Cardinal Parolin Marks 900 Years of St. Agatha's Relics in Catania Mass

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, celebrated Mass on August 17 in the cathedral of Catania, on the east coast of Sicily, for the ninth centenary of the transfer of the relics of St. Agatha from Constantinople. Parolin conveyed the blessing and affection of Pope Leo XIV to the people of Sicily, who gathered for the devotion to their patron saint.

Parolin said that "celebrating this anniversary means recognizing that the Lord has been faithful to his Church down the centuries, supporting it in trials and purifying it in difficulties." In his homily he asked the congregation to pray for "our brothers and sisters who suffer persecution in various parts of the world for the name of the Lord and for his Gospel."

Parolin said the holiness of St. Agatha is not only a historical memory but remains relevant in contemporary life. It "does not belong to the museums of memory, but continues to generate faith, hope and charity," he said. He cited St. Augustine and Tertullian in saying that martyrdom should be valued not only for the suffering but for perseverance in faith. "The blood of the martyrs is not a sign of defeat, but the seed from which the Church is continually reborn," he added.

Bloodless martyrdom in contemporary life

Parolin also spoke about the nature of martyrdom, saying there is a "bloodless martyrdom" to which everyone is called and which shows itself in daily life. He said it includes the commitment of spouses in their love, the Christian education of children by their parents, and the integrity of young people in the face of social pressures. "It is the everyday holiness of which the Second Vatican Council spoke," he said.

Parolin said the Church is sustained not by its own effectiveness but by divine grace. "It is not founded on the abilities of its members, but on the fidelity of the Lord, who continues to work in human weakness," he said. He recalled the message found throughout Scripture, "Do not be afraid," saying the exhortation is not only psychological encouragement but the very foundation of Christian faith.

A legacy of faith in Catania

Parolin spoke of a "daily martyrdom of fidelity," citing examples of people who live their faith amid everyday difficulties: spouses who preserve their love, parents who raise their children in the faith, young people who resist a culture of appearances, and priests who give their lives generously.

Parolin closed his homily by pointing to the heritage of faith, culture and charity in Catania, a legacy he said should be preserved so that it bears fruit. "Evil is not overcome with more evil, but with the charity born of the Cross, which transforms history from within," he said, urging those present to face the region's challenges, such as poverty and inequality, with a renewed commitment to justice and truth.