St. Agatha

Agatha was a young, beautiful virgin martyred for her faith in Catania, Sicily, probably during the persecution of Decius (250-253). We know little historical details on her martyrdom. According to later accounts, before her death she prayed, “Lord, my creator, you have protected me since I was in the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Now receive my spirit.” These narratives recount that she was subjected to many horrendous tortures, including having her breasts cut off, but accuracy of these accounts is doubtful. What is known is that Agatha was highly venerated in the early Church; churches were dedicated to her and her name is included in the ancient Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), the Church’s oldest Eucharistic Prayer. St. Agatha’s feast day is February 5. She is the patron of nurses, foundry workers, and breast cancer patients and is often invoked against fires.