It is not so easy to give a report that gives an accurate sense of our continued time in Sicily, but here I will try and give something that might create some kind of reflection. First a map to orientate…
The outer triangle is marking the three promonentories that have long been recognised. We have visited two – the first being in Marsala and that one we have been to on numerous occasions. It also marks where Garibaldi entered Sicily to ‘conquer’ and first submit it to the king of Sardinia (1860) and with the northern states formed Italy. The second point in the south east we have now been to twice and think that is probably enough. The lines I have drawn are simply for my own clarity but they cross at the middle of the island in Enna, the centre and the meeting point for the way the Arabic epoch had divided the island. We are currently in Catania but have been for some days prior in Siracusa (where Paul landed) and in Agrigento (East and West coasts).
How do we decide where we go? Well of course simple… we wake up in the morning, an angel has breakfast with us and gives us a detailed set of instructions. Easy! Or maybe it is a little different to that!!! OK maybe delete that part about the breakfast companion. We do have an overall shape of seeking to understand the history, meaning that as we do we discover ‘who’ Sicily is (I put ‘who’ in quotes as that is not a normal way of thinking of geography, but I do think very biblical – often ‘land’ or ‘cities’ are addressed in the same way as people are addressed). This takes us then into what should we do (as per a person) to enable any wounds, repeating patterns to be addressed so that there can be a better future (and we would hold that if a measure of ‘healing’ can occur that there is a greater openness to participating in the redemptive flow of salvation (Jn. 10:40-42 in contrast to the preceding 3 chapters and Acts 17:26, 27 – kairos and boundaries).
As one walks and prays in this way aspects seem to become clear. The obvious to begin with such as the intense history of colonisation right the way through to the more recent one of the unification of Italy; then the area that has to be dug into with the history of the two women martyrs (Saint Lucy in Siracusa and Saint Agatha in Catania). The parallel stories of those two women are where we are currently focused (late 200s – early 300s). We are on the second time in those cities. The first time in Siracusa was seeking sight and I suggested we might have to be visiting 10 times to get underneath the covering layers that seek to hide / distort the reality. Well I think we have probably been in the city on 8 occasions and now have been able to come to Catania. We came (not knowing this) on the final day of the 8 day long festival to Santa Agatha. Timing was good but the inevitable heaviness was tangible.
The two stories are rooted in abuse (Agatha to be punished for not being willing to compromise her faith and marry a pagan was put in a brothel to encourage her to change her mind). Push back further and of course this is the myth of Europe with Zeus and the princess in Crete. Those old myths are exactly that, but they are also the ancient attempts to explain the reality around them and in the telling of the story shape the future. So this is the layer we are in now. A few more days in Catania then who knows – but I guess we will need that breakfast again! Or something else will open – certainly we are now looking at how does the children fit in to this. There (as per other places) is a history of child sacrifice on the West coast with the Phoenician / Carthaginian history – so maybe that will call? The ‘children’ of course represent the next generation (represent? = are) and this digs deep into areas of economy where I maintain that to – among other things – finance war and perpetuate divides the future is sacrificed in order to see blessing today (hence money as fiat). So maybe we won’t get a breakfast with an angel (as if!!) but we will not be without direction.
Back to the map… the final point at the north awaits and that is where one of the major crusades took was shaped from. That certainly is where Christendom (and hence the current intense debates in Europe are) had a manifestation. So probably a final stop off. In other words (but it would be a shorter blog) Gayle and I have breakfast together (and with anyone who has joined us) but little by little it makes sense where to travel that day. As yet there is nothing beyond Catania that we have – and why should we? Tomorrow is another day and we only need to know tomorrow what we should do then.
From Wikipedia:
According to the 13th-century Golden Legend (III.15) by Jacobus de Voragine, 15-year-old Agatha, from a rich and noble family, made a vow of virginity for Christ’s sake and rejected the amorous advances of the Roman prefect Quintianus, who thought he could force her to turn away from her vow and marry him. His persistent proposals were consistently spurned by Agatha. This was during the persecutions of Decius, so Quintianus, knowing she was a Christian, reported her to the authorities. Quintianus himself was governor of the district.
Quintianus expected Agatha to give in to his demands when faced with torture and possible death, but Agatha simply reaffirmed her belief in God by praying: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.” To force her to change her mind, Quintianus sent Agatha to Aphrodisia, the keeper of a brothel, and had her imprisoned there; however, the punishment failed, with Agatha remaining a Christian.