St. Lucy
Feast 12-13
Patron of
About
Lucy was a young Christian woman of Syracuse in Sicily, born around 283 into a noble family. After her father's death, she secretly consecrated her virginity to God and gave her dowry to the poor. When her mother arranged her marriage to a pagan suitor, Lucy refused, and the rejected suitor denounced her as a Christian.
During the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, Lucy was arrested and ordered to sacrifice to the gods. When she refused, she was condemned. According to tradition, her eyes were gouged out, though some accounts say she tore them out herself to discourage a suitor; in many versions her sight was miraculously restored. She was martyred by the sword around 304.
Lucy is one of the most venerated early martyrs, honored in both East and West. Her name means "light," and she is the patroness of the blind and of those with eye diseases. Her feast on December 13 is celebrated with festivals of light, especially in Scandinavia.
Suggested prayer
O God, who gave St. Lucy courage to give her dowry to the poor and to endure martyrdom for your name, grant through her intercession clear vision to all who suffer eye diseases, and light to walk the path of life with faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
