Images by Unsplash.com
There are many different stories and legends attributed to St. Lucy. From being unmovable even by a team of oxen when persecutors tried to have her defiled to having her eyes plucked out (or plucking them out herself, we don’t know). One fact that we have about St Lucy is that she was a victim of that persecution along with the earlier Christians during the reign of the Roman Diocletian and was killed..
There are many legends that cannot be verified, but may be true or at least have some elements of truth.
St Lucy was said to have been so beautiful that her eyes radiated her love for Christ and she had many pagan suitors. Her father died when she was young, and her mother wanted one of the pagan suitors to marry St Lucy. They had a significant dowry, but St Lucy had begged her mother to give the dowry to the poor. Her mother became suddenly and seriously ill, so they went to the tomb of St. Agatha to pray. The legend continues to say that they fell asleep, and Saint Agatha appeared to Lucy in her sleep to tell her that her mother had been healed.
Another legend around St Lucy is that of her rejected groom. While Lucy and her mother were grateful to God, the rejected would-be groom was deeply angered and betrayed Lucy's faith to the governor Paschasius. The governor attempted to force her into defilement at a brothel, but the guards who came to take her away were unable to move her, even after hitching her to a team of oxen.
These are lesser-known legends surrounding St Lucy, but by far the most well-known legends surrounding this dear sweet Saint of ours have to do with her eyes. It’s said that they were the most beautiful eyes because they were shining with he love she had for our Lord. One such legend surrounding her eyes is that rather than accept the hand in marriage of a lover who desired her for the sake of her beautiful eyes, she plucked them out, and sent them to him with this message: “Here hast thou what thou so much desirest; and for the rest, I beseech thee, leave me now in peace!”
Nevertheless, as the legend expressly tells us, her sight was restored to her the next day. Lucy, whose name can mean "light" or "lucid," is the patron saint of the blind. She is often seen with the emblem of eyes on a cup or plate. In paintings, she is often depicted with a golden plate holding her eyes and often holds a palm branch, which is a symbol of victory over evil.
St. Lucy’s devotion and faith reminds me of our sweet mama Mary who remained a virgin through her entire life. They had unending faith and honor in their chastity and eternal virginity, both doing their duty to the Lord, and both having faith in His plan for them.-Mandi
Reflection 1: In what ways can you open your own eyes to the will of the Lord? He doesn’t call all of us to the same life of the saints, but He does have a calling for all of us.
Reflection 2: Have you prayed for discernment of the Lord’s calling for you?
Act: Pray for the strength and courage to live out your faith and to honor the Lord’s calling for you with the strength and courage that Saint Lucy had.
