St. Agatha was born in Sicily in 231. She showed her dedication to God through abstinence and spent her time teaching Christianity to children. At age 15, Agatha rejected many advances from men. Quintianus, judge of the Roman court, expected her to yield to his advances. When she did not, he sent her to a brothel where she suffered humiliation and assault refusing clients. An unyielding St. Agatha continued to proclaim her faith. Quintianus finally sent her to prison. She suffered torture, her breasts cut from her body.
St. Peter the Apostle appeared and healed her wounds. Quintianus asked her who healed her and she still proclaimed Jesus. After further torture, she eventually died in prison in 251. Symbols often show St. Agatha carrying her breasts on a platter. She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients and nurses. She is also celebrated in the Canon of the Mass.
