St. Agatha Novena 2024: 9 Days of Powerful Prayers!

St. Agatha Novena is prayed for protection against breast cancer, abuse and also invoked against fire, earthquakes, and eruptions.

St. Agatha was known as a powerful intercessor and one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of the Catholic Church. Agatha is also the patroness of Catania, Molise, Malta, San Marino, Gallipoli in Apulia,Zamarramala, in Spain. She is the patron saint of rape victims, breast cancer patients, bakers, wet nurses, and bellfounders martyrs.

Agatha is derived from the Greek origins “AG-a-thah” meaning good and honorable. St. Agatha known as Agatha of Sicily was born around 231 in Catania or Palermo, Sicily.

She was brought up by a rich and noble family. From her very early years, Agatha dedicated her life to God and chose to become consecrated virgin, meaning where young women choose to remain unmarried, celibate, and give themselves to Jesus and the Church, to a life of prayer and service.

Quintianus, was a man of high diplomatic ranking in this period and desired Agatha and forced her to turn away from her vow to God and wanted her hand in marriage.

Upon her continuous refusals, she was tortured to possible death and later imprisoned in a brothel. Agatha suffered assaults and pain but never abandoned her vow to God and was later sent off to prison instead of the brothel which became a great relief to her.

Agatha continued to pray and proclaim her promise to Jesus the Lord of Life and Hope. In prison, she was tortured with iron hooks, burned with torches, and whipped. Agatha endured all the torture with a sense of cheer and later Quintianus ordered that her breasts be cut off and made her suffer from no food or medical attention.

During this devastating period, she gained strength through the Lord who was her eternal protector and healer. Upon seeing her miraculous healing, Quintianus stripped her naked and rolled her naked over the hot coals which were mixed with sharp shards.

Upon all these sufferings she had never given into Quintianus and stayed faithful to God. St. Agatha passed away around 251. She is portrayed in religious art with shears, tongs, or breasts on a plate.

Facts

Novena Starts: January 27th
Feast Day: February 5th
Birth: 231 A.D.
Death: 251 A.D.

Significance of St. Agatha Novena

Saint Agatha’s feast is celebrated on 5, February. She was canonized by Pope Gregory I and is venerated by the Catholic Churches, Eastern Churches, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Anglican Communion.

She is the patron saint of all of Sicily and is prayed from the eruption of Mount Etna which was believed to have erupted during her final torture.

Read more: St. Thomas Aquinas Novena

St. Agatha Novena

Day 1

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

O Saint Agatha, who withstood the unwelcome advances from unwanted suitors, and suffered pain and torture for your devotion to our Lord, we celebrate your faith, dignity, and martyrdom.

Protect us against rape and other violations, guard us against breast cancer and other afflictions of the body, and inspire us to overcome adversity.

O Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr, mercifully grant that we who venerate your sacrifice may receive your intercession.

<<mention your special request>>

Recite once
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be