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St. Lucy the Martyr (December 13th) is known to the public through the popular song commemorating her, "Santa Lucia." However, little is known for certain about the facts of her life. She is thought to have been born in Syracuse, Sicily, during the 280's to noble and wealthy parents. At some point she took a personal vow to dedicate her virginity to God and give her fortune to the poor. Legend has it that this angered a pagan suitor and, when she kept to her intentions, he had her arrested for her Christianity (the vicious persecution under the Emperor Diocletian then being at its height). Another—perhaps more reliable—source says that Lucy was simply the victim of an attempted rape (also part of the persecution) and that her refusal to submit led to her arrest and subsequent condemnation as a Christian. She was executed by the sword ca. 304.
During the 500's, Lucy was honored as one of the Church's most illustrious virgin-martyrs; her named was inserted into the Eucharistic prayer and churches were dedicated to her in Rome, Naples, and Venice. Because her name is derived from the Latin word for "light," St. Lucy came to be associated with light and eyesight. In the middle ages, she was invoked by those who suffered from eye-trouble, an association also prompted by the legend that she tore out her own eyes to give to the suitor/rapist, who was smitten by their beauty, rather than yield to him. Thus, Lucy is often depicted carrying a tray with two eyes on it. A better legacy is that her feast day is richly celebrated in Sweden as a national festival of light. |
