St. Agnes

St. Agnes was a Roman girl of about twelve or thirteen years who was martyred for her faith and her consecrated virginity, most likely during the persecution of Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century. Her veneration is among the most ancient in the Church, celebrated already in the fourth century by St. Ambrose and the poet Prudentius, and her name too was placed in the Roman Canon of the Mass.

Tradition relates that, though very young and sought in marriage by noble suitors, she refused them all, declaring Christ her only spouse, and that she went to her death with a joy and courage beyond her years, preferring to die rather than betray her purity or her faith. Her name resembles the Latin word for lamb, agnus, and so she is depicted with a lamb, and each year on her feast lambs are blessed in Rome whose wool is woven into the pallium worn by archbishops. Patron of young girls and of purity, she is celebrated on 21 January.