St. Agnes was a Roman virgin martyr who is venerated as the patron saint of girls, virgins, and rape victims. She is celebrated for her purity and faith, having refused marriage to devote herself to Jesus Christ .

St. Agnes

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Patron saint of girls, virgins, and rape victims

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Also called:: Saint Agnes of Rome

Flourished:: 4th century, Rome [Italy]

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St. Agnes

Q: What is St. Agnes the patron saint of?

St. Agnes of Rome is the patron saint of girls, virgins, and rape victims.

Q: How did St. Agnes die?

St. Agnes died as a martyr for the Christian faith in the 4th century, when Christianity was considered a cult in Rome . After refusing marriage because she had vowed herself to Jesus Christ , she was revealed as a Christian, stripped naked, and taken to a brothel. She remained untouched by all but one of the Roman youths, who were awed by her purity. Her attacker was miraculously struck blind, whereupon Agnes healed him with prayer . Later, however, she was murdered during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian after refusing to renounce her faith.

Q: What is the significance of St. Agnes’s feast day?

On St. Agnes’s feast day , January 21, two lambs are blessed in the Church of Sant’Agnese in Rome . Their wool is used to make the religious vestments ( pallia ) that are given by the pope to archbishops as tokens of their jurisdiction.

Roman saint

Also known as: Saint Agnes of Rome

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Who was St. Agnes?

What is St. Agnes the patron saint of?

How did St. Agnes die?

What is the significance of St. Agnes’s feast day?

St. Agnes (flourished 4th century, Rome [Italy]; feast day January 21) was a Roman virgin martyr, possibly legendary, who is one of the most-celebrated early Christian martyrs. She is venerated as the patron saint of girls, virgins, and rape victims.

According to tradition, Agnes was a beautiful girl, about 12 or 13 years old, who refused marriage, stating that she could have no spouse but Jesus Christ. Her suitors revealed her Christianity, which was then condemned as a cult, and in punishment she was stripped naked and taken to a brothel. Awed by her purity and presence, all but one of the Roman youths left her untouched; in his attempt to violate her, the sole attacker was miraculously struck blind, whereupon Agnes healed him with prayer. Later, after refusing to renounce her faith, she was murdered during the persecution of the Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian and was buried beside the Via Nomentana.

On her feast day two lambs are blessed in the Church of Sant’Agnese in Rome. From their wool are made the pallia (religious vestments) sent by the pope to archbishops as tokens of their jurisdiction.

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