Pure until death

The following story is taken from "The Voice of the Martyrs" magazine:

In the year 304 A.D., two young Christian girls from a wealthy, pagan household in Rome both died a martyr's death within days of each other. Wealthy families in early Rome often reared their daughters using well educated slaves from Greece. These "nannies" were often Christian, as was the case in this household.

The Roman patrician's daughter Agnes was a beautiful girl. She grew up alongside the nanny's daughter, Emerentiana. The girls were like sisters, and were devoted to one another. When Agnes was 13, her father decided it was time for her to marry and he encouraged the son of a high-ranking Roman to ask for her hand in marriage. Agnes reportedly spurned his advances saying "I am already the spouse of a Lover much more noble and powerful than you." The enraged suitor discovered she was a Christian and reported her to be executed by the edict of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

There is enough variety in the description of how Agnes died that some of her story is considered legend. The consistency behind every account however, is that Agnes was a very young Christian who sacrificed her life for her faith in Christ and her vow of purity.

Roman law prohibited executing virgins, so the judge gave Agnes a choice- sacrifice to the gods or be violated at a brothel. Agnes reportedly responded, "Do you believe that now I could bow my head before simple rocks, mute and lifeless?" According to truth or legend, all men who approached Agnes in the brothel became blind. She then prayed to God to restore their sight. Being burned at the stake also proved unsuccessful, and Agnes was eventually killed by the executioner's sword.

A few days after Agnes' death, a young woman was found praying by her tomb. It was Emerentiana, who admitted to being a Christian. She admonished the crowd for killing Agnes. The crowed commanded her to leave the sight. When she refused, they stoned her.

It is said the deaths, especially of Agnes, shocked many Romans and helped bring an end to the persecution. Some said, "Do young girls constitute such a threat to Rome that it is necessary to kill them?" Others said, "If this religion can enable a 13 year-old girl to meet death without fear, it is worth checking out."

The name Agnes means "pure" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin. The heroism and death of both these young girls inspire us to purify our own lives and hearts. There is another, however, whose name we do not know, but whose Christian influence was monumental in the Roman world. We would do well to remember the unnamed nanny, whose exceptional teaching and inspired lifestyle enabled two young ladies to withstand the test of martyrdom.