Saint Lucy

Feast Day:   December 13th

Born in 283 in Syracuse, Italy

Her father died when she was 5, which left her and her mother very wealthy.

She wanted to give her dowry (money for her marriage) to the poor.

Lucy’s Mum became quite sick, so she arranged for Lucy to get married.

Saint Agatha was buried 50 miles away and people believed that if you went to visit her tomb (pilgrimage) that you might be cured.  While Lucy’s Mum was at the tomb, Saint Agatha appeared to Lucy in a dream and told Lucy that because her faith was so strong, that her mother would be cured.

Lucy’s mother was cured and Lucy asked her mother to let her give her dowry to the poor.

Lucy’s husband to be was upset that she was giving her money away, and he told the Governor that Lucy was a Christian.  He then ordered her to be tortured and burned to death.   As part of her torture, Lucy’s eyes were removed.  Legend has it that when Lucy was buried, God repaired her eyes.

Lucy was declared a Saint because she dedicated her life to God and she died because of her faith in God.

Lucy is the Patron Saint of the blind and those with eye troubles.

Saint Lucy was brave and generous, and because she had the courage to stand up to be counted as a Christian, even though she faced death and torture, she is a light that should lead us on our journey through life.

Prayer of Saint Lucy:

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.