Dear Friend,

Today is the feast day of St. Agatha, an early Faith Defender, one of the most venerated virgin martyrs of the early Church. She is one of seven women, who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in one of the Eucharistic Prayers of the Holy Mass.

Growing up in Sicily, with a wealthy family, Agatha’s beauty caught the eye of a Roman governor who asked her to marry him. Since Agatha lived a life dedicated to God, she refused. He tried to break her vow of purity by forcing her to live in a brothel for a month. She survived by placing all her trust in God. After that ordeal, she was beaten. Her breasts were crushed then cut off. In some of the images of St. Agatha, she is holding an instrument that resembles what was used to violently remove her breasts. 

St. Agatha is the patron saint of: breast cancer, breast disease, fire, fire prevention, jewelers, natural disasters, nurses, rape victims, single laywomen, sterility, torture victims, volcanic eruptions and wet nurses.

There are seven churches in the US and Canada that are named after the saint. One in particular, St. Agatha’s in Saint Louis was assigned to the Polish Catholics in 2005 by our Shepherd, Cardinal Burke, during his time as the Archbishop. Every year, this parish celebrates the days before the feast day with prayers. Then, on the feast day, there is veneration and a blessing with the relic of St. Agatha, followed by the blessing of St. Agatha bread. Many parishes with a Polish, Ukrainian or Lithuanian history also follow the custom of blessing bread on Feb. 5 in honor of St. Agatha. Some Catholics prepare cupcakes and place a cherry on top of each one. 

The custom of blessing St. Agatha bread started when the saint was often depicted in images carrying her breasts on a plate. It is thought that blessing of the bread that takes place on her feast may have come from the mistaken notion that she was carrying loaves of bread.  Thus, due to this belief, the tradition of blessing bread on the feast day is still continuing. Here are photos of Father Stan Poszwa, S.Ch. blessing St. Agatha bread, veneration of the relic and other photos at St. Agatha Church in Saint Louis, Missouri.

St. Agatha’s feast day celebrated in 2021, at St. Agatha Church in Los Angeles, CA

Let us invoke the help of this powerful saint!

Lord God, you showered heavenly gifts on Saint Agatha. Hear the prayers of those who recall her devoted life and who ask her to intercede for them in their necessity.

(Reflect for a few moments on your needs, as well as the needs of Cardinal Burke.)

Help us to imitate her virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with her in heaven. Amen. 

St. Agatha, pray for us!

Embracing the love of Christ,

Thomas J. McKenna 
Founder and President

Catholic Action For Faith And Family
https://www.catholicaction.org/

P.S. Have you submitted your intentions for 3 Holy Masses invoking Our Lady of Lourdes, including the feast day Holy Mass on Feb. 11? Click here.

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