IN THEE, O LORD, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.

Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.

For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.

Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord:

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou hast regarded my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses.

Book of Psalms 31: 2-8

AGATHA was a Sicilian virgin of noble extraction. Quintianus, governor of Sicily, became deeply enamored of her; but she rejected his advances. As a result she was charged with being a Christian and brought before his tribunal. To the question concerning her origin she replied: "I am noble-born, of a distinguished family, as all my relatives will attest." When asked why she lived the servile life of a Christian, she answered: "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."

After being tortured, “Agatha went to prison radiant with joy and with head held high as though invited to a festive banquet. And she commended her agony to the Lord in prayer.” The next day, as she again stood before the judge, she declared: "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 then stretched on the rack, burned with red-hot irons, and despoiled of her breasts. During these tortures she prayed: "For love of chastity I am made to hang from a rack. Help me, O Lord my God, as they knife my breasts." Agatha rebuked the governor for his barbarity: "Godless, cruel, infamous tyrant, are you not ashamed to despoil a woman of that by which your own mother nursed you?"

Returning to prison, she prayed: "You have seen, O Lord, my struggle, how I fought in the place of combat; but because I would not obey the commands of rulers, my breasts were lacerated." In the night there appeared to her a venerable old man, the apostle Peter, with healing remedies. Agatha, ever delicately modest, hesitated to show him her wounds. "I am the apostle of Christ; distrust me not, my daughter." To which she 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 she was again led before the judge. He, of course, was amazed over her cure. Nevertheless, he insisted that she worship the gods; which prompted another confession of faith in Christ. Then 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 (in the year c. 251).

A year after her death the city of Catania was in great peril from an eruption on Mount Etna. Pagans, too, were numbered among those who 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 at Catania in Sicily.

Excerpt from The Church’s Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

"Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am - You alone. I am Your sheep; make me worthy to overcome all evil."

Saint Agatha

"May my courage and my thought be so firmly founded upon the firm stone of Jesus Christ."

O God, who knew from one of the many marvels of Your power, how to give strength to the weaker sex to obtain the victory of martyrdom, concede us the grace that we, celebrating the victory of your saintly virgin and martyr Agatha, walk towards You, through the imitation of your examples. By Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen."

Prayer for Healing

Saint Agatha, you suffered assault and indignity because of your faith and relied solely on Jesus Christ for your courage. O Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Agatha, we ask you to heal all those who are survivors of abuse and assault; protect all who are in danger and welcome them into Your loving embrace, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who lives and reigns in the Holy Ghost, Amen

Saint Agatha by Carlo Dolci; (b. 1616- d.1687)

Saint Peter Healing Saint Agatha by Giovanni Lanfranco; 1614; Galleria Nazionale, Parma, Italy; https://www.wga.hu

Saint Agatha by Bernardino Luini; 1510-1515; Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy

February 5 - Feast of Saint Agatha of Catania, Martyr - Victorious over all abuse with Jesus Christ