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Friends of the Rosary,
The Catholic Church celebrates today, February 5th, the Memorial of St. Agatha (d. 250), a virgin and martyr who died in defense of her purity, in Catania, Sicily, after the governor of that region tried in vain to force her to consent to sin.
Her name appears in the Roman Canon of the Mass, along with six more women martyrs: Saints Felicity, Perpetual, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, and Anastasia.
When asked about her faith, she said: “I am a handmaid of Christ, and that is why I bear the outward appearance of a slave; yet this is the highest nobility, to be a slave to Christ.”
The governor threatened her with the most dreadful tortures if she did not renounce Christ.
Agatha countered: “If you threaten me with wild beasts, know that at the Name of Christ they grow tame; if you use fire, from heaven angels will drop healing dew on me.”
“If you do not cause my body to be torn to pieces by the hangmen, my soul cannot enter the Lord’s paradise with the martyrs.”
She was burned with red-hot irons and despoiled of her breasts.
In the night in prison, the apostle Peter appeared to her with healing remedies.
“I am the apostle of Christ; distrust me not, my daughter.”
Agatha replied: “I have never used earthly medicines on my body. I cling to the Lord Jesus Christ, who renews all things by His word.”
She was miraculously healed by St. Peter: “Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, I give you praise because by Your apostle You have restored my breasts.”
Throughout the night, a light illumined the dungeon. When the guards fled in terror, her fellow prisoners urged her to escape, but she refused: “Having received help from the Lord, I will persevere in confessing Him who healed me and comforted me.”
Four days later, by order of the governor, Agatha was rolled over pieces of sharp glass and burning coals. At that moment, the whole city was rocked by a violent earthquake.
Two walls collapsed, burying two of the governor’s friends in the debris. Fearing a popular uprising, he ordered Agatha, half dead, to be returned to prison.
Here she offered her dying prayer: “Blessed Agatha stood in the midst of the prison and with outstretched arms prayed to the Lord: O Lord Jesus Christ, good Master, I give You thanks that You granted me victory over the executioners’ tortures. Grant now that I may happily dwell in Your never-ending glory.” Thereupon, she died.
A year after her death, the city of Catania was in great peril from an eruption on Mount Etna.
Even pagans fled in terror to the saint’s grave. Her veil was taken and held against the onrushing flames, and suddenly the danger ceased. Her grave is venerated in Catania, Sicily.
[In the picture above: Saint Agatha Attended by Saint Peter and an Angel in Prison, painting of Alessandro Turchi in The Walters Art Museum]
Ave Maria!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!
+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
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