St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, is one of the oldest saints of Rome. Her legend is described in the fifth century Acts: St. Agnes was born c. 291 A.D. into Roman nobility, into a Christian family. While a young girl she refused a number of suitors to remain faithful to her vow of chastity. As punishment she was put in a brothel, but her virginity was miraculously preserved – all men who looked at her nakedness became blind; when she was publicly stripped naked, her long hair hid her body (according to another version of the story: an angel covered...