Martyred in AD 251 Agatha was a Virgin from a noble Sicilian family and lived in Catania. She was tortured to death in part because she refused to abandon her asceticism and marry the local governor. Legend says that when she was buried an angel placed a stone inscribed with the words: “A righteous mind, self-determining, honour from God, the deliverance of her father-land” over the grave. The following year Mt. Etna erupted Catania was spared the devastation of the surrounding region. The belief is that it was through Agatha’s intervention that Catania was spared. She is now the protectress of Sicily.
My question is – surely there were saints and martyrs buried in the other areas around Catania – so . . . um . . .what were they doing at the time? . . . Step away. I hear the flapping of wings!
Today is also Meatfare the run up to the Great Fast.
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