Why turn to St. Agatha in life’s difficulties?Life is often ups and downs and never a bed of roses. It is often filled with trials and tribulations but many do experience some sprinkling of happy and loving moments also. There will often be times of dread like Monday blues, grief and anguish when everything appears to be falling apart, so much pain and sadness that tempts us to lose our faith in God. It is during those moments of difficulty where we need to cry out to God in our anguish and ask him for help. One powerful intercessor in this regard is St. Agatha, who was from a well-off family in Sicily in Roman times, probably in the third century. After dedicating her life to Christ, her beauty drew powerful men to her like a magnet. But she refused all suitors in favor of the Lord. During the persecution of the Emperor Decius around 250, she was arrested, interrogated, tortured, and martyred. She refused to renounce her faith or to give in to the powerful men who desired her. For her obstinance she was imprisoned, beaten and subject to excruciating torture that eventually involved the shearing off of her breasts. An ancient homily relates: “A true virgin, she wore the glow of a pure conscience and the crimson of the lamb’s blood for her cosmetics.” This holy virgin and martyr, is held in great veneration by the Greek as well as the Latin Church and is the patron of Sufferers from diseases of the breast and she is also protector against fire, from the particular mode of her martyrdom, her body being exposed flames, to increase the torture, she was not permitted to be burned to death, but taken back to her dungeon to die in agony. If anyone who knows about pain, it is St. Agatha! Saint Agatha is represented in Christian Art wearing a long veil. The veil of St. Agatha was drawn tightly round her lacerated bosom when, by God's command, St. Peter came into her dungeon to heal it with precious ointments. Hence she is usually represented wearing a long veil. The shears are always in evidence, either in her hand or lying beside her. Sometimes she has a salver containing a female breast. She remains an example of faithfulness during trial and can intercede for us, asking God for the grace of perseverance. Below is a prayer for this intention, a prayer to St. Agatha for perseverance in hopes that whatever trial we endure, our faith will not be shaken.
The Feast of Saint Agatha is still massively celebrated on February 5 in Catania, Sicily. Hundreds of thousands of faithful process through the streets in honor of that island’s patron saint. |
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AuthorAn artist, entrepreneur, a loving family man, 30 years a Catholic traditionalist upholding traditions for the love of God. Shop for Catholic giftsArchives
January 2024
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