Every year on January 21, a quiet but striking scene unfolds in Rome. Two small lambs are brought to a church, blessed, and entrusted to religious sisters for careful tending. Months later, their wool will be woven into one of the most meaningful symbols of episcopal authority in the Church.
All of this happens because of a young martyr named Agnes.
St. Agnes lived in Rome in the early fourth century and was martyred at about twelve or thirteen years old. Her crime was simple and absolute: she belonged to Christ alone. When pressured to renounce her faith and marry, she refused. Her steadfast purity and courage led to her execution, and she quickly became one of the most beloved martyrs of the early Church.Her name itself tells part of the story. Agnes comes from the Latin agnus, meaning lamb. From the earliest centuries, Christians associated her with the image of a lamb, a symbol of innocence, sacrifice, and Christ Himself. Art often depicts her holding a lamb, not as sentimentality, but as theology. She mirrored the Lamb of God in her purity and self gift.
This symbolism eventually shaped a living tradition.
On the feast of St. Agnes, lambs are blessed at the Church of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura in Rome. Their wool is later used to make the pallium, a narrow woolen band worn by metropolitan archbishops. The pallium rests on the shoulders and signifies the bishop’s role as shepherd, carrying the flock with humility and care.
The pallium is placed on the tomb of St. Peter before being given to new archbishops, connecting three realities at once: the martyrdom of Agnes, the authority of Peter, and the pastoral mission of the bishops.
There is something quietly profound here. A child martyr’s witness supplies the wool that becomes a sign of leadership. Innocence undergirds authority. Sacrifice supports service.
St. Agnes reminds the Church that true power is never separated from purity of heart, and true leadership is always shaped by the Lamb who was slain.
Her feast is not only a remembrance of courage in persecution, but a living reminder that holiness, even when hidden or young, continues to clothe the Church.
To help children and families connect with this tradition at home, Louie the Lamb Personalized Prayer Buddy offers a meaningful companion for prayer and devotion. Louie can be a comforting presence during bedtime prayers, a reminder of St. Agnes’ courage, and a gentle symbol of Christ’s own lamb-like love.
Whether given as a gift or kept as a daily prayer friend, Louie invites us to remember that faith sometimes looks like simplicity, trust, and the willingness to follow Christ wherever He leads. Find yours today at The Catholic Company!
