Saint Lucy’s legacy is as luminous as her name, which is derived from “lux,” the Latin word for light.

Her story tells of a valiant woman from Syracuse who became a martyr during the early fourth-century Christian persecutions. Despite the scant details about her life, Lucy’s devotion to her faith led to widespread veneration, reaching Rome and gaining recognition across the Christian world by the sixth century.

Lucy, a devout young Christian, pledged to live her life in Christ’s service and resisted her mother’s attempts to arrange a marriage with a pagan suitor. Understanding that her mother might not be swayed by a mere vow, Lucy sought a miraculous sign. Her prayers at Saint Agatha’s tomb led to her mother’s miraculous recovery from a long-standing illness, thereby convincing her to respect Lucy’s wishes to dedicate her life to God and to distribute her wealth among the poor.

The spurned suitor, unable to see the spiritual sign that guided Lucy, denounced her as a Christian to the local governor. When the guards attempted to force her into prostitution, they found her immovable, as steadfast as a mountain. Ultimately, Lucy met a martyr’s death, embodying the suffering that many Christians endured under Diocletian’s brutal regime.

Lucy is the patron of the blind and those with eye troubles. This association stems from a pious legend where Diocletian had Lucy’s eyes removed as part of his torture, only for them to be miraculously restored by God. This is often depicted in art, showing Lucy holding a dish with two eyes.

Editorial credit: Bakusova / Shutterstock.com
Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

23 COMMENTS

  1. I wanted to tell you, that my 13 year old daughter, Rita, has severe dry eyes and that her corneas are pitted because of it. For about 3 years now the doctors did not want to give her a prescription for glasses because her corneas were so badly damaged from the dryness, that it was preventing her to be able to see with corrective lenses. She normally wore eyeglasses. Well, the doctor she has seen a couple times put her on a very expensive drop called Restasis. This drop helps her body to produce its own tears. Her tear quality, we were told, was poor. Well, we have been using the drops ALMOST faithfully and also artificial tears called Systane. We have used these for almost a year now on a daily basis. Two days before yesterday, she put on a friend’s pair of glasses and was amazed that she could see real well with them. So, I made her an appointment with an optometrist yesterday not knowing that it was the feastday of St. Lucy. (I actually had never heard of this saint.) Anyhow, before we left, I saw your post on St. Lucy and said a quick prayer and my mom saw your post also and she told me today, that she had seen your post and prayed to St. Lucy for my dtr Rita. Well, God must’ve been smiling when St. Lucy interceded on Rita’s behalf. She corrected to 20/30 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye. Her vision is 20/30 using both eyes together (with the new corrective lenses) and prior to that, she couldn’t see better than 20/50 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye eight months earlier. Her vision would not correct to better than that so the doctors would not prescribe glasses. This is nothing short of a miracle for my daughter. We had glasses made right after the eye appointment and they were ready 2 hours later. Thank you for posting the Feastday of St. Lucy. Rita still has severe dry eyes and her corneas are still pitted, but I am sure St. Lucy had a hand in this. Because, when I made the appointment, I had never heard of St. Lucy…and it turns out it was her feastday. Thank you and God bless!!! Maria Mendoza

    • Ask her eye Dr about Custom Stable contact lenses. They have to clear the inflammation first, but once they do no more drops!!! It’s been amazing for me. They take some getting used to, but are so worth it to not be constantly putting drops in. They work by keeping a few drops of saline in a pocket next to the eye so it’s constantly hydrated.
      (Be sure to buy extra tools online to keep in various places.)

  4. Blessed St. Lucy, your name means light. Shine bright light of Christ’s love for us into this dark and frightened world. Help illuminate my way to a new and better life. Amen.

  9. Denise December 13, 2016@7:45 am.
    I lift up little Lucy as she recovers from brain surgery. She is a light, let it shine in the glory like the light of St. Lucy and restore her. In Jesus name I place this my petition for little Lucy Light before you. Restore Lucy this Feast Day of St. Lucy and comfort her family.

  10. St lucy and mama Mary open the eyes and heart of my grandson Hunter that he may follow Christ today and always and accept Jesus as his Lord and saviour
    Heal the wounds that is in life of loving and serving you amen and amen

  13. St. Lucy please heal Rita – this little girl needs her eyesight as she is just starting her life. She has partially been cured on this Your feast day, I pray that she is healed by all our prayers – Amen.

  14. O God, our Creator and Redeemer, mercifully hear our prayers that as we venerate your servant, Saint Lucy, for the light of faith you bestowed upon her, you would increase and preserve this same light in our souls that we may be able to avoid evil, to do good, and to abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin. Relying on your goodness, O God, we humbly ask you, by the intercessory prayers of your servant, Saint Lucy, that you would give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for your greater honor and glory and for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of your unfailing light of the Lamb of God in paradise. Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.

  19. My daughter’s Confirmation name. I found it strange that my daughter was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 18 when she had optic neuritis causing blank spots in her vision. Probably the best sypmtom she might have because it lead to early diagnosis and she was able to start treatment right away. Although her MS will never go away we pray to St. Lucy to keep her in relatively good health. My daughter is now 39 yrs. old.

  21. I respectfully borrow Boyet Marmolejo’s beautiful prayer, without changing a word, and add my petition at the very end:

    Blessed Saint Lucy, please intercede for my sister’s eyes to get better, that she may receive the blessings and healing that my heart pleads for her. Jesus knows how grateful I am that we can turn to your precious help (and that of all beloved Saints) for mountains to be moved and give praise to God for the supernatural gifts of prayer and intercession.

    Reference: Boyet Marmolejo December 13, 2018 at 8:44 am

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here