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Faith Resources
Below are resources to explore our faith. Come back often to find new resources to continue your Faith journey
January Feast Days
(* denotes Auxiliaries celebrating the feast day)
Jan 1 - Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God - Solemnity
Jan 2 - St. Basil the Great & St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops & Drs of the Church
Jan 4 - The Epiphany of the Lord, Solemnity
Jan 5 - St John Neumann bishop
*Hawley, PA
Jan 6 - St Andre Bessette, religious
Jan 7 - St Raymond of Penafort, priest
Jan 11 - The Baptism of the Lord, Feast
Jan 13- St Hilary, bishop & Dr of the Church
Jan 17 -St Anthony, abbot
Jan 20 St Fabian, pope & martyr/ St Sebastian, martyr
Jan 21-St Agnes, virgin & martyr
*Naples ,FL
Jan 23-St Marianne Cope, virgin/ St Vincent, deacon & martyr
Jan 24- St Francis de Sales, bishop & Dr of the Church
Jan 26-St Timothy & St Titus, bishops
Jan 27-St Angela Merici, virgin
Jan 28-St Thomas Aquinas, priest & Dr of the Church
*Alpharetta, GA
Jan 31- St John Bosco, priest ​​
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St. Agnes
The Lamb of Christ
St. Agnes, whose name means “lamb,” is a cherished figure in the history of Christianity, celebrated for her unwavering faith and purity. Born in Rome in 291 AD, she came from a wealthy and noble family. Despite her youth, she demonstrated extraordinary courage and devotion to Christ, becoming a model of steadfast faith in the face of persecution.
Agnes was renowned for her beauty, and many suitors sought her hand in marriage. However, she refused all offers, declaring that she had consecrated her virginity to Christ. She famously said, “He is my spouse whom the angels serve, whose beauty the sun and moon admire, and by whose gifts virgins are crowned.”
This declaration angered her suitors, who accused her of being a Christian — a crime punishable by death during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. At just 12 years old, Agnes was brought before a judge who attempted to persuade her to renounce her faith through promises of wealth and threats of torture. She stood firm, saying, “You may stain your sword with my blood, but you will never be able to profane my body, which is consecrated to Christ.” When Agnes refused to yield, she was condemned to be exposed in a house of prostitution. However, her purity was miraculously preserved. Tradition holds that any man who attempted to violate her was struck blind, including one bold youth who was later healed through Agnes’s prayers.
St. Agnes’s feast day is celebrated on January 21. A unique tradition associated with her involves the blessing of two lambs at the Church of St. Agnes in Rome. These lambs’ wool is woven into pallia, which are ceremonial stoles symbolizing the authority and pastoral mission of archbishops. The pallia are placed on the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and later bestowed upon the archbishops by the pope.
St. Agnes’s life and death serve as a profound example of faith, purity, and courage. Her unwavering devotion to Christ, even in the face of unimaginable trials, continues to inspire Christians around the world. As we honor her memory, we are reminded of the power of faith and the eternal rewards promised to those who remain true to God.
