February 5 2025 - St. Agatha, virgin martyr - God chooses the weak to shame the strong

 

For the feast of the virgin martyr, St. Agatha we read from st. paul’s letter to the Corinthians in which St. Paul explains that God’s ways often defy human logic and expectation. God choses the foolish, weak, lowly, and despised of the world, to shame the worldly wise, strong, and powerful.

The virgin martyrs like Agatha, Agnes, Anastasia, Cecilia, Barbara, Ursula, Philomena, Kateri Tekakwitha, Maria Goretti, were not rich and power women in the eyes of the world. They were considered foolish, weak, lowly, and even despised. But God chose them, to witness and teach the world what is truly important.

Saint Agatha was a beautiful Sicilian woman who had consecrated herself to Christ—to be His bride—to spend her life in his prayerful service and consecrated virginity.

When she refused the romantic advances of a pagan man, he turned her into the authorities. Since she would not offer the pagan sacrifice, she was imprisoned, tortured, and eventually killed.

This woman, who witnessed to her Lord with her life, is now remembered and honored 1800 years after her death. Children and churches have been named after her. Statues of her have been venerated by countless souls.

In St. Agatha, we see the profound truth that God delights in using the small, meek, and unassuming to accomplish great things. Her witness stands as a luminous reminder that our age,  or social standing do not determine our ability to serve Christ. What is required is faithfulness, courage, and a willingness to embrace God’s call, no matter the cost.

Like Agatha, who gave her entire being to the service of the Lord, we too are called to see beyond worldly measures of success or worth. When we entrust ourselves wholeheartedly to the Savior, in any place we find ourselves—at home, at work, in our parish, or within our families—God can use us to spread His love, protect the vulnerable, and witness to the transforming power of grace.

Today, inspired by St. Agatha’s radiant example, let us pray for the courage to fully entrust ourselves to the Lord—to serve him any way we can, anyway that he calls us to serve Him. Wherever you find yourself, prayerfully entrust yourself to God’s will, put yourself at His disposal even if that means suffering to bring about a greater good, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Let us bring our prayers before God our Father, who delights in raising up the lowly and humble for His purposes, as we honor the witness of Saint Agatha:

For the Church: That all Christians may remain faithful to Christ and courageous in witnessing to the Gospel in every circumstance.

For the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized: That God, who chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, may empower and protect them, granting them justice and hope through His grace.

For consecrated women and men: that they may bear witness to God’s love through their vows, inspire others to deeper faith, and be faithful signs of Christ’s presence in the world.

That St. Agatha, patron saint of breast cancer patients, may bring healing and strength to all those who suffer disease or illness.

For our departed brothers and sisters: That they may enjoy the fullness of eternal life in the company of all the saints.

Heavenly Father, You reveal Your power by choosing the weak and lowly. Hear our prayers. And through the intercession of St. Agatha, strengthen us to persevere in faith, and make our lives a reflection of Your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Friday Holy Hour - February 2021 - Courage in uncertain times comes from the Eucharist

 This morning we celebrated the feast of the virgin martyr St. Agatha of Sicily, so widely venerated by the early Church. For resisting the advances of a degenerate civil official, she was arrested, and when she refused to offer pagan sacrifice to save her life, she was tortured and martyred. 

In 2005, Pope Benedict made a pastoral visit to St. Agatha’s native Sicily and celebrated mass for the people in Palermo. He acknowledged that in Palermo, as in the whole of Sicily, problems and worries and difficulties, he said, “are not lacking” in particular unemployment which gives rise to uncertainty and worry about the future, and also the physical and moral suffering caused by organized crime. Today I am among you, the Holy Father said, “to witness to my closeness and my remembrance in prayer. I am here to give you strong encouragement not to be afraid to witness clearly to the human and Christian values that are so deeply rooted in the faith and history of this territory and of its people.”

In a way, it sounds a lot like our own country, now in 2021. Unemployment, the breakdown of the family, organized crime in the form of vast corruption in government. We come here tonight, uncertain about the future. 

