saintagnes

21 January – Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr
Memorial (Ordinary Time)

The child martyr who chose death over compromise at age 12–13.
In 304, during Diocletian’s persecution, Agnes refused to marry the pagan suitor chosen for her and declared herself consecrated to Christ. She was denounced as a Christian, dragged to a brothel to be defiled (legend says her hair grew miraculously to cover her), then sentenced to be burned. The flames refused to touch her. Finally beheaded or stabbed in the throat.

Her name means “pure” (Latin agnus = lamb). She is depicted with a lamb and a palm. Her relics rest in the Basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura in Rome — the church where the Pope blesses two lambs on her feast; their wool is used to weave the pallia sent to new archbishops.

Patroness of virgins, gardeners, girls, chastity, and rape victims. One of the seven women named in the Roman Canon.

Red vestments. Ordinary Time interrupted by the blood of a child who outshone emperors.

When the world demands conformity, Agnes still answers: “I am already promised to the one I love.”

St. Agnes, pray for purity, for the young, and for all who suffer for refusing to betray Christ.

#Avi #Catholic #SaintAgnes #VirginMartyr #FaithAndCrypto