of.

Agnes of Rome

Born: c292    Died: c304
Canonized:
Feast Day: January 21

Patron Saint of: Children of Mary, girls, young girls

According to St.Augustine and St. Ambrose,  St. Agnes was martyred at the age of 12. Pope Damasus adorned her tomb with sacred poetry. St. Agnes is represented with a martyrs palm and a lamb. On her feast day the Pope blesses the Pallium, a stole made from lambs wool which is worn by metropolitans. St. Agnes is the Patron Saint of Children of Mary, girls, and young girls.

The body of the virgin martyr was placed in a separate sepulchre on the Via Nomentana, and around her tomb there grew up a larger catacomb that bore her name. The original slab which covered her remains, with the inscriptions Agne sanctissima, is probably the same one which is now preserved in the Museum at Naples. During the reign of Constantine, through the efforts of his daughter Constantina, a basilica was erected over the grave of St. Agnes, which was later entirely remodelled by Pope Honorius (625-638), and has since remained unaltered. In the apse is a mosaic showing the martyr amid flames, with a sword at her feet. A beautiful relief of the saint is found on a marble slab that dates from the fourth century and was originally a part of the altar of her church.

Since the Middle Ages St. Agnes has been represented with a lamb, the symbol of her virginal innocence. On her feast two lambs are solemnly blessed, and from their wool ,  the palliums are made which are bestowed upon archbishops by the Pope.

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