Vatican reliquary theca with relic of St. Agatha of Sicily, Martyr & Protector from breast cancer

Round glass-fronted white-metal reliquary theca housing the first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Agatha of Sicily. The relic is affixed to a red silk ground and identified in Latin on a typeset cedula label as S. Agathae V.M. (Saint Agatha, Virgin & Martyr). On the back, under the protective cap, the theca is secured with a seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of a coat of arms of Monsignor Ugo Poletti, the Vicar General of Rome (1973-1997).

Saint Agatha of Sicily (†251) is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Agatha was born in Catania, part of the Roman Province of Sicily, and was martyred c. 251. She is one of several virgin martyrs who are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is a holy patron of bellfounders; breast cancer; bakers; Catania, Sicily; protection from natural disasters; fire; earthquakes; volcanic eruptions; jewelers; nurses; rape victims; single laywomen; sterility; torture victims; nurses; wet nurses; as well as Sicily; San Marino; and Zamarramala, Spain. Her feast day is commemorated on February 5th.