Description

Oil Dedicated to St Agnes of Rome 2 (Patron for Chastity)

St Agnes of Rome 2 (Patron for Chastity) from A Blessed Call To Love, Ireland.

Saint Agnes of Rome is one of the most highly regarded saints in the Catholic Church, particularly known for her commitment to purity and chastity. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.

Agnes was a virgin-martyr, who according to tradition, died for her faith in the early 4th century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. She was approximately 12 or 13 years old at the time of her death, refusing to renounce her Christian faith or to marry, insisting on preserving her virginity as a symbol of her devotion to Christ. Her name, “Agnes,” is similar to the Latin word “agnus,” meaning “lamb,” which symbolizes purity in Christian iconography.

According to the legend, her suitors, frustrated by her devotion to spiritual rather than physical love, turned her in to the authorities for being a Christian. She then subjected to various forms of torture and ultimately met her death, still refusing to renounce her faith or her vow of virginity.

Her story has been a powerful example for many throughout the centuries, reinforcing the virtues of faith, courage, and purity. She is the patron saint of young girls, chastity, rape survivors, and the Children of Mary.

St. Agnes often depicted in art with a lamb, due to the similarity of her name to the Latin word for lamb, and because the lamb a symbol of purity. Her feast day celebrated on January 21.

As with any ancient figure, there is some debate among historians about the exact details of St. Agnes’ life and death, but her influence as a symbol of faith and purity is undisputed.