St. Lucy
On The Grapevine 50
St. Lucy (whose name means "light") lived in the early 4th century. She was raised as a Christian and made a secret vow of virginity to Christ when she was still very young. Her mother, unaware of the vow, promised her in marriage to a pagan suitor. Lucy prayed for help, and her mother began to have an illness connected with her blood. They traveled together to the tomb of St. Agatha, prayed together and her mother was healed. Afterwards, Lucy revealed her vow to her mother, who accepted her decision. The groom-to-be, however, did not find out about the change of plans until he discovered that Lucy was selling off precious items and giving them and the rest of her dowry to the poor. He was enraged, and denounced her to the governor as a Christian. Lucy bravely defended her faith.
The governor decided to send her into prostitution and sent guards to carry her off to a brothel. But she reportedly became as stiff and immovable as a mountain, and the guards could not move her. Finally she was killed. Although it is unclear exactly how she was martyred, we are assured that her death was painful and according to many, long drawn out. St. Lucy is often depicted carrying her own eyes, which may have something to do with the way she was killed. She is the patron saint of blindness and eye problems. You can read more about her HERE.
-Meg
The governor decided to send her into prostitution and sent guards to carry her off to a brothel. But she reportedly became as stiff and immovable as a mountain, and the guards could not move her. Finally she was killed. Although it is unclear exactly how she was martyred, we are assured that her death was painful and according to many, long drawn out. St. Lucy is often depicted carrying her own eyes, which may have something to do with the way she was killed. She is the patron saint of blindness and eye problems. You can read more about her HERE.
-Meg
Prayer to St. Lucy
"O God, our Creator and Redeemer,
mercifully hear our prayers that
as we venerate your servant, Saint Lucy,
for the light of faith you bestowed upon her,
you would increase and preserve this same light in our souls
that we may be able to avoid evil,
to do good,
and to abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.
Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr,
hear our prayers and obtain our petitions."
mercifully hear our prayers that
as we venerate your servant, Saint Lucy,
for the light of faith you bestowed upon her,
you would increase and preserve this same light in our souls
that we may be able to avoid evil,
to do good,
and to abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.
Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr,
hear our prayers and obtain our petitions."