根據13世紀雅各斯·德·沃拉金（Jacobus de Voragine）所著的《黃金傳說》（Golden Legend）（III.15）記載，聖女西元231年生於卡塔尼亞（Catania）的富裕貴族家庭，她為基督之故立下貞潔誓言，並拒絕了羅馬總督昆蒂安努斯（Quintianus）的示愛。昆蒂安努斯自認為可以迫使她背棄誓言嫁給他。然而，愛葛莎始終拒絕了他的求婚。當時正值德西烏斯（Decius）迫害時期，昆蒂安努斯得知愛葛莎是基督徒後，便向當局告發了她。昆蒂安努斯本人當時正是該地區的總督。昆提安努斯（Quintianus）以為聖雅加大（Agatha）在面對酷刑和可能的死亡時會屈服於他的要求，但愛葛莎只是通過祈禱重申了她對天主的信仰：“耶穌基督，萬有之主，你洞悉我的心，你知道我的渴望。我願成為你的一切。我是你的羊：求你使我配得上戰勝魔鬼。”為了迫使她改變心意，昆提安努斯將愛葛莎送到了妓院老闆阿芙羅狄西亞（Aphrodisia）那裡，並將她囚禁在那裡；然而，這種懲罰失敗了，愛葛莎依然是一名基督徒。昆提安努斯再次召見聖雅加大，與她爭辯並威脅她，最終將她囚禁並施以酷刑。她被綁在刑架上，用鐵鉤撕裂，被火炬灼燒，並被鞭打。她的乳房被鉗子拔掉。傳統上：她被視為貞潔、火災與乳房疾病的主保。
根据13世纪雅各布斯·德·沃拉金（Jacobus de Voragine）所著的《黄金传说》（Golden Legend）（III.15）记载，圣女公元231年生于卡塔尼亚（Catania）的富裕贵族家庭，她为基督之故立下贞洁誓言，并拒绝了罗马总督昆蒂安努斯（Quintianus）的示爱。昆蒂安努斯自认为可以迫使她背弃誓言嫁给他。然而，阿加莎始终拒绝了他的求婚。当时正值德西乌斯（Decius）迫害时期，昆蒂安努斯得知阿加莎是基督徒后，便向当局告发了她。昆蒂安努斯本人当时正是该地区的总督。昆提安努斯（Quintianus）以为圣雅加大（Agatha）在面对酷刑和可能的死亡时会屈服于他的要求，但阿加莎只是通过祈祷重申了她对天主的信仰：“耶稣基督，万有之主，你洞悉我的心，你知道我的渴望。我愿成为你的一切。我是你的羊：求你使我配得上战胜魔鬼。”为了迫使她改变心意，昆提安努斯将阿加莎送到了妓院老板阿芙罗狄西亚（Aphrodisia）那里，并将她囚禁在那里；然而，这种惩罚失败了，阿加莎依然是一名基督徒。昆提安努斯再次召见圣雅加大，与她争辩并威胁她，最终将她囚禁并施以酷刑。她被绑在刑架上，用铁钩撕裂，被火炬灼烧，并被鞭打。她的乳房被钳子拔掉。传统上：她被视为贞洁、火灾与乳房疾病的主保。
Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr Gospel: Mark 6:7-13 Agatha: A Faithful Handmaid of Christ
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Agatha of Sicily.
According to The Golden Legend (III.15) by Jacobus de Voragine (13th century), the saint was born in 231 AD into a wealthy noble family in Catania, Sicily. For Christ, she took a vow of virginity and rejected the advances of Quintianus, the Roman governor. Believing he could force her to break her vow and marry him, Quintianus—who was the region’s governor—learned she was a Christian and denounced her during the persecution under Decius.
Quintianus thought St. Agatha would yield to torture and death, but she reaffirmed her faith in prayer: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, You know my heart and desires. I wish to be all Yours. I am Your sheep: grant me to conquer the devil.”To break her, he sent her to Aphrodisia, a brothel keeper, but she remained steadfast. Summoned again, he argued, threatened, and tortured her: bound to a rack, torn with hooks, burned with torches, scourged, and had her breasts torn off with pincers. Traditionally, she is patroness of chastity, against fire, and breast diseases.
