St Agnes was a young girl of 12 or 13. Little is known about her life before her Martyrdom. It is known that she consecrated herself to God. When she was asked to sacrifice to the pagan gods of Rome at an altar of Minerva she made the triumphant Sign of the Cross instead. She was bound with chains but her limbs were so tiny that they slipped from her wrists. She was tortured but no pain would make her yield. They dragged her through the streets to be mocked by the crowds.
She was thrown into a house of prostitution but no harm came to her. Several young men offered to marry her to save her, but she refused saying, “Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve”. She was stripped of her garments in front of a large crowd. When one man dared to look on her with lustful thoughts he was struck blind. When it was clear that she would rather die than renounce God, she was led to execution. She bravely awaited the fall of the sword and her soul flew to her Heavenly Spouse. She won the crown of Virgin and Martyr.
Her foster sister also deserves special mention. St Emerentiana visited Agnes’ grave, after she was buried, to pray. A group of pagans confronted her and she announced to them her faith and relationship to Agnes. She was then martyred too and re-united with her sister and God in Heaven.
The catacomb where St Agnes was buried was named after her in her honour. Years later the daughter of Constantine (the first Christian Emperor of Rome) asked her father to build a basilica over the catacomb of St Agnes. It was remodeled much later and still exists today.
St Agnes is the patron of bodily purity, chastity, Children of Mary, crops, engaged couples, gardeners, Girl Scouts, girls, rape victims and virgins. She is one of the most revered Saints of the early church. Her name is mentioned in first Eucharistic prayer.
Prayer
All-powerful and ever-living God, You choose the weak in this world to confound the powerful. When we celebrate the memory of Saint Agnes, may we like her remain constant in our faith. Amen.
St Agnes, pray for us!
From an essay On Virgins by Saint Ambrose of Milan
Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve.
There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Dragged against her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord in the midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs.
In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck.
You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned. His right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl's peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and religion; Agnes preserved her virginity and gained a martyr's crown.
Special thanks to Ballerina Grape for sending me St Agnes' story :D
