Virgin and Martyr ( 230-251)

According to very pious tradition and legend, St. Agatha was born in the island of Sicily on about the year 230 of noble parents and was martyred in Catania, in the year 251.

When the Roman emperor Decius issued a decree persecuting Christians, the local consul Quintian (governor of Sicily), who had long harbored lustful feelings for Agatha, tried to force his attentions on her and desired to obtain her inheritance, used the opportunity to bring her to trial on suspicion of being a Christian and force her to renounce her faith.

Quintian tried to break Agatha's vow of purity by having her live for a month in a brothel. All efforts to dissuade Agatha failed.  Despite the pressures place upon her, Agatha survived this ordeal, placing all her trust in the power of God.

The consul then ordered that she be beaten and that her breasts be crushed an cut off. Afterward, Agatha was consigned to prison where Saint Peter appeared to her in a dazzling light and healed her wounds.

At finding her cured the next day Quintian asks her: "Who has cured you?". To which she replied: "I was cured through the power of Jesus Christ". Quintian screams in rage: "How dare you speak the name of Jesus, when you know it is forbidden?".  "You can only offer sacrifices to the Roman gods". To which Agatha responds: "Do you think, you fool, that I would adore figures
of stone, and deny the God of heavens who healed me?".

Then Quintian ordered that her body be dragged over a field of broken shards and burning coals. During this final torture Agatha gives thanks to God for the strength to preserve her virginity, uphold her faith, and defy her persecutors by saying: "Oh my Lord and Creator, I give You thanks for having protected me from the cradle. I give You thanks for having guided me away from what is evil, lustful and worldly. I give You thanks for the strength to support my sufferings. And now into your awaiting arms I commend my spirit. "Having said this she died, it was the 5th of February of the year 251.  Her name has been retained in the Roman Canon of the Mass in the First Eucharistic Prayer.

Agatha means "good" or "virtuous". St. Agatha is the patroness of nurses, firemen and women suffering from breast cancer.

Virgen y Martir ( 230-251)

Agueda nació en Catania, Sicilia, al sur de Italia, hacia el año 230.

En tiempos de la persecución del tirano emperador Decio, el gobernador Quinciano se propone enamorar a Agueda, pero ella le declara que se ha consagrado a Cristo.

Para hacerle perder la fe y la pureza el gobernador la hace llevar a una casa de mujeres de mala vida y estarse allá un mes, pero nada ni nadie logra hacerla quebrantar el juramento de virginidad y de pureza que le ha hecho a Dios.

El gobernador le manda destrozar el pecho a machetazos y azotarla cruelmente. Pero esa noche se le aparece el apóstol San Pedro y la anima a sufrir por Cristo y la cura de sus heridas.

Al encontrarla curada al día siguiente, Quinciano le pregunta: ¿Quién te ha curado? Ella responde: "He sido curada por el poder de Jesucristo". Quinciano le grita: ¿Cómo te atreves a nombrar a Cristo, si esto está prohibido? Y la joven le responde: "Yo no puedo dejar de hablar de Aquél a quien más fuertemente amo en mi corazón".

Entonces Quinciano la mandó echar sobre llamas y brasas ardientes y ella, mientras se quemaba, iba diciendo en su oración: "Oh Señor, Creador mío: gracias porque desde la cuna me has protegido siempre. Gracias porque me has apartado del amor a lo mundano y lo que es malo y dañoso. Gracias por la paciencia que me has concedido para sufrir. Recibe ahora en tus brazos mi alma". Y diciendo esto expiró. Era el 5 de febrero del año 251.

Agueda significa "la buena", "la virtuosa". Santa Agueda es invocada por enfermeras, bomberos y mujeres que padecen de cáncer en los senos.
 

Prayer to Saint Agatha

O Heavenly Father,
Who raised Agatha
to the dignity of Sainthood,
we implore Your Divine Majesty
by her intercession
to give us health of mind,
body and soul.
Free us from all those things
which hold us bound to this earth,
and let our spirit, like hers,
rise to your heavenly courts.
Through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord,
Who lives and reigns
with You, forever. Amen.

 

Oración a Santa Agueda

Padre Celestial,
que elevastes a Agueda
a la dignidad de Santa,
imploramos a Tu Divina Majestad, que por su interceseción, nos concedas la salud de la mente,
del cuerpo y del alma.
Líbranos, Señor,
de todas aquellas cosas
que nos atan demasiado
a esta tierra y déjanos
levantar nuestro espíritu,
como el de ella,
a Tu Reino Celestial.
Por Nuestro Señor Jesucristo,
Tu Hijo, que vive y reina contigo, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

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