Feast Day: December 13
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Lucy lived so long ago that many details of her life are unknown to us. We do know that she came from the island of Sicily and that she died in the year 304. We have proof that she was beloved by the early Christians because her name is prayed in the first Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.

There are many stories and legend about this young woman. Tradition tells us that she decided to never marry. Instead, she made up her mind to devote her life entirely to prayer and service to the Lord. Her mother tried to arrange for Lucy to marry a pagan man, but Lucy refused and gave the money her mother had saved for her dowry away to the poor. The scorned man suspected that Lucy had refused him because she was a Christian.

Being a follower of Christ in Sicily was a crime. Someone—perhaps the man she would not marry—reported Lucy to the governor. Lucy was arrested. Even though she was tortured, she refused to give up her belief in Christ. She was sentenced to death and martyred for her love of the Lord.

The Church honors Lucy as a saint, and she is the patron saint of those who are blind or vision-impaired. Her name means “light.” When we think of Lucy, we can remember that she teaches us to follow Jesus, the light of the world. She lived these words of Christ: “Your light must shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).

In some Scandinavian countries, young girls still dress as St. Lucy on her feast day. They wear wreaths with candles on their heads and serve pastries and coffee to their families. In Italy there are special pastries and foods that mark her feast day.

Connecting to Blest Are We^® Parish and School
Grade 6, chapter 17