Saint Lucy

Saint Lucy
Birth Date	c. 283
Birth Place	Syracuse, Sicily, Roman Empire
Death Date	304
Death Place	Syracuse, Sicily, Roman Empire
Feast Day	December 13
Venerated In	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism
Titles	Virgin and Martyr
Beatified Date
Beatified Place
Beatified By
Canonized Date
Canonized Place
Canonized By
Attributes	Eyes on a plate, lamp, sword
Patronage	Blindness, eye disorders, writers, Syracuse
Major Shrine
Suppressed Date
Issues

Saint Lucy (c. 283 – 304) was a Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism. Her feast day is celebrated on December 13th, and she is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye disorders.

Life

Saint Lucy was born in Syracuse, Sicily, during the late 3rd century. According to tradition, she was born into a wealthy Roman family. Her father died when she was young, leaving her and her mother, Eutychia, to manage the family estate.

Lucy was a devout Christian from a young age and vowed to live a life of chastity. Her mother, unaware of Lucy's vow, arranged for her to marry a wealthy pagan suitor. Lucy prayed for her mother's healing from a long-term illness, and when her mother was miraculously cured, Lucy persuaded her to distribute their wealth to the poor.

The rejected suitor, angered by Lucy's refusal to marry him, denounced her to the Roman authorities during the Diocletianic Persecution. Lucy was arrested and ordered to make a sacrifice to the emperor's image. When she refused, she was subjected to various tortures, including being sentenced to a brothel. However, according to legend, she was miraculously protected by divine intervention.

Ultimately, Lucy was martyred by a sword to the throat in 304 AD.

Veneration

Saint Lucy's veneration spread rapidly after her death. Her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 1039 and later to Venice, where they remain in the church of San Geremia.

Lucy is one of the few saints commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. Her feast day, December 13th, is celebrated with various customs, particularly in Scandinavia, where it marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

Iconography

Saint Lucy is often depicted in art holding a dish with her eyes on it, symbolizing her role as the patron saint of the blind. She is also shown with a lamp or a sword, representing her martyrdom.

Also see

• Diocletianic Persecution
• Christian Martyrs
• Feast of Saint Lucy
• Patron Saints
• Syracuse, Sicily

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