Today’s Gospel (Mark 6:7-13) tells of Jesus sending the Twelve Apostles to preach the Kingdom. This reflects our own call: The merciful Lord calls us, as He did St. Agatha. At baptism, we were cleansed of original sin; by the Holy Spirit, freed from Satan’s slavery—for Christ, by His Passion and Resurrection, won eternal life for us. Anointed by the Spirit, we share Christ’s divine life and triple office (Priest, King, Prophet), obliging us to preach the Kingdom and witness to truth.
In testifying for Christ, we may face pressure to renounce faith, as St. Agatha did. If overwhelmed, let us ask this Virgin Martyr to intercede, that we may stand firm and witness boldly.
May the Virgin Martyr Saint Agatha implore your compassion for us, O Lord, we pray, for she found Favor with you by the courage of her martyrdom and the merit of her chastity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 6:1-6 The Way Christ Handled Rejection
We often see those who, after achieving success in their careers, return to their hometowns where they grew up. Upon returning, they try to share their successful experiences with the elders and fellow villagers, hoping to help them live better lives as they have. Yet when they earnestly try to persuade the people of their hometown, the conservative elders may question their abilities—for in their eyes, these now-successful individuals, whom they have known since childhood, seem to have nothing particularly extraordinary about them.
Today, Jesus returns to Nazareth. The crowd in the synagogue of His hometown does not rejoice in all that He had done in Capernaum. Instead, they look down on Him because what He has accomplished outside Nazareth is inconsistent with the teachings they were accustomed to accept. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, did not choose to argue with them or force them to accept Him and the new vision He brought. Rather, He chose to leave, setting an example for us.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Through Baptism, we are united with our Lord Jesus Christ. When we face rejection or being looked down upon in life, let us follow the example of Jesus Christ: respect others’ choices, and always pray for them to God.
O Jesus Christ, You are truly good and merciful. Teach us to be like You, so that we may, like You, embrace all people—especially those who disagree with us. You are God, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Or Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, Bishop Or Optional Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 Theme: Salvation through Faith
Today is Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, on which the Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Blaise (Bishop and Martyr) and St. Ansgar (Bishop).
St. Blaise, Bishop, was an Armenian of the 4th century who first worked as a physician before becoming Bishop of Sebaste. Renowned for his medical skill, he often treated the poor free of charge, especially excelling in healing throat ailments—hence he is known as the Patron Saint of Throat Ailments. During the Roman persecution of Christians, he was arrested for his unwavering faith, endured flogging and being scraped with iron combs without yielding, and was ultimately beheaded as a martyr. To this day, the faithful pray to him for relief from throat troubles, and his feast day is February 3.
St. Ansgar, Bishop, was a French missionary of the 9th century, known as the “Apostle of the North.” Setting out from his monastery, he journeyed to Denmark and Sweden to preach. At a time when the local people practiced paganism, he integrated gently into their communities, built churches and established schools, mediated disputes, and gradually won their trust. Later appointed Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, he dedicated himself to Christianizing Northern Europe and is regarded as one of the founders of the Church in that region. He lived a humble and steadfast life.
Today, Mark presents us with two miracles performed by Jesus. The woman with a hemorrhage was convinced that if she could just touch Jesus’ cloak, she would be healed. By her faith in Jesus, she was indeed cured. Another model of faith for us is Jairus, the synagogue leader. When he learned Jesus had crossed to the other side of the sea, he pleaded with Jesus to heal his sick daughter, trusting in who Jesus was. Upon hearing his daughter had died, he did not blame the woman with the hemorrhage who had touched Jesus, accusing her of causing his daughter’s death; instead, he remained confident in Jesus, trusting that He would raise his daughter back to life. This is an excellent example.
Today, we are called to be Christians. At the beginning, like the woman with the hemorrhage and Jairus, we too held strong faith in Jesus. Yet the prince of this world often lulls us with material comfort, leading us to choose to trust in accumulating wealth and seeking worldly fame rather than trusting in God. Therefore, today, let us imitate the virtues of St. Blaise and St. Ansgar, follow Christ with full faith, and walk the path to holiness together.
St. Blaise, Bishop, St. Ansgar, Bishop, pray for us. Amen.
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