Santa Ageda
A Ritual of Thanks
Duration: 4m10s
Music: Shara Nova
Text: Shara Nova
Available versions:
Three soloists, SSAA choir, and percussion
PROGRAM NOTE:
Saint Agatha is venerated as the patron saint of breast cancer patients, martyrs, wet nurses, bell-founders, bakers, fire, earthquakes and eruptions of Mount Etna. According to the 13th-century Golden Legend (III.15) by Jacobus de Voragine, fifteen-year-old Agatha, from a rich and noble family, made a vow of virginity and rejected the amorous advances of Roman prefect Quintianus, who thought he could force her to turn away from her vow and force her to marry.
His persistent proposals were consistently spurned by Agatha, so Quintianus, knowing she was a Christian during the persecution of Decius, had her arrested and brought before the judge. He was the judge. He expected her to give in to his demands when she was faced with torture and possible death, but she reaffirmed her belief in God. In order to force her to change her mind, Quintianus sent Agatha to Aphrodisia, the keeper of a brothel, and had her imprisoned there where she suffered a month of rape, assault, and efforts to get her to abandon her vow to God. Quintianus sent for her again, argued, threatened, and finally had her put in prison and had her tortured.
She was stretched on a rack to be torn with iron hooks, burned with torches and whipped. Amongst the tortures she underwent the cutting off of her breasts with pincers.
After further dramatic confrontations with Quintianus, Saint Agatha maintained her steadfast devotion to her vow, and was sentenced to be burnt at the stake, but an earthquake saved her from that fate; instead, she was sent to prison where St. Peter the Apostle appeared to her and healed her wounds. Saint Agatha died in prison, probably in the year 251.
– Quoted from Wikipedia
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LYRICS:
Santa Ageda
Santa Ageda
Santa Ageda...
Affliction by fire, burning within,
Santa Ageda,
Santa Ageda...
Unwaivering, unwaivering,
She’s unwaivering,
Though death and harm are threatened,
Graciously, graciously,
Her plate is holding heaven,
Blessed be, blessed be,
The processional of women, singing
Santa Ageda,
Santa Ageda...