Saint Agnes

21 January

What we know about most of the saints and martyrs of the early Church, regarding their life and background, is based on tradition, so the information about them tends to be varied.

In fact, what we know about St. Agnese, stems from inscriptions at the place of her burial, the location where she was martyred and buried.

In Greek the name ‘Agnes’ means ‘chaste’ and in Latin it means ‘lamb’. It is believed that she was martyred in 304 AD and that she was only 12 or 13 years old at the time so that marks her birth date around 291 AD.

Her parents were Christian of noble lineage in the Roman Empire when the Emperor Diocletian persecuted Christians, with the intention of the eradication of Christianity. In fact, in 303 AD, together with his co-ruler Galerius he decreed that all Christian places of worship and books be destroyed, while Christians, especially priests, were put in prison, tortured and martyred when they refused to denounce their Christian belief to give homage to the emperor.

It is believed that one day, Procopius, the son of a Roman prefect, saw Agnes as she was on her way home and he was taken up by her beauty. He fell in love with her and offered to marry her. To win her, he brought her gifts and promised her his family riches. She refused him, stating that Christ was her only spouse. 

When Procopius’ father found out that she was a Christian, he arrested her and put her on trial. She refused to comply with the proposals of the emperor and to renounce her Christian beliefs. When she was tortured, by being subjected to humiliations to attack her purity, tradition holds that she was protected by divine intervention. 

After Agnes was sentenced to death, she was led out and bound to a stake to be burned, but the bundle of wood would not burn, or the flames parted away from her. The officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her.

The remaining bones of Saint Agnes rest beneath the high alter of the ‘Basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura’ in Rome.

In art, Saint Agnes is frequently depicted holding a lamb (symbolizing purity and matching the Latin sound of her name, agnus) and a palm branch (symbolizing martyrdom).

One cannot deny the fact that we are living in a world where ‘seemingly anything goes.’  This applies in a pronounced manner to the gift of sexuality, a quality that makes us men and women, a quality gifted to us by God.

Using a Children’s Bible look up the Creation of Man (Gen 1, 27-28), giving importance to the statement that God created man in His Image.

Depending on the age of the children explain that our bodies have ‘value, dignity and significance.’ Seek or create opportunities, for small conversations, to help children appreciate this gift of sexuality.

Let us impart the beauty of purity to our children, planting little seeds of this virtue in mind and body, expressed in the way they behave, in what they wear, in their speech, what they watch (literature, social media, movies, internet, perhaps even involving the setting of safety filters and website blockers).

This involves time, effort, awareness and prudence. As parents and carers, we can ‘rightly nurture the right nature’ to impart a ‘God honouring view of sexuality.’

St. Agnes chose to follow Jesus even if it meant losing her life. After going through the life of young Agnes, ask the children for their opinions as to how she must have felt and what it meant to her.

Continue to listen to their opinions as to what it means for us when we choose to follow Jesus:

  • doing what is right
  • difficult decisions we might have to take
  • being pushed to make wrong decisions
  • feelings when we choose to do the right thing
  • who are those who can help us to follow Jesus.

Family Prayer Time: Make the children aware that even today there are Christians who are persecuted for their belief in Jesus. 

Lead the children in prayer for these people who are living in fear, to keep strong in their faith against all odds.

Let us be grateful if in the societies that we happen to live in we can practice our faith freely; we are provided with priests who can help us to continue in following Jesus.

Sing and pray together:  

Follow Jesus Song u I have decided to follow Jesus .

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How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Saints of the Church. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the holy life, helping you to connect the saints to daily life in a meaningful way.