St. Agnes (of Rome)
Agnes was the daughter of wealthy and distinguished parents in Rome during the 4th century. She also dedicated herself to God and refused to marry. At 12 years of age she was put to death for her refusal and for being a Christian. Her name means “lamb” and annually on her feast a pair of lambs are blessed by the pope, and their wool is shorn on Holy Thursday to create the pallium that a new metropolitan archbishop wears over his shoulders.
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