The Lesser Feast of Agatha of Sicily, Martyr

Welcome to Noonday Prayer at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. The service of Noonday Prayer begins on page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer. Learn more about today’s feast

Opening Sentence, page 103
Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.

People: O Lord, make haste to help us.

All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 125, page 781
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, *
                which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.
The hills stand about Jerusalem; *
                so does the LORD stand round about his people, from this time forth for evermore.
The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just, *
                so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.
Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good *
                and to those who are true of heart.
As for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; *
                but peace be upon Israel.

Reading: Mark 9:42-50

Jesus said “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Reflection: The Lesser Feast of Agatha of Sicily, Martyr

Agatha of Sicily was one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs from the early church. It is believed that she was born around 231 to a rich and noble family. From a very young age, she chose to dedicate her life to God as a consecrated virgin, but this did not stop men from making unwanted advances toward her.

One of those men was Quitianus, the local Roman prefect, who thought that he could use his status and power to compel her to give up her vow. He tried to blackmail her by threatening to expose her as a Christian, but she would not yield to him. Because she consistently spurned his advances, he denounced her as a Christian during the

Decian persecution. When she came to the trial, she learned that he was both her accuser and her judge.

In spite of this, Agatha refused to change her mind, and so Quitianus sentenced her to be imprisoned in a brothel. While she remained confined there for a month, she never wavered in her resolve that she would never willingly give herself to him or to any other man.

Eventually Quitianus grew impatient with her fortitude and sentenced her to be tortured to death. She was killed in the year 251. Counted as a virgin martyr because of her refusal to consent, she is regarded as the patron of all those who are subjected to sexual harassment or assault. Because of her popularity, she was one of the very few saints who were retained on the calendar of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer after the Reformation.

                From Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022

The Prayers, pages 106-107
Officiant: Lord have mercy.
People: Christ have mercy.
Officiant: Lord have mercy.

All:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Officiant: Lord, hear our prayer;
People: And let our cry come to you.

Officiant: Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, who strengthened your martyr Agatha with constancy and courage: Grant us for the love of you to make no peace with oppression, to fear no adversity, and to have no tolerance for those who would use their power to abuse or exploit; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.


Intercessions and Thanksgivings

Dismissal, page 107
Officiant: Let us bless the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Officiant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.