Today, January 21, is the memorial of Saint Agnes.
Tradition states that Agnes was born in AD 291 and belonged to a noble Roman family. They were all Christians.
With her beauty and wealth, Agnes attracted many suitors, most of them from high government positions. She turned down all the men, telling them that it would be an insult to her Spouse, Jesus. She consecrated her virginity to God and would rather die than disappoint the Lord.
Now these bitter men she refused wanted revenge. They told the authorities about Agnes. At the time, being a Christian was a crime. Sempronius the Prefect ordered that Agnes should be dragged naked through the streets of Rome and taken to a prostitution house. When this happened, Agnes prayed and the miracle took place: her hair grew so much that it covered her naked body.
Men were commanded to rape her, but when they approached Agnes, they were struck blind. The authorities tried to burn her at the stake, but the wood would not fire up. The officer in charge, it was said, got so angry that he beheaded Agnes with a sword. In other accounts, she was stabbed in the throat. She thus died in AD 304 at the age of 12.