Her name sounds like the Latin agnus, “lamb,” and on her feast day two lambs are blessed in Rome. Their wool is used to weave the pallium, the stole worn by archbishops.
Historical Context
Agnes is a patron of survivors of sexual violence because the accounts of her martyrdom describe her being threatened with assault and protected. For anyone carrying that kind of wound, she is a saint who understands, and whose story says their dignity was never taken from them.
A Prayer to St Agnes
St Agnes, you were young and brave,
and you belonged to Christ completely.
Pray that I may belong to him the same way:
pure in heart, honest in love and unafraid.
When I am pressured to be someone I’m not,
give me your courage to say no.
Amen.
For a Daughter or a Young Woman
St Agnes, watch over my daughter (goddaughter, niece).
Protect her from people who would use her or hurt her.
Give her friends who respect her, and the confidence to know her worth.
Amen.
For a Survivor of Abuse
St Agnes, pray for me.
What was done to me was not my fault.
Ask God to heal what was wounded,
to give me back my peace, and to send me people who can help.
Amen.
If you have been abused, please talk to someone you trust, or contact a local abuse helpline. In the United States, RAINN’s helpline is 1-800-656-4673.
Best Times for This Prayer
- On 21 January, her feast.
- For girls preparing for Confirmation.
- For engaged couples preparing for marriage.
- When you are under pressure to compromise your values.
- For healing after abuse.
Scripture Connection
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8
Purity in this sense is not about innocence that can be lost, but a heart turned wholly toward God. Agnes is honoured for that wholeness, which no one could take from her.
Related prayers
For a niece or goddaughter, see the Prayer for My Niece. Another young martyr is on the Saint Lucy Prayer page, and for purity, the Prayer for Lust.