Saint Agatha

<p>Agatha is known mainly through legend. She died during the time of the Decian persecution (249-251). It is alleged that she was sent to a brothel to force her to give up her faith. After she was tortured, the Apostle Peter is supposed to have appeared and cured her. The following day she died in prison of new cruelties.</p>
Her intervention was credited with stilling the eruption of Mount Etna the year after her burial. In the Middle Ages, especially in south Germany, bread, candles, fruit and letters were blessed in her name to ward off destruction by fire. She is considered the patroness of miners, alpine guides and nurses. She is mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer I.©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.