Saints of Cancer This book is a collection of small articles, profiles of Saints, Beati and Venerables of the Church who have suffered with cancer, healed people with cancer, or have a tradition of patronage against cancer and for its sufferers. Articles are taken from the web site http://saints.SQPN.com . Expanded versions of these and thousands of similar profiles of Christian saints with images, support documents, links to other sites, liturgical calendar, ebooks and more are available at the web site Saints.SQPN.com , and it's just a small part of the SQPN - the Star Quest Production Network. SQPN is leading the way in Catholic new media with audio and video, books and blogs, podcasts and television, and the most welcoming community of clergy and laity you'll find online. Come by and see us. SQPN Saint Agatha of Sicily Memorial 5 February Profile We have little reliable information about this martyr, who has been honoured since ancient times, and whose name is included in the canon of the Mass. Young, beautiful and rich, Agatha lived a life consecrated to God. When Decius announced the edicts against Christians, the magistrate Quinctianus tried to profit by Agatha's sanctity; he planned to blackmail her into sex in exchange for not charging her. Handed over to a brothel, she refused to accept customers. After rejecting Quinctianus's advances, she was beaten, imprisoned, tortured, her breasts were crushed and cut off. She told the judge, "Cruel man, have you forgotten your mother and the breast that nourished you, that you dare to mutilate me this way?" One version has it that Saint Peter healed her. She was then imprisoned again, then rolled on live coals; when she was near death, an earthquake stuck. In the destruction that followed, a friend of the magistrate was crushed, and the magistrate fled. Agatha thanked God for an end to her pain, and died. Legend says that carrying her veil, taken from her tomb in Catania, in procession has averted eruptions of Mount Etna. Her intercession is reported to have saved Malta from Turkish invasion in 1551. Born in prison at Catania or Palermo, Sicily (sources vary) Died martyred c.250 at Catania, Sicily by being rolled on coals Name Meaning good Patronage against breast cancer against breast disease against earthquakes against eruptions of Mount Etna against fire against natural disasters against sterility against volcanic eruptions Ali, Sicily, Italy bell-founders Capua, Italy Catania, Sicily, Italy fire prevention jewelers Malta martyrs nurses Palermo, Sicily, Italy rape victims San Marino single laywomen torture victims wet-nurses Zamarramala, Spain Representation breasts on a dish embers knife loaves of bread on a dish pincers shears tongs veil virgin martyr wearing a veil and bearing her severed breasts on a silver platter Readings Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am - you alone. I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil. - Saint Agatha Lord, my creator, you have protected me since I was in the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Now receive my spirit. - Saint Agatha My fellow Christians, our annual celebration of a martyr's feast has brought us together. Agatha achieved renown in the early Church for her noble victory. For her, Christ's death was recent, his blood was still moist. Her robe is the mark of her faithful witness to Christ. Agatha, the name of our saint, means "good." She was truly good, for she lived as a child of God. Agatha, her goodness coincides with her name and her way of life. She won a good name by her noble deeds, and by her name she points to the nobility of those deeds. Agatha, her mere name wins all men over to her company. She teaches them by her example to hasten with her to the true Good, God alone. - from a homily on Saint Agatha by Saint Methodius of Sicily Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga Memorial 18 August Profile Alberto's father died when the boy was four years old, and he grew up in poverty. Educated at the Jesuit College in Santiago, Chile. He early felt a call to religion, and to work with those as poor as himself. