St Agatha

     Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint agatha. February 5th. She is a wonderful model for today's young women as she was tortured and withstood the violent cruelty to her body because of her love and dedication and servitude to Jesus Christ and chastity. A lost virtue, so it seems, in our world today. 

     St Agatha was born in the Century of 231 AD. In Sicily, to a noble Christian family. At age 15, she made a vow of virginity, dedicating her life to God. Receiving the "red veil", then worn by consecrated virgins. There was a ruthless man named Quintian, who was infatuated with Agatha. When she refused his proposals, he gave charge of the edict of death. She fled to Palermo, but was found and taken back to Catania. She refused to deny her faith. She was sent to a brothel, to be educated in the "arts of love", by Aphrodisia, the brothel madam. Agatha remained faithful to Christ and was sent back to Quintian, who decided to put her on trial. She was asked by Quintan, why she shows herself to live and dress like a slave, even being born of a noble family? She replied, "because I am a servant of Christ". He then asked her, "but if you are really free and noble, why do you want to be a slave?" Agatha then says, "the greatest freedom and nobility is here, to prove to be Christ's servant alone". Quintian replies, "and what about that?" " We who despise the servitude of Christ and venerate the gods have no freedom?" "Agatha then again replied, "your freedom draws you to such slavery, which not only makes you servants of sin but also submits you to wood and stones". Angering Quintian, he urges her once again to deny Christ or be sent to jail. She again refused, leading the horrible Quintian to inflict on her terrible tortures. Furious to see her face the pain with courage he then commands that her breasts be torn away from her body. Agatha is brought back to prison sore and bloody, but in the night, St Peter appears and restores her torn body. Again before the court, Agatha refuses to worship their false gods and claims to have been healed by Jesus. In his once again fury, Quintian has her raked across hot coals, wrapped only in her "red veil", her symbol of betrothal to Christ. The whole city of Catania shook with an earthquake and began to tumble greatly, because of this tormenting of this Holy servant of God. Agatha, with her red veil still intact is taken once again is sent to jail, where with extended arms acclaims, "you Lord, who have created and guarded me from my childhood, and made me to act with manly strength, have taken from me the love of the passing world. You have kept my body from contamination, who made me overcome the torments of the executioner, the iron, the fire, and the chains, you have given me in torment, the virtue of patience! Please, accept my spirit now, for it is already time that I leave this world by your command and reach your mercy". Having said these words in the presence of many, she was silent, and gave up her spirit. 

     This Holy and faithful servant is a model witness for the whole world today. Spread her story and ask for her intercession for all young girls and women to respect the dignity and Chastity of their bodies. Dying to this world and to remain servants of God. 

     Saint Agatha, pray for us!