A special thought for Sant’Agata. I grew up with devotion to this Saint who I imagined, especially as a child, as a friend, someone to confide in, for a sort of bond that I couldn’t explain at the time. How extraordinary the feeling of the Catania community was and still is today, which adores this sister-friend-protector in a humble wayalbeit accompanied by celebrations worthy of a queen. Yes, the queen of everyone’s heart. The beginning of February, in my house, was the period in which we organized ourselves to “go to Catania”.
I also remember how our parents managed the trip out of town. The fear that one of our children would get lost in the crowd or something would happen to them led them to always choose out of the way areas. Never in the crowd. Dad held the little ones, namely me and Giuseppe, in his hands, while mum took care of Anna and Rosario. When we asked him to come closer to the fercolo, dad replied that even from afar she (the Saint) knew of our presenceand that was enough so that we didn’t worry about reaching the statue. In fact, the crowd that gathered (and continues to do so for centuries) in its vicinity is something enchanting, yet out of the ordinary. The whole city participates and rejoices in the streets. If you want to see a religious event that will certainly remain in your soul, go to Catania, I highly recommend it. There are emotions that cannot be conveyed, even by writing with all good will.
The Saint is venerated almost everywhere (Greece, Spain, Portugal, China, the United States, Peru and many other places) and is the third most attended religious festival in the world. She was an inspiration of faith for the young Lucia, who later became a Saint also thanks to her. Agata has a beautiful story, which tells of resilience, courage, fortitude and purity. It is no coincidence that in 2018, when I entered the operating room to undergo breast surgery, I thought of her. The anesthesiologist encouraged me to think of something beautiful and soothing. I was very scared at that moment because the surgery was delicate. Yet, a few moments before falling asleep in that long sleep induced by the drugs, I had no fear of entrusting myself to her (and, clearly, to the professionalism of the doctors). I feel her close, now as then. And still his sweet face whispers to me of our friendship. Yes, not much has changed since my youth. That confidential feeling was not at all an inability to understand his greatness, but a sincere instinct that led me this far. «Are we all devout, all of us? Yes, yes! Citizens, citizens, long live Sant’Aita, long live Sant’Aita!». The scream of the people of Catania as they watch and honor the Saint is always in my ears.
