Her documented legend speaks of the brutal interrogations and torture she endured at his hand. When she refused she was imprisoned in a brothel, then a prison, stretched on the rack, burned with red hot irons and had her breasts cut off. She had a apparition of St. Peter as a physician and was miraculously healed of her wounds. Four days later upon further interrogation and to the surprise of her torturers, she was condemned to death by rolling her naked body in broken glass and hot coals. At the very moment of her final torture a great earthquake struck the region. Immediately before her death Saint Agatha was heard praying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, good Master, I give You thanks that You granted me victory over the executioners' tortures. Grant now that I may happily dwell in Your never-ending glory".
For more reading, go here and here.
Saint Agatha is the patron saint of breast cancer and victims of sexual assault.
Prayer to 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.
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.
So does God really answer this prayer? if so which God is that? because when I read the bible Jesus said we should ask the father in His name and His name only:
ReplyDeleteIn John 14:6 ... “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..."
in vs. 14 He said "If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it"
John 16:23 ...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name
PS: I am sure you maybe inclined to delete my comment but I hope you look closely at those scriptures
Have you ever asked a friend or family member to pray for you or someone else? Asking a saint to intercede is the same thing. The one difference is that the saint is already in Heaven, closer to God than we are. The prayers of the saints are very strong.
DeleteWe are not asking for the saints to answer our prayers, we asking for them to pray to the Lord our God for/with us.
that is awesome......just what every Catholic needs to know.....so they can respond correctly to that question that is asked so often.....
DeleteThanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that Jesus is The Mediator between us and His Father--He said so. But when you ask a friend to pray for you or for your intention, isn't that asking that friend to mediate and intercede to God on your behalf? How is it any different to ask the same of those holy men and women who have gone before us--surely we as Christians believe in life after death! Are they not friends and brother and sisters in Christ's body? I'd say so.
Check out James 5:16 "pray for one another"; and LK 6:28 "pray for those who spitefully use you"; and Rom 8:26 "but the Spirit [not Jesus] itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings"; and Rev 8:4 "And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand"; not to mention 1 Timothy.
Our prayer to God does not change His mind or alter His divine plan, but serves to orient ourselves to Him. Intercessory prayer awakens in us what God already deigned to give us.
Peace
Bravo JJD!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully stated, JJD. So often it is misunderstood that we are not worshiping those holy men and women who have gone before us. Rather, we are asking those brothers and sisters in Christ to intecede on our behalf to Him who knows all things! Your response to Pascah was thoughtful, respectful and lovingly presented. God answers EVERY prayer...often it is we who fail to listen. God bless! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to share this on our FB page, but instead of posting part of your information near the icon picture, the question from Pascah above is listed. Although I hope people read his question and your answer, it would be much less confusing if a portion of Agatha's story appeared instead. Is there anything that can be fixed about that? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteTry now...I reposted. My Lenten resolution is to get back to the blog. God bless and thanks.
Delete