The Holy Father recalled how in past centuries the Church in Sicily was enriched and enlivened by such fervent faith, seen particularly in the lives of Sicily’s saints, like St. Rosalia, St. Lucy, and of course, St. Agatha. And how has inspired and guided family life, fostering values such as the capacity of giving of themselves, and the respect for life that constitutes a precious heritage to be jealously guarded. 

Again this makes us think of our own country, how the Christian faith so shaped and guided the early history of this country and family life. And now, religion is banished from public life, banished from schools, faith is replaced with materialism in many families, Catholic tradition is not kept or upheld or passed on. 

And I think that reading from mass this morning from the letter to the Hebrews is just so pertinent. Let brotherly love continue. Let marriage be honored among all. Let your life be free from love of money. Remember with confidence that the Lord is your helper. And where does true brotherly love come from, but the Eucharist. Where does honor for God's holy institutions like marriage come from, but from the Eucharist. Where does freedom from the love of money and all that keeps us from holiness, but from the Eucharist.

Do not do not fear, Pope Benedict said to the lay faithful of Palermo,  to live and to witness to the faith in the various contexts of society, in the many situations of human existence, especially in those that are difficult! May faith give you the power of God in order to be ever confident and courageous, to go ahead with new determination, to take the necessary initiatives to give an ever more beautiful face to your land. And when you come up against the opposition of the world, may you hear the Apostle’s words: “Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord” (v. 8).

In difficult and confusing times, it is always best to return here, to the Blessed Sacrament, to receive the courage and guidance and inspiration we need to live with the courage we need to testify to the truth, and to remain faithful when faced, like St. Agatha, and the martyrs, with the opposition of the world. May our time with the Lord tonight bear fruit in this life and the life to come, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

February 05 2021 - St. Agatha - Chastity and Martyrdom

 Saint Agatha is one of the great virgin martyrs honored by the early Roman church. She was martyred in the brief but ferocious persecution of the emperor Decius, whose own reign lasted only two years, 249 to 251. Prior to Decius, much of the persecution, was local and sporadic throughout the empire, even with periods of general tolerance toward Christians. 

But, in 250 AD, Decius issued an imperial decree requiring all citizens of the empire to offer a sacrifice to the Roman Gods, renounce the Christian faith in front of a Roman official and obtain a certificate called a libellus proving they had done so. Many Christians publicly rejected their faith by offering the sacrifice; some bribed the public official to obtain the libellus.  

Saint Agatha was a beautiful Sicilian woman who had consecrated herself to Christ—to be His bride—to spend her life in his prayerful service and consecrated virginity.

When she refused the romantic advances of a pagan man, he turned her into the authorities. Since she would not offer the pagan sacrifice, she was imprisoned, tortured, and eventually killed. The popular legend states that her gruesome torture involved the cutting off of her breasts. St. Peter is said to have appeared to her and healed her wounds. She was then put over hot coals and roasted, but an earthquake saved her from the fire. 

For these reasons she is both patron saint of breast diseases and also invoked as a protector from fire, like volcanic eruptions in her native Sicily.

In the Gospel about the beheading of John the Baptist, we see the world’s hatred of the saints is nothing new. For speaking out against the corruption and sexual sins of the royal court of his day, John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. 

Throughout the ages, the Church has been hated for teaching God’s vision for marriage and sexuality and chastity. St. John the Baptist, St. Agnes, St. Anastasia, St. Lucy, St. Charles Lwanga, St. Maria Goretti in our own modern day, were killed for this reason. 

Christians today are surrounded by innumerable pressures to forsake the faith, to make compromises with the world, to embrace errors repugnant to the teachings of Christ. And in this increasingly perverse and degenerate age, it is likely the Church will be increasingly opposed and more ferociously mocked and attacked for teaching the Truth, even from within the ranks of the church, even perhaps by members of the hierarchy. But woe to the faithful if we flee from this task. For the Truth of the Gospel does not change, especially due to the whins of the world. For Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So we do well to increase our devotion to the great martyrs, that we may have the courage to witness clearly and teach clearly and embrace the inevitable sufferings that follow, that the power of Christ and the love of God may shine in our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of February: for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded. Let us pray to the Lord.

