Born into a Christian family, Agatha decided at a young age to consecrate herself to God, took a vow of virginity and received from the Bishop of Catania the red veilsymbol of the consecrated virgins. This represented her commitment to live a life of purity and service to God. The story of St. Agatha takes place between Catania and Palermo, which dispute her birthplace.
Coinciding with the persecution of Decius against the Christians, the proconsul Quincianus took notice of her beauty. When rejected, she was tortured with the tearing of her breasts and mutilated. Her prayers were heard and according to tradition, she was comforted with the apparition of St. PeterWhen Quinciano ordered that Agueda, wrapped only in the red veil of the bride of Christ, be burned in burning coals, an earthquake prevented it. She died in the cell.
The minutes of the martyrdom that a year later, there was a great eruption of the volcano Etna, and the lava flow was heading towards the city of Catania. Many people went to the tomb of Agatha to ask for her intercession, and her veil was placed in front of the river of lava. Miraculously, the lava stopped. Her relics are preserved in Catania, in the cathedral dedicated to her. The feast of St. Agatha is an institution in the city, and its primitive cult. It is named in Prayer I- .Roman Canon.
