St Agnes
“He who chose me first for Himself shall receive me”
I decided to begin with St. Agnes, often considered the most well-known of the Virgin Martyrs. She is one of eight women mentioned by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Throughout her short life, St. Agnes displayed extraordinary courage, fortitude in the face of temptation, and unwavering confidence in the love of Christ, her Beloved.
According to tradition, she was born into a Christian family in 291 AD, during the intense persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Diocletian outlawed Christianity across the Roman Empire, ordered the destruction of churches and sacred writings, and decreed death for anyone who refused to deny Christ or worship pagan gods.
Agnes grew and blossomed during this hostile time, and her beauty and noble status made her the object of many men's affections. Despite their advances, she had already consecrated herself to God. She refused all marriage proposals with the same bold declaration: "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."
One of her suitors was said to be the governor’s son. He offered her gifts, power, luxury, and servants. Yet every offer was met with firm refusal. His frustration only grew stronger until Agnes reportedly told him:
“I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me.” (Stella and Tide)
Insulted by her rejection, he reported her to the authorities for being a Christian.
Since the details of her death come primarily from early legend and oral tradition, the exact events differ slightly between sources. However, most accounts agree on the key elements. The Roman official first tried to bribe her away from her faith. When she refused, she was stripped and dragged through the streets to a brothel. There, she was exposed and left vulnerable.
Yet even in this humiliation, Agnes “shone with joy.” The Roman youths, awed by her purity, left her untouched—except one, who attempted to violate her. He was miraculously struck blind, and Agnes, filled with mercy, healed him through prayer. Another version of the story recounts that as the youth approached her, her hair miraculously grew to cover her entire body.
She was then sentenced to death by fire, but the flames would not harm her. Finally, she was beheaded.
A vivid and moving account of her martyrdom comes from St. Ambrose in Concerning Virginity:
“What threats the executioner used to make her fear him, what allurements to persuade her, how many desired that she would come to them in marriage! But she answered: It would be an injury to my Spouse to look on any one as likely to please me. He who chose me first for Himself shall receive me. Why are you delaying, executioner? Let this body perish which can be loved by eyes which I would not.
She stood, she prayed, she bent down her neck. You could see the executioner tremble, as though he himself had been condemned... while the maiden feared not for her own. You have then in one victim a twofold martyrdom—of modesty and of religion. She both remained a virgin and she obtained martyrdom.”
The name “Agnes” means “pure” or “chaste” in Greek and “lamb” in Latin. Since the sixth century, she has often been depicted in sacred art holding a lamb, a symbol of her purity and humility. In a beautiful tradition still kept in Rome, two lambs are presented on her feast day. Their wool is later woven into pallia—the special vestments sent to newly consecrated archbishops—symbolizing their communion with the pope (Magnificat).
St. Agnes is an incredible example of devotion to God and fidelity to conscience over submission to worldly power. She resisted temptation, refused to compromise her vow, and displayed a strength that came not from dominance, but from surrender to Christ.
In doing so, St. Agnes embodies the essence of authentic femininity: not weakness or passivity, but a strength rooted in purity, receptivity to divine love, and unwavering dignity. Her femininity was not diminished by her virginity—it was elevated. She did not need to assert power in the way the world understands it; her strength came through her unwavering identity as a bride of Christ.
Her story challenges us to reconsider what it means to be strong, to be feminine, and to be wholly devoted. In a world that often confuses femininity with seduction or submission, St. Agnes reveals the truth: that a woman’s deepest power lies in her clarity of purpose, her fearless love, and her radiant purity.
See below for some photos at the tomb of St Agnes in Rome, from my trip to Rome!
“Behold now i come to you whom i have loved, whom i have sought, and for whom i have always longed”
Reflection Questions:
1. Where in my life am I tempted to compromise my identity or convictions—and how might St. Agnes’ example inspire me to remain steadfast in faith and authentic femininity?
2. St. Agnes found her strength in belonging completely to Christ. What might it look like for me to live with that same undivided heart today?
3. What does authentic femininity mean to me, and how can I begin to live it more intentionally in a culture that often misunderstands it?
4. Am I willing to let go of worldly approval in order to live with the quiet strength and radiant purity of a woman rooted in Christ?
5. How can I, like St. Agnes, reflect a femininity that is courageous, faithful, and wholly surrendered to God?
May we, like the Virgin Martyrs, live with courage, purity, and unwavering love for Christ.
With hope in His victory,
Maria
Innocentiae Flos, Martyrum Corona