Through the intercession of St. Agatha and the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase of reverence for the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

Feb 05 2019 - St. Agatha - The Powerful Faith of the Virgin Martyrs

After offering a series of parables about the Kingdom of God, St. Mark gives us series of stories of Jesus manifesting the power of God. We hear of Jesus calming the storm—showing his Divine authority over the destructive powers of nature, we heard yesterday of Jesus’ exorcism of Gerasene demoniac—showing his Divine authority over the powers of evil which seek the destruction and corruption of human nature. Today we hear two stories: the curing of the woman stricken with a hemorrhage for 12 years, and then the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Here Jesus shows his Divine authority over terrible human disease which the most learned of doctors and experts could find a cure. And he shows his Divine authority over the most terrible of human afflictions—death itself.

By stringing these stories together, St. Mark helps us to place our faith in Jesus as Lord and Son of God, who is victorious over the powers of sins and death through his own cross and resurrection.
It is this faith that gives the martyrs, like St. Agatha who we honor today, such courage and conviction in their own trials. St. Agatha is one of the great virgin martyrs of the early Roman church, who in the midst of persecution, chose to be faithful to Christ no matter what the cost. 

Saint Agatha was born in Sicily to rich and noble parents. Out of love for Christ, she consecrated herself to the Lord and His service. When a government edict called for the suppression of Christianity, St Agatha was arrested for resisting the advances of a degenerate civil official. To punish her for wishing to protect her chastity, she was sent to a brothel, a house of prostitution. When she persevered in protecting her chastity, her breasts were cut off, and she was sent to her martyrdom.

The world needs witnesses to holiness like St. Agatha. And the power and love of God shines so brightly in the witness of the virgin martyrs—that corruption, and perversion, and violence, and death do not get the last word.

Christians today are surrounded by innumerable pressures to forsake the faith, to make compromises with the world, which are repugnant to the teachings of Christ. We do well to invoke Agatha and the virgin martyrs on behalf of our young people, that they will value Christian chastity above the perversions of our culture, and all of us do well to invoke Agatha, that we may be willing to suffer in order to allow the power of Christ and love of God shine in our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of St. Agatha and all the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase in chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.
That all of our young people may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

February 5 2018 - St. Agatha, virgin-martyr - Reverencing the Temple (of the Body)

The Ark of the Covenant being brought into the newly constructed Temple was a momentous occasion for Israel. It marked that God was now being rightly worshipped by Israel, and that would bring tremendous favor upon his chosen people. And so the ark was processed in quite the majestic and solemn way. Countless sheep and oxen were sacrificed, trumpets were blown, the king marched along with the priests and his people. And it seemed God was quite pleased, for the cloud of God’s glory filled the Temple.

If you’ve ever attended the Easter Vigil, you might experience some similarities. We of course do not sacrifice sheep and oxen, for Christ has provided the worthy sacrifice of himself. But, there are processions, and clouds of incense, and trumpets on Easter, to celebrate the presence of the Risen Christ with His Church.

At the Great Vigil we also celebrate new Christians becoming Temples of God through the Sacrament of Baptism. And, all of us who are baptized are taught to reverence our bodies as Temples of the Spirit.

The dedication of Solomon's Temple was one of the great events in history. However, Jesus is greater than Solomon. And we who are baptized are greater than Solomon’s Temple.

So we need to have great reverence for our bodies, adorning them with virtue, using them to glorify God in all things. St. Paul urges the Romans, “brothers and sisters…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…Do not conform yourself to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

When we understand the reverence we are to have for ourselves, we begin to understand why people like St. Agnes, St. Anastasia, Susanna, St. Agatha, who we honor today, St. Lucy, St. Maria Goretti, they died to preserve their purity, their chastity, their consecrated virginity.

For resisting the advances of a degenerate civil official, for her faith, St. Agatha was arrested. To punish her for wishing to protect her chastity, she was sent to a brothel, a house of prostitution. When she persevered in protecting her chastity, her breasts were cut off, and she was sent to her martyrdom.

We do well to invoke St. Agatha and the virgin martyrs to help our culture reclaim the value of chastity and modesty and purity. May we all resist, especially our young people, conforming ourselves to this increasingly perverse and degenerate age, and come to reverence our bodies once again as Temples of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, that those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption. We pray to the Lord.

Through the intercession of St. Agatha and the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase of reverence for the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord