St. Agnes of Rome
St Agnes’s window is in the back-left side of the church, and Saint Agnes is holding a lamb and flowers.
St. Agnes was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her faith. Agnes had made a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death. Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry her, but she would always say, "Jesus is my only Spouse."
Procop, the Governor’s son, became angry when she refused him. He had tried to win her love with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful youth girl kept saying, “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."
In great anger, Procop had her arrested for being a Christian, and brought her to his father the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused.
He tried to change her mind by having her put in chains, but her face shone with joy. Next, he sent her to sacrifice to pagan gods and lose her virginity by rape, but an angel protected her. At last she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such a young beautiful girl going to her death. Yet Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. " I would offend my Spouse" she said, "if I were to try to please you." Then she prayed and bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.
On her feast day of January 21, 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 symbols of their jurisdiction. St Agnes died- on Jan. 21 254
St Agnes is the Patron Saint of betrothed couples, bodily purity, chastity, Children of Mary, engaged couples, gardeners, Girl Scouts, girls, rape victims, The Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York and virgins.
Her name meaning is lamb or pure one, therefore she is shown in the stained-glass window holding a lamb, and the flowers represent her beauty.
