Saint Agnes, Virgin Martyr - Died January 21, 254 or 304 Sources differ as to the year of St. Agnes' death. She was 13 (Golden Legend) or 12 (St. Ambrose) when the son of "the prefect of Rome" fell in love with her, but she claimed to be married already, to Christ. When she refused to sacrifice to the idols she was stripped naked and condemned to life in a brothel, but God shielded her from view by making her hair grow long and enveloping her in a light so bright that men could not approach. When the prefect's son tried to come to her he was caught and killed by a devil, but then resuscitated by Agnes herself. The prefect's lieutenant tried to burn the saint but the fire was miraculously quenched, so he killed her with a sword. In portraits we see St. Agnes with the palm branch emblematic of martyrdom and a lamb, and sometimes with an open book in her hand. The lamb is her attribute first because the Latin word for lamb is agnus and secondly in reference to Christ, the "Agnus Dei" or "Lamb of God" of the Christian liturgy and John 1:29-31 (cached). In the Massys panel at left, for example, the scriptural meaning of agnus may explain the lamb's feeding on the lower leaves of the (palm?) branch, the emblem of her martyrdom. Feast day: January 21 At left, Altarpiece panel with St. Agnes - Quentin Massys Other images: 9th century mosaic The Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece "The Death of St. Agnes" - Ercole Ferrata St. Agnes santo in Burgos Cathedral Her statue in the Colonnade at St. Peter's, Rome 15th century portrait Hagiography:     Golden Legend #24: html or pdf     Section from On Virgins by Ambrose of Milan Menu