"Those whose hearts are pure
are temples of the Holy Spirit."
St Lucy (Santa Lucia)
In Italian, Lucia means "light"
Virgin, Martyr
Sicily ~ 283-304
Patron of blindness and eye problems
Feast Day - December 13
(Happy Anniversary to Jeff, Spencer and the Johnsons -
11 years in the Church!)
Sentenced to be defiled in a brothel, Lucy asserted:
"No one's body is polluted so as to endanger the soul if it has not pleased the mind. If you were to lift my hand to your idol and so make me offer against my will, I would still be guiltless in the sight of the true God, who judges according to the will and knows all things. If now, against my will, you cause me to be polluted, a twofold purity will be gloriously imputed to me. You cannot bend my will to your purpose; whatever you do to my body, that cannot happen to me."
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St Lucia, ora pro nobis!
A BIT ABOUT ST LUCY...
St. Lucy (Santa Lucia) was a young Sicilian girl who vowed to live as a virgin in devotion to Christ. Her mother, however, arranged a marriage for her to a pagan suitor. To dissuade her mom by proof of a miracle, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha that her mother's hemorrhage would stop. When the miracle happened, her mother agreed to leave aside the topic of marriage.
Lucy's suitor, however, had other plans, and revealed Lucy as a Christian. Authorities went to collect her, planning on forcing her into prostitution -- but they were unable to budge her, even after tying her to a team of oxen. She was then tortured by having her eyes torn out. They'd planned on torturing her by fire, too, but the fires kept going out. She was then killed by being stabbed in the throat with a dagger. Lucy's martyrdom: December 13, 304.
St. Lucy is the patron of those with eye problems, and often depicted carrying her eyes (often on a plate), being tied to a team of oxen, with St. Agatha, or before her judges.
Lucy's suitor, however, had other plans, and revealed Lucy as a Christian. Authorities went to collect her, planning on forcing her into prostitution -- but they were unable to budge her, even after tying her to a team of oxen. She was then tortured by having her eyes torn out. They'd planned on torturing her by fire, too, but the fires kept going out. She was then killed by being stabbed in the throat with a dagger. Lucy's martyrdom: December 13, 304.
Excerpt from: http://fisheaters.com/customsadvent6a.html
Saint Lucy is one of seven women, aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated by name in Eucharistic Prayer I of the Canon of Mass.
The quotes from St. Lucy have really spoken to my heart!! And today I woke up with irritated, burning EYES. Hmmmmm........ May St. Lucy pray for us, indeed. Especially for spiritual eyes to be opened.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the Saints "pick" us for a bit of a 'conversation' or guidance. How lovely is this way of Christian life! May you give full attention with your whole heart to Santa Lucia, Nancy, to 'see' what she has to offer. It was said that even though Santa Lucia's eys were gouged out, she could still see. So in following her example, I guess there remains no excuses, eh! ;-) Blessed journey...
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