AGNES, SAINT

flourished 4th century, , Rome ; feast day January 21 virgin and patron saint of girls, who is one of the most celebrated Roman martyrs. According to tradition, of uncertain value, Agnes was a beautiful girl, about 13 years old, who refused marriage, stating that she could have no spouse but Jesus Christ. Her suitors revealed her Christianity, and in punishment she was exposed in a brothel. Awed by her presence, all but one of the Roman youths left her untouched; in his attempt to violate her, the sole attacker was struck blind, whereupon she healed him with prayer. Suffering no harm, she was later 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 Santa Agnese in Rome, and from their wool are made the pallia sent by the pope to archbishops as tokens of jurisdiction.