5 February 2019
Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr
“We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1). One of those is St. Agatha, whose feast is celebrated by the Church today. She was a virgin martyr who perished in the third century. Her cult of veneration spread early and widely. Ancient churches were erected in her honor, and ancient writers praised her. Does she enjoy the same veneration today?
Too many people today will balk at the example of a young woman choosing virginity for the sake of Christ. “What does she really stand to gain from it?” some will ask. They will speculate that there must have been something wrong with Agatha, as if she lacked the natural drive for marriage and the raising of children. They will imagine that Agatha fell under the influence of some ideology, foreign to the gospel, which regarded marriage and children as somehow regrettable.
How are we to respond to such people? If only our great Saint could speak for herself and give us her own account! No doubt, such skepticism would be easily uprooted. As it is, we have no written record from her. Can I, an adult male, say anything on behalf of this female teenager who lived 18 centuries ago on the opposite side of the world? With trepidation, I will venture to say only this: that as a celibate myself, I feel kinship with and inspiration from Saint Agatha as I strive to open wide my every desire before the living God in the hope that He will be both merciful to me and generous.
Sancta Agatha, ora pro nobis!