Saint Agatha Patron Saint of Those Suffering with Breast Cancer

Saint Agatha

February 5

Patron Saint of Those
with Breast Cancer and Breast Disease

Although we have little evidence of the legendary life of Saint Agatha she is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs. The only actual facts we have is that she was born in Sicily and died a martyr.

Tradition and legend tell us that she was born of a noble family in Sicily in the third century and took vows of virginity at a young age. When she was pursued by a pagan consul named Quintianus, she rejected him. Quintianus had Saint Agatha arrested for being a Christian. He sent her to live in a brothel to try and corrupt her, but her faith did not waiver. She was sent back to Quintainus for torture where he ordered her to be stretched on a rack and have her breasts cut off. Quintainus refused her medical care but God gave her all the care she needed in the form of a vision of St. Peter. When she was tortured again, she died after saying a final prayer: “Lord, my Creator, you have always 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.”

Patience to Suffer

Fr. James Kubicki, S.J.

Apostleship of Prayer

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Sources
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01203c.htm
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=14
http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-agatha-of-sicily/
Art
Saint Agatha Francisco de Zubaran
St Peter appears to St Agatha Simon Vouet