Agatha of Sicily was chosen as the patron saint of the Szent Ágota Child Protection Service by our diocese. Agatha is one of the most famous saints of Christian antiquity and she is one of the helper saints. Her history of suffering carries a serious and valuable message for all people today. One of the most important teachings of her life is to cling to perseverance, which is based on living faith in God.
Agatha of Sicily was born in Catania, Sicily, and her life was full of many ordeals. The young girl, longing for the love of Christ, became the target of Ointian's machinations too soon. Using the anti-Christian decree of Emperor Decius for his own purposes, Ointianus arrested her and tortured her inhumanly for the sake of his own vile interests. She was not only mutilated and regularly tortured, but she was also imprisoned and beaten to death. She was able to strengthen again and again in her torture and suffering. Miracles accompanied her life.
The fame and reverence of Agatha of Sicily spread quickly throughout the Church outside of Sicily. She is commemorated at the Roman Misecanon, the Carthage Calendar, and in all the martyrs’ lists. In Rome, Pope Symmachus dedicated an old church to her on Via Aurelia, and St. Gregory the Great dedicated the former church of Arianus in her honor. In addition to the lifting and distribution of her relics, her festive offiquence has also served to spread her respect since the 10th century. She is called for protection against fire and earthquakes. In the Middle Ages, she was found among the 14 helping saints. A rich world of customs and traditions was attached to her name. According to the 6th century Jeromos martirologium, Agatha’s burial was on 5th February. Her festive has been celebrated since the 6th century. The words of prayer express well the virtues of Saint Agatha to be followed:
‘Our God, who has given the victory of martyrdom to the weaker sex with your almighty power, please allow us that those who sit on the heavenly birthday of the virgin and martyr St. Agathe may come to You by Her example.’
The perseverance and struggle of St. Agatha is an example for all the staff and support volunteers of Szent Ágota Child Protection Service to follow. It can also serve as a lesson to all of us how important it is to embrace and support our fellow human beings in need, just as St. Agatha protected the inhabitants of her hometown, Catania, from danger.
The many virtues of St. Agatha urge us to persevere in our struggles and to do all we can to enable children and young people who have lost their families to experience that they are acceptable, lovable members of our society. If they accept the care of the good God, they can come home to this society.
It is important to be able to heal the youth of Szent Ágota Child Protection Service first and foremost, then by healing and educating them, we can live our daily lives with these young adults who can continue to inherit St. Augustine's perseverance, and many other of her virtues.
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