Profile We have little reliable information about this martyr, who has been honored since ancient times, and whose name is included in the canon of the Mass. Young, beautiful and rich, Agatha lived a life consecrated to God. When Decius announced the edicts against Christians, the magistrate Quinctianus tried to profit by Agatha's sanctity; he planned to blackmail her into sex in exchange for not charging her. Handed over to a brothel, she refused to accept customers. After rejecting Quinctianus' advances, she was beaten, imprisoned, tortured, her breasts were crushed and cut off. She told the judge, "Cruel man, have you forgotten your mother and the breast that nourished you, that you dare to mutilate me this way?" One version has it that Saint Peter healed her. Imprisoned further, then rolled on live coals, she was near death when an earthquake stuck. In the destruction, the magistrate's friend was crushed, and the magistrate fled. Agatha thanked God for an end to her pain, and died. Legend says that carrying her veil, taken from her tomb in Catania, in procession has averted eruptions of Mount Etna. Her intercession is reported to have saved Malta from Turkish invasion in 1551. Born in prison at Catania or Palermo, Sicily (sources vary) Died martyred c.250 at Catania, Sicily by being rolled on coals Name Meaning good

Patronage :against eruptions of Mount Etna ,against fire, against natural disasters, against volcanic eruptions, Sicily, Italy bell-founders, breast cancer ,breast disease, Catania, Sicily, Italy ,earthquakes, fire prevention, jewelers ,martyrs ,nurses Palermo, Sicily, Italy ,rape victims ,single laywomen, sterility ,torture victims, wet-nurses,

Representation breasts on a dish ,embers, knife, loaves of bread on a dish ,pincers ,shears ,tongs, veil ,virgin martyr wearing a veil and bearing her severed breasts on a silver platter,

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