St. Lucia SCC

St. Lucia (died 304, Syracuse, Sicily; feast day December 13) was a virgin and martyr who was one of
the earliest Christian saints to achieve popularity, having a widespread following before the 5th century. She is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse (Sicily) and of virgins. Because of various traditions associating her name with light, she came to be thought of as the patron of sight and was depicted by medieval artists carrying a dish containing her eyes.

According to apocryphal texts, Lucia came from a wealthy Sicilian family. Spurning marriage and worldly goods, however, she vowed to remain a virgin in the tradition of St. Agatha. An angry suitor reported her to the local Roman authorities, who sentenced her to be removed to a brothel and forced into prostitution. This order was thwarted, according to legend, by divine intervention; Lucy became immovable and could not be carried away. She was next condemned to death by fire, but she proved impervious to the flames. Finally, her neck was pierced by a sword and she died. St. Lucy is venerated on her feast day, December 13, by a variety of ceremonies. 

In Sweden, St. Lucia’s Day marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration. On that day the eldest
daughter of the family traditionally dresses in a white robe and wears as a crown an evergreen wreath
studded with candles. The festival is meant to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year.

St Lucia was a young Christian woman who vowed to live her life in service of Christ. Her mother tried
to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan and Lucy knew her mother could not be swayed by a young
girl’s vow, so she devised a plan to convince her mother that Christ was the better partner for life.

After several prayers at the tomb of Saint Agatha, Lucia saw the saint in a dream. St. Agatha told Lucia
her mother’s illness would be cured through faith, which Lucia used to persuade her mother to give
the dowry money to the poor and allow her to commit her life to God.

While Lucia and her mother were grateful to God, the rejected bridegroom was deeply angered and
betrayed Lucia’s faith to the governor Paschasius. The governor attempted to force her into defilement at a brothel, but the guards who came to take her away were unable to move her, even after hitching her to a team of oxen. The guards heaped bundles of wood around her but it wouldn’t burn so they finally resorted to their swords, and Lucia met her death.

According to later accounts, Lucia warned Paschasius he would be punished. When the governor heard
this he ordered the guards to gouge out her eyes; however, in another telling, it was Lucia who
removed her eyes in an attempt to discourage a persistent suitor who greatly admired them. When
her body was being prepared for burial, they discovered her eyes had been restored.

Lucia, whose name can mean “light” or “lucid,” is the patron saint of the blind. She is often seen with
the emblem of eyes on a cup or plate. In paintings, she is often depicted with a golden plate holding
her eyes and often holds a palm branch, which is a symbol of victory over evil. St. Lucia is venerated
on her feast day, December 13, by a variety of ceremonies. In Sweden, St. Lucia’s Day marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration. On that day the eldest daughter of the family traditionally
dresses in a white robe and wears as a crown an evergreen wreath studded with candles. The festival
is meant to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year.