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Article: February 5 + Saint Agatha

February 5 + Saint Agatha - VENXARA®

February 5 + Saint Agatha

Agatha is one of seven women, who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of the Catholic Church.

Having dedicated her virginity to God, fifteen-year-old Agatha, from a wealthy and noble family in Sicily, rejected the advances of many men including the Roman prefect Quintianus, who thought he could force her to turn away from her vow and marry him. His persistent proposals were consistently rejected by Agatha. This was during the persecutions of Decius, so Quintianus, knowing she was a Christian, reported her to the authorities. Quintianus himself was governor of the district.

He expected her to give in to his demands when she was faced with torture and possible death, but she simply reaffirmed her belief in God by praying: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. Make me worthy to overcome the devil.”

With tears falling from her eyes, she prayed for courage. To force her to change her mind, Quintianus sent Agatha to Aphrodisia, the Madam of a brothel, and had her confined there. Agatha never lost her confidence in God.

Quintianus sent for her again, argued, threatened, and finally had her imprisoned and tortured. She was stretched on a rack to be torn with iron hooks, burned with torches, and whipped. Amongst the tortures she underwent was the cutting off of her breasts with pincers. After further dramatic confrontations with Quintianus, Agatha was then sentenced to be burnt at the stake, but an earthquake saved her from that fate; instead, she was sent to prison where Saint Peter the Apostle appeared to her and healed her wounds.

Eventually, Agatha died in prison and entered Heaven at the age of 20 around the year 251 and is buried at the Badia di Sant’Agata in Catania, Italy. She is the Patron Saint of breast cancer warriors and survivors, rape victims, wet nurses and is also considered to be a powerful intercessor when people suffer from fires.

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