Her story
Only her martyrdom at Catania and the very early honour paid to her are certain, and the story of her sufferings was written down later.
Her Acts say she was a young Christian of a rich family who refused the advances of Quintianus, the governor at Catania in Sicily. He handed her over to a woman to corrupt her and, when she held firm, had her tortured and her breasts cut off. The Apostle Peter appeared to her in prison and healed her wounds, and she died there, praying, in the persecution of the emperor Decius.
“St. Agatha”, Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907; Martyr Agatha of Palermo in Sicily, Orthodox Church in America
Her feast day
5 February: Her feast in the Catholic Church and in the Orthodox churches on the new calendar. Those on the old calendar keep it on 18 February.
The Roman Martyrology, 1916, 5 February; Martyr Agatha, 5 February, Orthodox Church in America
Why people ask St Agatha
Cancer
Women with breast cancer ask her prayers, because her breasts were cut off when she was martyred.
“Fighting breast cancer? Here is a patron saint for you”, Aleteia, 2017
Where it comes from
Who wrote it
No one knows who wrote this modern prayer.
“O Saint Agatha”, Columban Daily Prayer, Missionary Society of St Columban, 5 February 2024
