Homily by Cardinal Mario Grech on the Feast of Saint Agatha
Catania, 5 February 2026
This morning, Cardinal Mario Grech presided over the pontifical mass in Catania (Italy) on the occasion of the feast day of Saint Agatha, the martyr of Catania. In his homily, inspired by the story of the passion of the young Agatha, the Secretary General of the Synod focused on three aspects of her martyrdom that can illuminate the path of every Christian today.
First and foremost, freedom. Agatha presents herself to Quinziano as a free and noble person. Freedom is the most important value we have [...] Without freedom, there is no dignity, and we are deprived of the right to choose how to live [...] Sometimes we think that being free means doing everything without limits. But this is not freedom. Without limits, we do not grow: we lose ourselves.
Secondly, the experience of Christ. Agatha justifies her choice of simple, poor clothing as a choice dictated by her becoming a “servant of Christ”. For Cardinal Grech, what people today need is not so much religious discourse, but the experience of an encounter. [...] What is often lacking are Christians who, through their concrete lives, show that they have truly encountered Jesus. Not people who talk about Him, but people who convey Him.
Finally, beyond fear, be enlivened by Hope. Agatha's courage in the face of martyrdom bears witness to her hope. Cardinal Grech recalls that "fear, unfortunately, is often used by those who want to control people. It is easier to command those who are afraid and live in misery. Fear blocks, immobilises. It is the beginning of all forms of slavery. [...] Silence dictated by fear – the code of silence – is not only wrong: it takes away a person's freedom, prevents them from telling the truth and acting according to their conscience. This is why Jesus proposes another way: not to give up, but to trust. Hope, the antidote to all fear, is possible! For us, hope is a gift of the Spirit and has a name, Jesus."