Remembering St Lucy

Today we remember St Lucy. She was born about 283 and was martyred in 304 AD at the age of only 21. Although she became a prominent saint in the church - her name is included in the Canon 1 of the mass, there is not a great deal that we know about her. The earliest record is found in a 5th century Acts of the Martyrs. She was said to have been born of rich and noble parents. Her father died when she was five. After she was cured, her mother allowed Lucy to give her money to the poor. She was denounced to the authorities by her betrothed who was appalled when she gave away what was expected to be her dowry. When the guards came to take her away, they couldn't move her and tried to set her on fire. When that failed, one of them thrust his sword into her throat. Later tradition says she was tortured by eye-gouging. This why she is the patron saint of the blind. She is patron saint of other professions and trades, including authors, cutlers, glaziers and labourers. People pray to St Lucy for protection against eye diseases and throat infections. The response to today’s psalm 33 - “The Lord hears the cry of the poor” speaks very much of the key cause of Lucy’s martyrdom. She gave all she had to the poor. Let us pray, then, to St Lucy for various people who have asked us for prayers, for those who are struggling to provide for their families, especially during this festive season, for those who are struggling with illness or infections, for young people who are facing important decisions about the future of their lives, and for those authors who write the stories that inspire hope and belief that life is worthwhile.