Saint Agnes: Patroness of Chastity and Young Women

Saint Agnese was born in Rome to Christian parents, from a noble family, in the 3rd century. She decided to dedicate her virginity to the Lord. When she was only twelve years old, a persecution broke out, and many faithful abandoned the faith en masse. Agnese remained faithful to Christ and sacrificed her young life. She was exposed naked in the Circus Agonale. A man who tried to approach her died before he could touch her, and she miraculously revived through the intercession of the saint. Thrown into fire, it extinguished due to her prayers; she was then pierced with a sword in the throat, in the manner in which lambs were slaughtered. The iconography that depicts her often shows her with a lamb or a sheep, symbols of purity and sacrifice. She is the patroness of young women, the Trinitarians, gardeners, market gardeners, and protector of chastity. Some assert that she died between 249 and 251 during the persecution led by Emperor Decius, while others say in 304 during the persecution ordered by Diocletian. — Today we also remember Saint Epiphanius, Saint Fructuosus of Tarragona, Santa Ines, Saint Mainard, and Saint Publio.