{"id":"st-agnes","name":"St. Agnes","title":"Virgin and Martyr","knownFor":"Virgin-Martyr of the Early Church","feastDay":"January 21","lifespan":"c. 291-304","patronOf":"Chastity, Young Girls, Rape Survivors","shortBio":"A young Roman virgin who consecrated herself to Christ and suffered martyrdom at age 13 during the Diocletian persecution. Her unwavering faith and purity made her one of the most celebrated virgin-martyrs.","fullBio":"St. Agnes was a member of Roman nobility who consecrated her virginity to Christ at a young age. During the Diocletian persecution, she refused all suitors, declaring herself the bride of Christ. When exposed in a brothel as punishment, her hair miraculously grew to cover her body, and those who attempted to violate her were struck blind or dead.\n\nShe was condemned to be burned at the stake, but the flames would not touch her. Finally, she was beheaded at the age of 13. Her death inspired many Roman maidens to consecrate themselves to Christ. St. Ambrose and St. Augustine wrote extensively about her courage and purity.\n\nAgnes appeared to the Emperor Constantine's daughter, curing her of leprosy, which led to the construction of a basilica in her honor. Her name is mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass, and two lambs are blessed each year on her feast day to provide wool for the pallia of archbishops.","miracles":["Hair miraculously grew to preserve her modesty when exposed","Those who attempted to violate her were struck blind or dead","Flames refused to burn her at the stake","Posthumously cured Emperor Constantine's daughter of leprosy"],"imageUrl":"https://page.gensparksite.com/v1/base64_upload/0d767881d312ac1fba21d3b64f2a2121","imageAttribution":"Saint Agnes by Francisco de Zurbarán (c. 1635-1640). National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh. Oil on canvas","orderByDate":304}