Feast day January 21,

St Agnes virgin and patron saint of girls,

St Agnes was a beautiful girl and was born in and raised in a Christian way, who refused marriage, stating that she could have no spouse but Jesus Christ. Her suitors revealed her Christianity, which was then condemned as a cult, and in punishment she was exposed in a brothel. Awed by her purity and presence, all but one of the Roman youths left her untouched; in his attempt to violate her, the sole attacker was miraculously struck blind, whereupon Agnes healed him with prayer. After refusing to renounce her faith, she was murdered.