Saint Lucy

Saint Lucy (283–304), also known as Saint Lucia, was a Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution. She is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Her feast day, known as Saint Lucy's Day, is celebrated on December 13.

Life

Saint Lucy was born in Syracuse, Sicily, to rich and noble parents. Her father died when she was young, leaving her and her mother without a protective guardian. Her mother, Eutychia, suffered from a bleeding disorder, and Lucy vowed to remain a virgin and devote her life to God if her mother was cured. Her mother was indeed cured, and Lucy kept her vow.

Martyrdom

Lucy was betrothed to a pagan man who, upon discovering her vow of virginity, reported her to the Roman authorities. She was sentenced to be defiled in a brothel, but when the guards came to take her away, they could not move her. She was then sentenced to death by fire, but she remained unharmed. Finally, she was killed by a sword thrust into her throat.

Veneration

Saint Lucy is one of the few saints commemorated by members of the Lutheran Church among the Liturgy of the Hours. She is also one of seven women, aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.

Legacy

Saint Lucy's Day is celebrated most commonly in Scandinavia, where it is a major feast day. Additionally, Saint Lucy is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse. In the Roman Martyrology, her feast day is mentioned as a significant day in the Catholic Church.

See also

• List of Christian martyrs
• List of saints
• Saint Agatha
• Saint Agnes