St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr
Francisco de Zurbaran St Agatha 1630-33 - Oil on canvas Musée Fabre, Montpellier Agatha was born in Sicily, the daughter of rich and pious parents, who was consecrated to God as an infant. Agatha was a virtuous Christian woman known for her remarkable beauty. The Roman Senator Quintianus, who governed Sicily under the Emperor Decius, had heard of her beauty and wealth, and he made laws against the Christians, which served as an effective guise to summon her to Catania, where he was at the time. When she was apprehended, Agatha prayed: "Jesus Christ, Lord of all things, you see my heart, you know my desire-possess alone all that I am. I am your sheep, make me worthy to overcome the devil." She wept, and prayed for courage and strength.Quintianus made advances toward her, and when she refused them, he ordered her to be put into the hands of Aphrodisia, a woman who ran a house of ill repute. Agatha refused to be influenced by the seductiveness of this wicked woman and her envir...