There will always be times in our lives when it is difficult to wake up in the morning. Everything appears to be falling apart and we are tempted to lose our faith in God.
It is during those moments of difficulty where we need to cry out to God in our anguish and ask him for help.
It is during those moments of difficulty where we need to cry out to God in our anguish and ask him for help.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church urges us to persevere.
1811 It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance. Christ's gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil.
3rd-century martyr
One powerful intercessor in this regard is St. Agatha, a young Roman woman of the 3rd century who refused to be wed to a Roman magistrate. For her obstinance she was imprisoned, beaten, and subject to excruciating torture that eventually involved the shearing off of her breasts. Her feast day is February 5.
If anyone knows about pain, it is St. Agatha!
Yet, in the midst of it all, St. Agatha remained faithful to God and persevered to the bitter end. She remains an example of faithfulness during trial and can intercede for us, asking God for the grace of perseverance.
Here is a prayer for this intention, in hopes that whatever trial we endure, our faith will not be shaken.
Dear St. Agatha, glorious virgin and martyr, you suffered yourself to be reviled and buffeted, to be tortured by rack, fire, and sword in a most painful manner; and by this fortitude and heroism you merited to be consoled and gladdened in the midst of your dreadful torments by the sight of your guardian angel and the prince of the apostles, St Peter.
Obtain for me, I pray, by your merits and by your intercession with Jesus Christ, your divine Spouse, that I may surfer joyfully every temporal loss, rather than prove unfaithful to my Lord and my God.
Ask for me the grace of perseverance, that I may with thee enjoy the beatific vision and praise God forevermore. Amen.
