Young Roman virgin martyred in the early fourth century. She is honored as a sign of purity and courage.
Life
Agnes was a virgin martyr who died in Rome at a very young age, probably in the early fourth century. She was honored from early times, praised by St. Ambrose and Pope Damasus, and her name appears in the Roman Canon of the Mass.
Tradition says that at about twelve or thirteen she had consecrated herself to Christ, refused a demand for marriage, and kept her faith through threats and humiliation until she was killed. Many details of the story were added later. Because her name recalls the Latin word for lamb, lambs are blessed on her feast and their wool is used to make the pallium given to archbishops.
Spirituality
Agnes's spirituality shows God's strength revealed in the small and weak. Though only a girl, she would not trade her love for Christ for anything, and her pure faithfulness has long been cherished by the Church. In her the Church learns what a heart wholly belonging to God looks like.
Reflection
Even so young, Agnes knew clearly to whom she belonged. Under the pressures of the world, do I remember that I belong to Christ?