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1923, and was ordained in 1933. He taught religion at Colegion San Ignacio , trained teachers at Catholic University in Santiago, led retreats for young men, and worked in the poor areas of the city whenever he could. In 1941 he wrote Is Chile a Catholic Country? , and became national chaplain to the youth movement Catholic Action . During a retreat in 1944, Father Alberto started the work that would lead to El Hagar de Cristo which shelters the homeless and tries to rescue abandoned children, and was later modelled somewhat on the American Boys Town movement. In 1947, Hurtado founded the Chilean Trade Union Association (ASICH ) to promote a Christian labour-union movement. He founded the journal Mensaje , dedicated to explaining the Church's teaching, in 1951. He wrote several works in his later years on trade unions, social humanism and the Christian social order. Born 22 January 1901 at Vina del Mar, Chile Died 18 August 1952 at Santiago, Chile of pancreatic cancer Venerated 21 December 1991 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtues) Beatified 16 October 1994 by Pope John Paul II Canonized 23 October 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI at Rome, Italy Readings I am happy, Lord. - Saint Alberto's frequent prayer during his fight with cancer Saint Aldegundis Also known as Adelgundis Aldegonda Aldegonde Aldegondes Aldegun Aldegunais Aldegund Orgonne Memorial 30 January Profile Daughter of Saint Walbert and Saint Bertilia; sister of Saint Waldetrudis; aunt of Saint Madalberta. Lived in the convent at Mons, Belgium with Waldetrudis. Benedictine abbess. Hermitess at Maubeuge Abbey; her cell became the core of a Benedictine monastery she founded, and she served as its first abbess. Visionary. Friend of Saint Humbert of Pelagius. Born c.633 at Hainault, Belgium Died 30 January 684, probably of breast cancer, at Maubeuge Abbey, France buried there Patronage against breast cancer against cancer against childhood diseases against sudden death against wounds cancer patients Blessed Artemide Zatti Memorial 15 March Profile One of three sons born to Albino Vecchi and Luigi Zatti. His was a poor family, and the boy had to drop out of school at age nine to work for a wealthy neighbor. The family eventually immigrated to Bahia Blanca, Argentina to find work, arriving in Buenos Aires on 9 February 1897. There Artemide worked in a tile factory, and attended a local parochial school run by the Salesians. He felt drawn to the Salesians, and at age 20 entered their seminary, Casa di Bernal. Artemide contracted tuberculosis while caring for a young Salesian priest with the disease, a man who died from it in 1902. He was sent to San Josè Hospital for what little treatment there was in that day, but with little hope. With his friend and unofficial doctor, Father Evarisio Garrone, Artemide prayed for the intervention of Our Lady, Help of Christians, offering to dedicate his life to the care of the sick; the young Salesian was miraculously and completely healed. He kept his promise. He worked in the San Jose pharmacy, and learned about hospital management from Father Garrone. Upon his mentor's death, Artemide took charge of the hospital, and what time he could spare from his administrative duty was spent caring for patients. Today the hospital is now named in his honour. Born 12 October 1880 at Boretto, Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy Died 15 March 1951 of cancer at Bahia Blanca, Argentina relics interred in the Salesian chapel at Viedma, Argentina Venerated 7 July 1997 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtue) Beatified 14 April 2002 by Pope John Paul II Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago Memorial 13 July Profile Second of five children born to Manuel Baudilio Rodriguez and Herminia Santiago; one of his sisters is a Carmelite nun, one brother a Benedictine monk, the first Puerto Rican to be an abbot. At age 6, the family store and home were burned to the ground; the family moved in with his mother's family, and Carlos spent time with his pious maternal grandmother Alexjandrina Esteras. At age 9 he wrestled a rabid dog that had snatched up his 1-year-old cousin; Carlos was badly wounded in the fight; the cousin is now his 70's. Carlos suffered from ulcerative colitis from age 13, which interrupted a brilliant scholarly career; he completed high school, but it was several years before he could move on to college. Carlos never passed up a chance to serve as an altar boy. He worked as an office clerk until 1946, and tried to attend the University of Puerto Rico, but his health prevented it. After a few lessons, he taught himself to play piano and organ, and he loved to spend days hiking in the countryside. Worked as an office clerk at Caguas, Puerto Rico, and at the University of Puerto Rico Agriculture Experiment Station. Translator, converting English documents to Spanish. Used his translating skills to write, and with his modest salary to publish Liturgy and Christian Culture magazines. With the help of Father McWilliams, he founded a Liturgy Circle at Caguas. With Father McGlone, he organized the chorus Te Deum Laudamus . His principal apostolic work was at Catholic University Center, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico where he evangelized to students and teachers.