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St AgathaSt AgathaIn a nutshellSt Agatha was a third century Christian. She was put to death because she was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. The Church esteems her: As a virgin. She made a radical choice for Christ and was faithful to her vocation to the end. As a martyr. She was willing to die rather than renounce her faith. Her feast day is on the 5th February. Outstanding virtues: Fidelity to the body of Christ. Courage under pressure. Why we have saintsThe Church canonises saints, not because they were perfect people but because they displayed specific virtues which the Church needs modelled so as to live its mission more fully.The saints are our big brothers and sisters in faith. We believe they are alive in Christ and continue to inspire, challenge and urge us on in faith. They draw us to the promise of eternal life. They raise our sights and give us hope. Everything is possible to God! The saints remind us of this and stop us settling for religious mediocrity.Give some thought to the special saints God has placed in your life. The patron saint of our parish is one of them.If we at St Agatha's Parish pray for Agatha's courage and single-minded commitment to Christ, we will indeed be an awesome community of faith. Agatha's storyHistorically we know little about St Agatha. We do know that she was martyred in Sicily during the persecution of the Roman emperor Decius around 251. According to legend handed down through the Christian community, Agatha was a beautiful young woman from a distinguished family who, instead of marrying, chose to remain a virgin as a sign of her complete devotion to Jesus Christ. Such a lifestyle choice was clearly at odds with the culture of her times and made her a clear target in the state's persecution of Christians. Taunted by the cruel Senator Quintianus who tried to break her spirit and commitment, Agatha showed unswerving firmness in faith. At the hands of Quintianus she was then arrested, tortured, sent to a house of prostitution to be abused and later put to death. Agatha speaks todayAgatha's story is no sweetsy-pie tale. It is a story of tragedy and brutality. Yet it is also deeply inspiring. It speaks of radical Christian fidelity, feminine strength, youthful courage. St Agatha reminds us of the courage of so many of our young (and not so young) people today. In a society where virginity is scoffed at and sex before marriage is taken for granted, there are still many who stand firm in their Christian beliefs, even when they suffer ridicule or lack of support from their peers. Agatha encourages us all to have confidence in the truth. If we try to hide our Christian faith so as to be accepted by others, what kind of witness is that? Stand up and declare yourself a Christian! This is what this young woman has said with her life. What will be our response today? Find a friend in St AgathaSt Agatha could be a saint to turn to: * in praying for courage * in standing up for what we believe * in resisting pressure to conform to the status quo * in our commitment to our vocation * in growing in feminine strength * in healing victims of sexual abuse * in praying for persecuted Christians ... and many other situations. Pray with St AgathaIt is said that, upon her arrest, Agatha prayed: 'Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. Make me worthy to overcome the devil.' And in prison: 'Lord, my creator, you have protected me since I was in the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Now receive my spirit.' Take up a phrase from Agatha's prayer and allow it to resonate in your mind and heart as you go about your day today. Three steps to celebrating St Agatha's feast dayLet us find simple ways to teach our children about their rich Christian ancestry. May they grow up with a powerful role model in St Agatha! 1. In February hold a family meal to honour St Agatha (Feast Day: 5 Feb). During the meal have one person read or tell in their own words the story of St Agatha. Share some thoughts, reactions, questions about this young martyr. (Table topic: would you be prepared to die for your faith?) 2. Make an 'Agatha' cake for desert. Write St Agatha's name on the cake with icing and add some candles. The youngest of the 'young women' in the family gets the honour of blowing them out! 3. At the end of your meal pray together: 'Loving God, we come before you as a family and with our sister, Saint Agatha. Thank you for her courage and inspiration. Help us to lead strong and courageous Christian lives. Hear our prayers now...' Include prayers for Christians in various parts of the world who are being persecuted for their faith. Pray for families who mourn their relatives who have been killed through such persecution. Pray for your own needs as a family. Pray for our parish here at St Agatha's. A note from our parish priestWe are the faith community of St Agatha's Pennant Hills, and I believe that God has given us our patron saint for a reason. We are not just 'any' parish, we are St Agatha's Parish. So can I ask you to please pray to God, with St Agatha, that God will reveal to us our unique charism and our specific calling. In the spirit of St Agatha what particular witness is God asking of our parish in the Church and in the world today? This is a vital question for our continued growth. Your reflections and insights can help us. Jot them down and place in the suggestion box or pass them on to a member of the parish team. Thanks!
Published by St Agatha's Parish, Pennant Hills (NSW) with the assistance of The Story Source. |