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Welcome
to another episode of Saturday Cappuccino with the Saints, and this week, I am
afraid to say, is going to be a rather dark episode.
Each
week when I talk about one of the Saints in our tradition, many times I end up
talking about one of the Martyrs. The
great cloud of witnesses is large and many of them gave their life for their
faith in Christ, and the martyrs show up often on this podcast. They really are, as Tertullian said, the seed
of the church. And many of these martyrs
have quite gruesome stories. Quite
gruesome.
And
this week’s Saint definitely fits this category, so viewer beware. This is going to be a rough episode, but an
important one. We owe it to our
Christian forebearers to remember their sufferings and, hopefully, learn from
their example. And the Saint we are
going to talk about today truly deserves to be remembered and honored – Saint
Agatha of Sicily.
Saint
Agatha of Sicily was a 3rd‑century Christian virgin‑martyr from Catania
remembered for her courage during the Decian persecutions. Her bravery under some of the most monstrous
methods of torture recorded has made her one of the most beloved Saints of our
tradition. Her feast day is February 5,
and she is patron saint of those suffering from Breast Cancer as well as of victims
of sexual violence and torture.
After
her death her veil saved Catania from a volcano and the annual celebrations of
her Feast Day in Sicily is one of the largest festivals on Earth. The example of her valor and faith under the
most extreme persecution imaginable continues to inspire generations. You will not want to miss this special episode
because Saint Agatha’s story resonates in our World now just as much as it did
in her own day. Maybe even more!
