Young Roman woman, martyr of purity and faith in ancient Rome

Today we remind St Agnes (IVth c), one of the famous Roman maidens who demonstrated the genuine beauty of faith in Christ and of friendship with him. Her double description as Virgin and Martyr refers to the totality of the holiness. Martyrdom —for St Agnes— meant generously and freely accepting to spend her young life totally and without reserve. Agnes also sealed in martyrdom the other crucial element of her life, virginity for Christ and for the Church. —Indeed, the conscious, free and mature choice of virginity, testifies to the wish to belong totally to Christ, and paves the way to the total gift of self in martyrdom.