There is not very much that the Catholic Church knows about St. Lucy. Many of the stories surrounding her are merely legends, but there are somethings that we do know for certain.
Lucy was raised in Syracuse which is now known as Sicily. She lived in a time when Christians everywhere were being persecuted and tortured for their faith, but that did not stop Lucy from practicing her faith. Lucy had a great love for Jesus, and she didn't allow anything to stop her from loving Him. She also had a great devotion to St. Agatha.
Her mother arranged for Lucy to marry a pagan man, but Lucy wanted to give her life to God. She prayed that her mother would not force her into marriage, and that she would have a great conversion to the Catholic faith. Lucy's mother developed an illness, and through Lucy's prayers, she was healed and converted.
Because of her conversion, Lucy's mother agreed that she could live her life for Christ. The man who had planned to marry Lucy was not pleased, and he reported her to the Roman authorities. They tried many things to get her to renounce her faith, but nothing they did worked. They eventually tried to put her to death, first by fire, but the wood would not ignite. When that didn't work, they stabbed her to death.
Some of the legends say that while they tortured Lucy, they gouged out her eyes. In most depictions of her, Lucy is seen holding a plate or cup with eyes on them, as well as a palm branch, which symbolizes victory over evil.
Activities to Try:
+ Find ways to teach others about Jesus
+ Pray to St. Lucy to help our society stay pure and to grow in love for Christ.
St. Lucy
You did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, recreation, relationships, conversations and every corner of our day. Amen.
St. Lucy, Pray for Us
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