St. Emerentiana was the foster-sister of St. Agnes of Rome, and would eventually join her sister in the ranks of martyrs. Some days after the burial of St. Agnes, Emerentiana, who was still a catechumen, went to the grave to pray, and while praying she was suddenly attacked by the pagans and killed with stones. A church was built near the grave of St. Agnes and was dedicated to St. Emerentiana. It is likely that she was close in age to St. Agnes. St. Emerentiana and St. Agnes are part of a company of "sister saints," who are all venerated by the Catholic Church.