St. Agatha ...... Today's Saint ... be well ;)

Prayer for the intercession of Saint Agatha   O Heavenly Father, Who raised Agatha to the dignity of Sainthood, we implore Your Divine Majesty by her intercession to give us health of mind, body and soul. Free us from all those things which hold us bound to this earth, and let our spirit, like hers, rise to your heavenly courts. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You, forever. Amen.   Fast, concise facts and information about Saint Agatha The following provides fast and concise facts and information: The patron of nurses, sufferers from diseases of the breast and she is also protector against fire Memorial Day / Feast Day: February 5th Date of Death: Saint Agatha died in 251 Cause of Death: Torture and being rolled on hot coals Who or what is Saint Agatha the patron saint of? Saint Agatha is the patron of Sufferers from diseases of the breast and she is also protector against fire. Meanings, definition and origins - a patron is considered to be a defender of a specific group of people or of a nation. There is a patron for virtually every cause, profession or special interest. Prayers are considered more likely to be answered by asking a patron for intercession on their behalf.   Death of Saint Agatha There are two categories of saints: martyrs and confessors. A Christian martyr is regarded as one who is put to death for his Christian faith or convictions. Confessors are people who died natural deaths. Date of Death: Saint Agatha died in 251. Cause of Death: Torture and being rolled on hot coals.    Why is Saint Agatha the patron of Sufferers from diseases of the breast and she is also protector against fire?Why is Saint Agatha is the patron of Sufferers from diseases of the breast and protector against fire? St. Agatha is invoked by sufferers from diseases of the breast, because her breast was ordered to  be torn by two slaves with iron shears. She is protector, also, against fire, from the particular mode of her martyrdom, her body being exposed to the flames, although, to increase the torture, she was not permitted to be burned to death, but taken back to her dungeon to die in agony. A year after her martyrdom, when Mount Etna was in eruption, the terrified inhabitants of Catania, in the district, took refuge at her shrine, and finding there her veil, they stuck it on a lance and marched towards  the mountain, invoking her intercession, with a result that the fire was at once put out.   How Saint Agatha is represented in Christian Art It is helpful to be able to recognise Saint Agatha in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated  manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Agatha is represented in Christian Art wearing a long veil. The veil of St. Agatha was drawn tightly round her lacerated bosom when, by God's command, St. Peter came into her dungeon to  heal it with precious ointments. Hence she is usually represented wearing a long veil. The shears a re always in evidence, either in her hand or lying beside her. Sometimes she has a dish or salver containing a female breast. Feast Day of Saint Agatha The Feast Day of Saint Agatha is February 5th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially  designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as  the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.   Amen. Anon!!!!!