St. Agatha was born in Italy, in either the city of Palermo or Catana and died during the persecution of Decius in the year 251. Agatha was a daughter of a wealthy family and at an early age realized that her true love was Jesus and decided to consecrate her life to Him. She suffered much ridicule at the hands of the many suitors that she turned away and gained a reputation for purity and holiness.
When Decius published his decrees against the Christians, the governor of Catana, who had heard of Agatha's purity, saw these edicts as a chance to take advantage of her. She was arrested and brought before him, and he sentenced her to be imprisoned in a house of prostitution. She was imprisoned there for one month but through intercession to God, she remained pure and unharmed. Desiring to make an example out of her, the governor decided to try to torture her until she denied her faith.
Agatha had her flesh torn with heated iron hooks, was severely whipped, and had her breasts cut off. Throughout her torture Agatha turned her heart to God, and when her tortures ceased and she was thrown back into prison, God showed his love for her by healing all her wounds and providing heavenly nourishment for her body. The governor was enraged when he found Agatha still steadfast in her faith, and also completely healed, so he ordered her to be rolled across hot coals and broken shards of pottery.
After this torture, Agatha was put back into her cell, where she soon died. St. Agatha is the saint invoked for protection against volcanic eruption and fire, and is the patron of the cities of Palermo and Catania.
My fellow Christians, our annual celebration of a martyr's feast has brought us together. Agatha achieved renown in the early Church for her noble victory. For her, Christ's death was recent, his blood was still moist. Her robe is the mark of her faithful witness to Christ.
Agatha, the name of our saint, means "good." She was truly good, for she lived as a child of God. Agatha, her goodness coincides with her name and her way of life. She won a good name by her noble deeds, and by her name she points to the nobility of those deeds. Agatha, her mere name wins all men over to her company. She teaches them by her example to hasten with her to the true Good, God alone.
from a homily on Saint Agatha by Saint Methodius of Sicily