We Remember Lucia of Syracuse, Martyr

Commemoration of Lucia, Martyr
December 13

Today, we give thanks to God for St. Lucia, Martyr.

The young virgin commemorated this day was one of many martyred under Emperor Diocletian, the last great widespread persecution of Christians under roman authority. Her martyrdom took place in her native Sicily in AD 304.

According to tradition, Lucia (or Lucy, which means “light”) was born to wealthy and noble parents sometime around AD 280. Her father died when she was but a child. Lucia privately decided that she would never marry. She vowed to remain a virgin and to bestow the dowry her father had left her upon the poor. Her mother, unaware of her daughter’s resolve and in poor health, betrothed her to a wealthy young pagan man.

Lucia and her mother visited the shrine of St. Agatha, who had died confessing Christ years before in the Decian persecution. They prayed for the gift of healing. Her mother was restored to health. With her mother’s health no longer a concern, Lucia persuaded her mother to allow the distribution of the entirety of her dowry to the poor. When word reached the young man to whom she was betrothed that Lucy had given away what he regarded as his treasure, he was quite angry. He denounced her to the governor of Syracuse as a Christian. She was then executed according to imperial policy.

A later tradition says that before Lucia was slain with the sword, her eyes were gouged out. This was supposedly in retaliation for prophesying that the persecution would soon end and that the emperor who had commanded it would soon be dead himself.

Because her name means “light” and her commemoration falls at the time of year in the northern hemisphere when nights are longest, festivals of light commemorating the brave young virgin of Syracuse became popular and spread throughout Europe. In the far north, in Scandinavia, where the hours of darkness are greatest, a tradition arose of clothing young women in white with a red sash, symbolizing the blood of martyrdom. A crown of lighted candles would be placed upon their heads in honor of the martyr’s name, and they would carry in to their family some tasty baked goods to give away, made especially in memory of St. Lucia.

Prayer: O God, by whose grace and power Your holy martyr Lucia triumphed over suffering and remained faithful unto death, grant us, who now remember her with thanksgiving, to be so true in our witness to You in this world that we may receive with her new eyes without tears and the crown of light and life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

William Weedon Celebrating the Saints 224-225