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St Agatha of Sicily

29/5/2023

Artwork created 26–29 May 2023.

If there has been something that has intensified over the past year, it has been this gentle but firm pressure from above to represent particular saints. With St Agatha this pressure has been of unusual strength.

Way back at the end of April I had collected a series of reference images, which I left on my drawing desk day in and day out, but strangely couldn’t get much further with.

The impasse only changed after a deeper dive into the story of her life, and of how she has been represented in Rome and in Sicily. In doing so she went from being an important saint mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer 1 of the Church to being formidable and unforgettable.

A brief re-cap of her life would be useful. St Agatha was a native of Sicily, and a beautiful and rich young woman of a noble family who had given her life to Jesus as a consecrated virgin. To signify this consecration she wore a veil.

Detail of 'St Agatha' by Matteo di Giovanni, circa 1474.

Around the year 250 AD, the roman prefect Quintianus decided that Agatha was lovely, and her fortune desirable, so he started to woo her and got rejected. When he got rejected enough, he decided to resort to threats, and that didn’t work either. Then knowing that the persecution of Christians under Decius was underway, Quintianus firstly reported her as a Christian, and then set about devising deadly tortures for Agatha.

When the early tortures failed to move her determination, he then ordered that her breasts be torn off with the special type of tongs you see depicted and then rolled in hot coals. Neither managed to kill her, and she was returned to her prison cell where St Peter visited her. Next Quintianus decided to burn her at the stake, but an earthquake happened to prevent that happening. So she was returned to her prison cell where she died of her injuries.

'St Peter Healing St Agatha' by Giovanni Lanfranco, (Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The lictor sliced off my breasts with doubled blows,
But no wound mar my nature.
For adorned by the colour of a red rose amid virgin snows
I have begun to be more beautiful.

— Agatha Virgo Vulneribus Decorata (The Virgin Agatha Graced with Wounds),
by Martha Marchina.

Due to the details of her martyrdom, St Agatha became the patron saint of breast cancer sufferers, of rape victims, of nurses, of bell-founders, of Sicily, and other patronages.

'St Agatha, by sculptor Giovanni Maria De Rossi, (via StPetersBasilica.info)

One of the images that helped was the statue of St Agatha above the colonnade at St Peter’s basilica in Rome. It told the story of her life without being unchaste. The other image that helped was the reliquary of St Agatha’s head kept in the Cathedral of Catania in Sicily.

Reliquary bust of St. Agatha by Giovani di Bartolo, ca. 1373

This reliquary is a master-work of silver and enamel. An online article about the relics of St Agatha can be viewed here.

If you are patient (depending on the device you are using), it is worth using the Google translate option if you (like me) are not fluent in Italian.

On either side of the bust representing St Agatha are two angels. She is crowned, and in one hand holds a crucifix and in the other she holds an inscription. The whole thing is covered with votive offerings, pectoral crosses from bishops, episcopal rings, jewels etc. According to tradition, the crown upon her head was put there by King Richard the Lionheart.

Also this reliquary is the origin of the decision for blonde hair rather than the black or brunette hair found more widely in popular culture imagery of St Agatha.

Below is the inscription, and a translation of it, that found all over the Cathedral of Catania where her reliquary–bust is kept, and that I have included underneath my depiction of St Agatha:

Mentem Sanctam Spontaneam Honorem Deo Et Patriae Liberationem
(Holy, generous soul, honour of God and liberator of her homeland.)

These are no idle words. Her veil, kept in a separate reliquary, has been successfully used several times to invoke God’s help when natural disasters threatened Sicily.

When invaders came to Sicily and rounded up the native inhabitants, the conqueror permitted them to have a last Mass at the shrine of St Agatha before being executed. When it came time for everyone to open up the hymn books, each and every page held the initials of a promise that St Agatha would always protect Sicily with her intercession. Needless to say, the inhabitants were saved, and the invaders exited in a hurry.

St Agatha, this holy martyr, has been given mighty intercessory power by God.
St Agatha, pray for us. Amen.

Catherine Cavanagh, (based on notes and with minor edits by Vincent Cavanagh).
~31 May 2023

Image Process 2023-05-27

27/5/2023

St Agatha of Sicily: Patron of breast cancer, bell–founders, Sicily, Catania, and nurses.

It's been a long time waiting for this image to finally arrive.

Vincent Cavanagh
~27 May 2023

Caroline Chisholm Nature Walk (02)

21/5/2023

#ChisholmWalkSydney

A short selection of photographs from today's first (ever) Caroline Chisholm Nature Walk, and the second Caroline Chisholm Walk in total.

Our Route way from Circular Quay, past the Sydney Opera House, through the Royal Botanic Garden, stopping for refreshments at Mr's Macquarie's Chair, and finishing the day in The Domain.

Enjoy!

A rather striking shot from the start of the Caroline Chisholm Nature Walk at Circular Quay.

Making our way along the waterfront of Farm Cove, named after the colony's first farm that was started in 1788. The current day replica way built from 1997 to 2001.

Next to Mrs Macquaries Road the pilgrims are taking in the warm rays of the sun, meanwhile their tour guide is otherwise detained in the nearby pissior.

3–2–1 — JUMP!

Personally, I'd take this crew over whatever NCIS: Sydney ends up offering.

Making our way up the stone stairs next to Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

A group photo kindly taken by a fellow visitor to Yurong Point (a.k.a. Mr's Macquarie's Point).

Continuing along from Mrs Macquarie's Chair past some of the many rock overhangs around the Point where many homeless young women would shelter during the night in Mrs Chisholm's day.

She helped many of them to find shelter and well-paid work through out the colony of Australia.

Vincent Cavanagh
~21 May 2023

Smile and Wave

17/5/2023

Our second Diocesan WYD Formation Session was held in Sydney last night (16 May 2023) and it came preloaded with post-WYD Event promotions, zero Pilgrimage Itinerary updates, a do-it-yourself Spicks and Specks round, and a side order of cringe through the conscription of ELO's Mr Blue Sky. The less said about that particular episode, the better.

Apart from finally getting to see what the Diocesan and Travel Provider merchandise (only visual mock-ups, nothing physical), the main highlight of the night was the reflection from Fr Stephen Wayoyi AJ (Apostles of Jesus Missionaries) on The Road to Emmaus, Gospel of Luke 24:13-35.

He told us that we are all, on this pilgrimage, invited to an important encounter with Jesus, just as the disciples encountered Him on their way to Emmaus. Their sorrow from the crucifixion was turned into joy by meeting Jesus on the way. So to are we called to bring our own daily sorrows, pains and discouragements with us on this pilgrimage; and to be open to God. To give him all that is weighing us down, that He may also turn it into joy. Joy in Him.

Remember: the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Be not afraid! We don't have to give up. God is with us. We are not here [in this hall, on this pilgrimage] by mistake. He has chosen us. He is asking us to journey with him. He wants to be a companion with us. To remind us always, that God is real.

Then Fr Stephen finished by asking us to say to the person next to us, "We are together again."
And he concluded the reflection by leading us together in song:

Something good is going to happen.

Vincent Cavanagh
~17 May 2023

We Are Together Again (Song)

17/5/2023

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Not all, but most of Fr Stephen Wayoyi's rendition of "We Are Together Again" from last night's 2nd World Youth Day Formation session (16 May 2023).

Vincent Cavanagh
~17 May 2023

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