Call Toll Free : 1-800-560-4999Saint Agnes of Rome was born in the year 291. She is also known as Saint Ines, and is remembered as a virgin-martyr. The name Agnes is taken from a Greek word meaning “sacred or pure”.
Saint Agnes was from a family of Roman nobility and was raised as a Christian. Her tradgic death occured at the young age of thirteen when she was told she was to be raped as a sacrifice to the pagan gods that many worshipped in Rome during those times.
Agnes was still a virgin and wished to remain that way until her marriage, due to her good Christian faith. However the men would have none of this, and continued to insist she must be raped. The pagans took Agnes to a Temple that was made in honor of the Roman goddess Minerva, and still the arguement carried on for quite some time with no progress made, until numerous men offered to marry Agnes and then carry on with the ritual.
This was done to make Agnes feel what she was allowing to happen was acceptable. Agnes found this to be inadequate and rejected these offers. Stating she would rather face death and not disgrace her Lord.
So St. Agnes was tied up and pulled through the streets of Rome naked headed for a brothel. Upon her arrival, numerous men attempted to rape her but they became immediately blind when they made their attempts. The men became infuriated and all agreed to burn her at the stake. The bundle of wood the men brought to burn her with would not light though, and the men became even angrier.
This led to one of the soldiers in charge of the execution drawing his sword and beheading Agnes. Agnes showed great strength in her beliefs and faced death, rather than give in the pagans and their demands. This is why she is remembered as a saint and a martyr.
Saint Agnes is the patron saint of gardeners, virgins, rape victims, engaged couples, and girls, and her feast day is celebrated on January 21st each year.
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