Red worn to honor St. Agnes feast day at Paterson

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St. Agnes Parish in Paterson on Jan. 26 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Spanish Mass to commemorate the feast of the parish’s patron saint, St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, whose feast day is on Jan. 21. She also is the patron saint of girls, chastity, Girl Scouts, engaged couples, virgins, and rape victims.

Bishop Sweeney and Father Milton Camargo, St. Agnes’ administrator and concelebrant of the Mass, wore red vestments to mark her death as a martyr. Bishop Sweeney censed a St. Agnes statue. Musicians from the parish’s Neocatechumenal Way communities sang and played their instruments in front of the church to welcome the bishop upon his arrival.

Legend has it that St. Agnes was a girl many young men wanted to marry. Among those she refused, one reported her to authorities for being a Christian. She was arrested, condemned, executed, and buried near Rome in a catacomb that eventually was named after her. The daughter of Constantine built a basilica in her honor.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
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