Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Agatha, virgin & martyr!

St. Agatha is one of the most celebrated Saints of the early Church b/c Holy Mother Church never wanted us to take for granted that we are Catholic.  It is also important that we always remember what our brothers and sisters went through to live out their Catholic Faith.

It is estimated that in the 1st  19 Centuries there were between 14-25 million martyrs.  In the 20th Century there were 26-46 million martyrs almost twice as many as all of the other Centuries combined. Can you guess which countries have the most martyrs and why? 

Here are 5 things you should know about this beautiful Saint:

1.)  Her name in Greek means "Good"

2.)  St. Agatha is a virgin and martyr

3.)  She live in the 3rd Century (martyred in 251 AD)

4.)  St. Agatha is the patron Saint of... purity, breast cancer, nurses, sterility and she is invoked against natural disasters, earth quakes and fires... 

5.) The following prayer is attributed to her while she was being tortured in prison:  "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."

Never take for granted your Faith, nor compromise what you believe... Ask St. Agatha ~ it matters.

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Fr. A. Dudzinski