聖佳德(亞加大)貞女 紀念 (週四) (2009年2月5日) St. Agatha

神父講道 - 聖佳德(亞加大)貞女 紀念 (週四) (2009年2月5日)
聖佳德(亞加大)貞女 (紀念)
恭讀聖馬爾谷福音 6:7-13那時候，耶穌叫來十二門徒，開始派遣他們兩個兩個地出去，賜給他們制伏邪魔的權柄，囑咐他們在路上除了一根棍杖外，什麼也不要帶：不要帶食物，不要帶口袋，也不要在腰帶裏帶銅錢；卻要穿鞋，不要穿兩件內衣。又對他們說：「你們無論在那裏，進了一家，就住在那裏，直到從那裏離去；無論何處不接待你們，或不聽從你們，你們就從那裏出去。拂去你們腳下的塵土，作為反對他們的證據。他們就出去宣講，使人悔改，並驅逐了許多魔鬼，且給許多病人傅油，治好了他們。
—這是基督的福音。
(St. Agatha)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 6:7-13
7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
—The Gospel of the Lord.
聖亞加大(St. Agatha)（殉道）（紀念）二月五日
聖女大約在羅馬德西烏斯皇教難時，在西西里島加大尼亞殉道；其敬禮於第六世紀就列入羅馬禮中。
St. Agatha February 5
(d. 251?)
As in the case of Agnes, another virgin-martyr of the early Church, almost nothing is historically certain about this saint except that she was martyred in Sicily during the persecution of Emperor Decius in 251.
Legend has it that Agatha, like Agnes, was arrested as a Christian, tortured and sent to a house of prostitution to be mistreated. She was preserved from being violated, and was later put to death.
She is claimed as the patroness of both Palermo and Catania. The year after her death, the stilling of an eruption of Mt. Etna was attributed to her intercession. As a result, apparently, people continued to ask her prayers for protection against fire. Comment:
The scientific modern mind winces at the thought of a volcano’s might being contained by God because of the prayers of a Sicilian girl. Still less welcome, probably, is the notion of that saint being the patroness of such varied professions as those of foundry workers, nurses, miners and Alpine guides. Yet, in our historical precision, have we lost an essential human quality of wonder and poetry, and even our belief that we come to God by helping each other, both in action and prayer?Quote:
When Agatha was arrested, the legend says, she prayed: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am—you alone. I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil.” And in prison: “Lord, my creator, you have protected me since I was in the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Now receive my spirit.”