February 5, 2025, Memorial of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, Holy Rosary (Glorious Mysteries)

Friends of the Rosary,

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Agatha (d. 250), who died to defend her purity, in Catania, Sicily.

Since ancient times, Agatha’s virginal martyrdom has been commemorated on this date.

Her purity and innocence commended her to young women in the Middle Ages, who frequently invoked her alongside the virgins Agnes and Lucy. In his 1994 letter to children, Saint John Paul II offered her as a saintly example for young people.

After Quintanus, the governor of Sicily, tried in vain to force her to consent to sin, she was imprisoned. Quintanus turned from sensuality to cruelty and had her breasts cut off, but that night, Agatha was healed by St. Peter. She was then rolled over sharp stones and burning coals and finally taken to prison, where she died while praying.

St. Agatha is one of seven women martyrs listed in the Roman Canon of the Mass: Saints Felicity, Perpetual, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, and Anastasia.

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!

+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

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