Feb. 5, 2013 - ST. AGATHA

                       ST. AGATHA

Priestly vestments on February 5th of the liturgical calendar are red because of the celebration of the memorial to St. Agatha who died in the year 253. She is one of the most venerated virgin martyrs of the Catholic world. She is one of the seven women commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the saint specially invoked for patients who have and those who have survived breast cancer. Many healings have been attributed through the help of this saint who lived in the 3rd century. 

St. Agatha was born to a rich and noble family in Catania, Sicily. Her exceeding beauty caught the eyes of a Roman prefect (senator) who actively and brutally persecuted the Christians. Being a Christian and having dedicated her virginity to God, she rejected his amorous advances. Scorned, Quitianus, had her arrested and subjected her to several tortures. Also a judge, he sentenced her to to death by being rolled naked on a bed of live coals. The ground where she was rolled on began to tremble like an earthquake and a part of the wall fell on two counselors whose counsel she had been so tormented. She was sent to prison where she was tortured by cutting off her breasts. It was said that in a vision, St. Peter with an angel appeared, dressed her wounds and helped her to survive. Eventually, she died in prison.

St. Agatha is often depicted in paintings carrying her excised breasts on a platter. She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients and survivors. Catania, Sicily honors her with a 3-day celebration - February 3 to 5th. Malta venerates her as patron saint since her intercession has been reported to have saved Malta from Turkish invasion in 1551.

A church of great historical importance to Spain is Santa Gadea (St. Agatha) is in Burgos. By the way, the Gothic Cathedral of Burgos, Spain is replete with architectural splendor and beauty with its "lace in stone motif." Millions of pilgrims visit annually the huge acclaimed miraculous 800-yr old cross with our crucified Lord all covered with wounds. For some strange reasons, in each of my three visits there, the camera shots I took of this unique crucifix produced only negatives.To this day, this cathedral is known  to be second to Lourdes as a pilgrimage site in Europe.

                     Prayer  To  St. Agatha

St. Agatha, you suffered assault and indignity because of your faith. Help heal all those who are survivors of sexual assault and protect those women who are in danger. Pray for those women who are suffering from malignancy or who have survived it so that they may have the strength to offer their affliction and pain to God, our Divine Healer. Through your prayers St. Agatha, may they feel and enjoy the healing power of our Lord. Through Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen.