Happy Feast Day! On this day, twenty years ago, I was baptized, and became a child of God, princess of the Father, heir to the Kingdom of Heaven, temple of the Holy Ghost, and dwelling place of the Most High. It’s kind of a big deal.
Today is also a very special feast day for another reason. It’s the feast of St. Agatha, and since I was baptized on her feast day, I took her name as one of my confirmation saints. She’s not very well known, although she is listed in the Canon at Mass. But I’m telling you, she is truly one of the best saints of all time.
Agatha was a virgin and martyr. Much of her story is based in legend, but even legends can express truth. At the time of Roman Emperor Domitian’s reign, Agatha dedicated her life to God, wishing to be His bride.
Legend has it that she was from a wealthy family, and was quite beautiful. Yet because of her vow, she refused all those who solicited her or wished to marry her. On the verge of facing their wrath, she prayed for strength: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.”
Angered that she would not break nor give in to them, her persecutors forced her into a brothel, then threw her in prison, and finally, put her through many of the worst tortures mankind could concoct. This brave woman received no healing from human hands, but God sent St. Peter to heal her and strengthen her in the midst of the torture.
She eventually died in prison from her wounds and received the crown of martyrdom. As she was dying, she said, “Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul.” All throughout her suffering, she stayed true and courageous to her faith.
See, Christianity isn’t for the faint of heart. As one of my friends would say, the saints are hardcore! St. Agatha suffered intensely, and even the strongest of people would have buckled under the pain she endured. Under her own power, she could not have been so steadfast. But it is God’s powerful grace that fills the martyrs and makes them strong!
Not just that, but she was eloquent, as Christ promised in Luke 12:11-12. “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” When brought before earthly rulers, the Holy Spirit teaches these witnesses of faith what to say, and the fire of charity in their hearts inspires their listeners.
Something else miraculous that you should know about her is that her body was discovered incorrupt in the 11th century. This means it did not decay like bodies are supposed to, even though she died in the 4th century! This phenomenon is scientifically unexplainable, except that God deigned to allow her earthly body to remain incorrupt as a further sign of her sanctity.
Because of her seemingly impossible bravery and strength, she is the patron saint of just about everything under the sun: victims of torture and sexual assault, martyrs, breast cancer survivors, single women, nurses, miners, jewelers, bell founders, bakers, Sicily, Malta, San Marino, and parts of Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada. She is also invoked against sterility and all manner of natural disasters including thunderstorms, volcanoes, earthquakes, and fires.
The fact that the faithful ask for her intercession for this entire laundry list of petitions is just one more example of how her testament to the faith continues to inspire zeal in our hearts today. St. Agatha, pray for us.
Flood The World 