Saint Agatha and Angel with St Peter

Following the stirring the BBC TV presentation of 'I Believe in Angels', 

St Peter Healing St Agatha

tomorrow it brings the Liturgy of St Agatha in prison visited by St Peter and an Angel.

NEWMAN CHAPLETS

A Journey  to God through Prayer

http://www.newmanchaplets.com/chaplets-iii-saints-january-december/saints-february/

ST AGATHA

Virgin & Martyr

Feast Day 5th February

Chaplet of St Agatha

A chaplet for victims of breast cancer – for private use only.

Patroness of: Sicily, bell founders, breast cancer, against fire, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, for rape victims, torture victims, etc

Legend says that carrying her veil, taken from her tomb in Catania, in procession has averted eruptions of Mount Etna. Her intercession is reported to have saved Malta from Turkish invasion in 1551. Saint Lucy d.c303 visited her shrine and interceded successfully for her mother, to whom Saint Agatha, by the grace of God gave healing.

Commence on the single bead of the pendant saying: O glorious Martyr, Saint Agatha, you endured assaults on your body and spirit with dignity and courage. Strengthen us now in our hour of supplication and be our advocate, that we may receive the healing grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen

On each of the three sets of beads say five times: Ave Maria…

On the small bead following the first set say: Jesus Christ, Lord of all things, You see my heart, You know my desire. Possess alone all that I am. I am Your sheep, Make me worthy to overcome the devil

On the small bead following the second set say: Lord, my Creator, You have ever protected me from the cradle; You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer: receive now my soul.

Conclude on the medal saying: Dearest Saint Agatha, hear and sustain us!

Saint Agatha – The tradition of virgin martyrdom personified

St Agatha in prison visited by St Peter and an angel. Alessandro Turchi (1578-1649)

Agatha is one of the most notable of the early virgin martyrs, put to death probably under the persecution of Decius (250-253). There remains no early or contemporary account of her martyrdom other than the witness of widespread veneration from the earliest of times. In both the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (c.6th cent) and the fifth or sixth century Martyrologium Carthaginiense, a celebration for Saint Agatha is recorded on the 5th February, while, in the sixth century Venantius Fortunatus (c.530-c.600 ) mentions her in a poem on virginity and describes her as one of the celebrated Christian virgins and martyrs. In addition to these sources, and among the poems of Pope Damasus (Pope between 366-384) is a hymn to Saint Agatha which, while not his own composition but by an unknown later author, was most probably composed for a liturgical celebration. Other references include a letter of Pope Gelasius (492-496) to one Bishop Victor which mentions a Basilica of Saint Agatha, while the letters of Gregory I (Pope between 590- 604) make mention of a church dedicated to Saint Agatha at Rome, in the Subura.It had previously been assigned to the Arian Goths for their use and later restored to Catholic worship by Pope Gregory I.

... Further enraged by this evidence of tenacity and faith, the Governor ordered that her breasts be crushed and hacked off. This unusual torture is represented in the iconography associated with the saint. Agatha was returned to prison with neither food nor medical attention, but her Lord, who was indeed her light and her salvation gave her comfort, for, in a vision she saw Saint Peter surrounded by heavenly light. The Apostle comforted and strengthened Agatha while healing her of the wounds. But the cruelties were not over. Four days later, Quintianus had the young girl rolled naked over live coals mixed with broken pottery; she would not survive this agony. As she was returned to the prison Agatha prayed: ‘Lord, my Creator, Thou hast always protected me from the cradle, Thou hast taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive now my soul.’After saying these words Agatha breathed her last.