Lucy was a young Christian woman, born in the 4th century. Her mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan gentleman and Lucy knew her mother could not be swayed. She sought to convince her mother that Christ was a better partner for life.
After several prayers at the tomb of Saint Agatha, Lucy saw the Saint in her dream. The Saint told Lucy that her mother’s illness would be cured through faith. Lucy used this to persuade her mother to give the dowry, money to the groom for the weeding, to the poor and allow her to commit her life to God.
She was cured and although they were thankful, the future groom was deeply angered and betrayed Lucy by telling of her faith to the governor Paschasius.
After her arrest, the governor attempted to force her into defilement at a brothel, but the guards who came to take her away were unable to move her, even after hitching her to a team of oxen. They also piled wood around her but it wouldn’t burn so they finally resorted to their swords of which she met her death.
Christians were persecuted for their faith during her time just as they are today in various parts of the world. They were forced to endure horrific torture and often met painful ends during Diocletian’s reign.
Lucy, whose name means “light” or “lucid”, is the patron saint of the blind. She is often seen with the emblem of eyes on a cup or plate and depicted with a palm branch, which is a symbol of victory over evil.
Saint Lucy’s Prayer:
Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation — every corner of our day. Amen
She is the patron saint of cutlers, diseases and disorders of the eye, glaziers, and hemorrhages.
Her feast day is December 13.
For God’s Glory.
