Upon Saint Agatha, the Lord has bestowed both the crown of virginity and the honor of martyrdom. We, too, should aspire to such dedication, even in times of peace and acceptance of the Church. Saint Agatha, a young woman living in the third century, dedicated herself to Christ through a ritual where she received the red veil of virginity. Shortly after, Emperor Decius issued an edict against Christians, challenging her commitment and faith. Quintian, a proconsul, was tasked with enforcing this edict in Catania, where Agatha lived. In his cruelty and hatred for the faith, he targeted Agatha specifically, attempting to sever her relationship with the Lord and persuade her to break her vow of virginity.

Quintian initially sought the help of a courtesan named Aphrodisia to lure Agatha away from her faith, but Agatha's devotion to Christ remained unshaken. When this failed, Quintian brought her back and the Acts of her martyrdom record their conversation: “What is your condition?” asked Quintian. Agatha replied, “Not only was I born free, but of noble family.” Quintian: “And if you claim to be free and noble, why do you show yourself to live and dress like a slave?” “Because I am a servant of Christ,” Agatha answered. Quintian continued, “But if you are really free and noble, why do you want to be a slave?” Agatha: “The greatest freedom and nobility is here: to prove to be Christ's servants.” Quintian retorted, “And what about us? We who despise the servitude of Christ and venerate the gods have no freedom?” Agatha responded, “Your freedom draws you to such slavery, which not only makes you servants of sin but also subjects you to wood and stones.”

In vain, Quintian attempted to cause her to deny her faith by imprisoning her. This brave young woman refused, prompting Quintian to resort to a heinous act of torture: he ordered that her breasts be torn from her chest. That night, while in her cell, tradition states that Saint Peter appeared to her and healed her wounds. Once more, Agatha testified to her faith in Christ before the court, further enraging Quintian. He subjected her to more torture, having her raked across hot coals with only her red veil for protection. The Acts of her martyrdom recount this inspiring moment: “As the order was executed, immediately the place where the holy body was turned was shaken ... even the whole city of Catania was shocked by the vexation of the earthquake. So they all ran to the judge’s court and began to tumble greatly, because he was tormenting the holy servant of God, and all of them were in grave danger.” Agatha, with her veil intact, was taken from the brazier and, “[I]n jail again, extended her arms to the Lord, and said, ‘You Lord, who have created and guarded me from my childhood, and made me to act with manly strength, have taken from me the love of the passing world, who kept my body from contamination, who made me overcome the torments of the executioner, the iron, the fire, and the chains, who gave me in torment the virtue of patience! Please accept my spirit now, for it is already time that I should leave this world by your command and reach your mercy.’ Having spoken these words in the presence of many, she was silent, and gave up her spirit.”

The Acts of her martyrdom go on to describe the eruption of Mount Etna a year later. As the city of Catania was threatened by lava, many sought Agatha's intercession. They took her veil and placed it before the lava, which miraculously stopped. From that point on, veneration of St. Agatha began in earnest. To this day, her invocation is maintained in the Roman Canon.

Through our entrustment to the patronage of St. Agatha, we hope that the students at the College of Charleston will be inspired by her dedication to faith in the Lord and her commitment to chastity, and guarded by the protection of her prayers.

Note: This article is a paraphrase of the original content found at Vatican News with some modifications and additions to fit the context of our ministry.