At twelve Agnes was made to offer at a pagan alter of Minerva. She instead raised her head to the Lord and made the sign of the Cross.
Soldiers bound her feet and hands, but the chains were to big and slipped. They stripped her after they saw she feared no pain. They had her stand in front of pagan crowds. She cried "Christ will guard His own."
She was offered the hand of a young man in marriage, she refused saying "Christ is my Spouse, he chose me first and His I will be, He made my soul beautiful with jewels of grace and virtue, I belong to Him whom I serve"
He was furious and reported her to the Governor who gave her a chance to deny her faith, she was made to die, and she without doubt bowed her head as happy as someone on her wedding day - to the sword at the age of 13 in either 254 or 304 (sources vary).
Agnes in translation means lamb, On her feast day two lambs are blessed at her church in Rome, and then their wool is woven into the palliums (bands of white wool) which the pope confers on archbishops as symbol of their jurisdiction.
She is patron of Children of Mary, couples, purity, engaged, gardeners, girl scouts, New York, rape victims, and virgins.
Catholic Resources
At twelve Agnes was made to offer at a pagan alter of Minerva. She instead raised her head to the Lord and made the sign of the Cross.
