The saint I chose for my study is Saint Lucy ( besides known as Lucia ) of Syracuse. Saint Lucy ‘s name means “ light ” , with the same root as “ lucid ” which means “ clear, beaming, and apprehensible. ” Unfortunately for us, Lucy ‘s history does non fit her name, and it is has even been doubted whether many of the events even happened. Shrouded in the darkness of clip, all we truly know for certain is that this courageous adult female who lived in Syracuse, Italy lost her life in the persecution of Christians in the early 4th century. ( catholics.org )

However, there are some traditional narratives that have been told about this brave adult female through the centuries since her decease. It is said that St. Lucy was born to rich Roman parents and converted to Christianity at an early age, so subsequently pledged her life to God. However, her mother disagreed with the miss ‘s religion, as she had already arranged a matrimony for her. Lucy asked her female parent if she would see the grave of Saint Agatha, and her female parent agreed. After geting, Lucy prayed at the grave and her female parent ‘s hemorrhaging unwellness was cured, and her female parent agreed to the misss religion ( saints.sqpn.com ) .

Harmonizing to catholics.org, Saint Lucy ‘s suer, nevertheless, still pursued her. She successfully held off the matrimony for three old ages, but the suer became impatient. He desired her for her beautiful eyes, so, in an act of utmost courage, she tore out her ain eyes and sent them to her suer, along with a note reading, “ Here, now you possess what you desire, now leave the remainder to me, I beg of you! ” Miraculously, her sight was restored the following twenty-four hours ( Catholics ) .

However, her suer could non see every bit clearly as Saint Lucy, and in his green-eyed monster, betrayed her to the Roman governor of Sicily. At that clip, Christian persecution was high in the universe. The governor sentenced her to be put in a house of harlotry, trusting that the conditions would be so bad that she would lief accept her suer and go forth the manner of Christ. When the guards came to take her off, nevertheless, by another miracle, they found her every bit immovable as rock. Because the guards could non travel her, the governor so sentenced her to decease by fire, but the fire would n’t illume and harm her. Finally, Saint Lucy was finally stabbed in the pharynx and killed ( Vann, Father Joseph and Thomas Plessman, 355 ) .

This beautiful narrative can non unluckily be accepted without unfavorable judgment. The inside informations may be merely a repeat of similar histories of a virgin sufferer ‘s life and decease. However, since there is no other grounds by which the narrative may be tested, it can merely be suggested that the facts peculiar to the saint ‘s narrative deserve particular notice ( Bridge ) .

Among these, the topographic point and clip of her decease can barely be questioned ; for the remainder, the most noteworthy are her connexion with St. Agatha and the marvelous remedy of her female parent, and it is to be hoped that these have non been introduced by the pious compiler of the saint ‘s narrative or a popular inherent aptitude to associate together two national saints. Another point of dissention is how she could take her eyes and still unrecorded. The narrative can be traced back to the 5th century. Though it ca n’t be regarded as accurate, there can be no uncertainty of the great fear that was shown to St. Lucy by the early church. ( Brown, Bridge ) .

Saint Lucy is the frequenter saint of the blind, writers, and those who suffer from oculus problems. Her symbols are the cord, eyes on a home base, a lamp, and blades. Her feast twenty-four hours is December thirteenth. ( saints.sqpn.com )

In Sweden, a tradition sprang up on her feast twenty-four hours when Viking soldiers heard of Saint Lucy and her heroism. They imagined her as a superb figure, surrounded by visible radiation. This narrative was favored by northern people, since the yearss were short during the winter, doing sunlight a cherished trade good. It was besides utile that Saint Lucia ‘s twenty-four hours, December 13, marked the beginning of the Winter Solstice, in Swedish folklore. Besides harmonizing to folklore, single misss believed that Saint Lucia would state them who their hereafter hubby would be on her feast twenty-four hours.

Today, the tradition is celebrated with schools, concerns and places choosing a “ Lucia. ” The Lucia is dressed in white robes and ruddy threads and wears a circlet of tapers on her caput. Often, the oldest girl dramas Lucia, and greets her household with a breakfast of hot java and pastries called Lucia Buns. This honors the fable of Saint Lucia conveying nutrient during a dearth. This more modern version of Saint Lucia began in the eighteenth century ( Brown ) .

In decision, although we do non cognize much fact about Saint Lucy, this adult female doubtless was brave in the face of persecution. She stood up and was proud to be called a Christian. This courageous adult female is now esteemed worldwide for her heroism and strength.

Bridge, James. “ St. Lucy. ” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton

Company, 1910. 2 Dec. 2010.

“ Saint Lucy ” , Catholic Online. N.P. , 2010. Web. 10 December, 2010.

“ Saint Lucy ” . Saints.sqpn.com, notes about your household in Eden. Sqpn.com, 2010, web. 12

December, 2010.

Brown, Lorri. “ History of Saint Lucia. ” Suite101.com. N.P. 2010, web. 12 December 2010.

Vann, Father Joseph, O.F.M. ed. , and Father Thomas Plessman. Lifes of saints. N.Y. , John J.

Crawley and Co. , Inc. 1954. Imperativeness.