St. Lucy
Patron of Blindness
Lucy's name means "light", with the same root as "lucid" which means "clear, radiant, understandable." Unfortunately for us, Lucy's history does not match her name. Shrouded in the darkness of time, all we really know for certain is that this brave woman who lived in Syracuse lost her life in the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century. Her veneration spread to Rome so that by the sixth century the whole Church recognized her courage in defense of the faith.
Because people wanted to shed light on Lucy's bravery, legends grew up. The one that is passed down to us tells the story of a young Christian woman who had vowed her life to the service of Christ. Her mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan. Lucy apparently knew that her mother would not be convinced by a young girl's vow so she devised a plan to convince her mother that Christ was a much more powerful partner for life. Through prayers at the tomb of Saint Agatha, her mother's long illness was cured miraculously. The grateful mother was now ready to listen to Lucy's desire to give her money to the poor and commit her life to God.
Unfortunately, legend has it, the rejected bridegroom did not see the same light and he betrayed Lucy to the governor as a Christian. This governor tried to send her into prostitution but the guards who came to take her way found her stiff and heavy as a mountain. Finally she was killed. As much as the facts of Lucy's specific case are unknown, we know that many Christians suffered incredible torture and a painful death for their faith during Diocletian's reign. Lucy may not have been burned or had a sword thrust through her throat but many Christians did and we can be sure her faith withstood tests we can barely imagine.
Lucy's name is probably also connected to statues of Lucy holding a dish with two eyes on it. This refers to another legend in which Lucy's eyes were put out by Diocletian as part of his torture. The legend concludes with God restoring Lucy's eyes.
Lucy's name also played a large part in naming Lucy as a patron saint of the blind and those with eye-trouble.
Whatever the fact to the legends surrounding Lucy, the truth is that her courage to stand up and be counted a Christian in spite of torture and death is the light that should lead us on our own journeys through life.
In Her Footsteps:Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. Braille is an important means of communication for those with visual impairment or blindness. Support the teaching of braille in schools and learn about it yourself by calling your local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
Prayer:Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation -- every corner of our day. Amen
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I want to be an eye doctor and I will make conformation in oct. And I would like to choose Saint Lucy.
Dear St. Lucy, Please watch over my family and help my mother who needs your healing prayers at this time. Prayers and blessings to everyone who is suffering. May there be comfort and healing to you. Amen.
Please pray for Tammy Jolly that her eyes can be healed and that she can hopefully see again. Please help her to see again.
St. Lucy, please pray for the homeless and those who lost their jobs due to cuts and bunckrupcy. Provide for the homeless shelters and clothing for the children. St. Lucy. We pray that God will empower the poor and the forgotten in the nursing homes and hospitals to get well, to get visits from family members and to be ready to see Jesus through your prayers.
St. Lucy pray for us sinners in the hour of our death. Amen
dear st. lucy... please help my cousin who is suffering for breast cancer please heal her for her for kids aged 16, 14, 5 and 5 month..... thank you so much.... the doctor told us that prayer can only saved her in this situation.
Dear Sainte Lucy,
Pray for us to stay always a family christian, and an example for human being.Make us a light every where we will be and guide us in the right way always, the way of Jesus, the True Light, the Only Truth, and the only Way for Eternal life in peace !
Amen,
Georges and julie Medelice and children Joy and Jacob
St. Lucy.....please help my daughter to get her eyesight back to normal....she need it very badly for her coming college entrance examinations and her course to take up....that she could be able to landed a job in her choosen career ...and live a normal life.....thank you so much
PLese pray for our 6 yr old son who has been placed on the corneal transplant list. Many thanks.
St Lucy i always pray to you and i thank you for watching over my baby as she under went her iol surgery in nov 2012 there were no complications now the dr is trying to say different post op but i bind it and i pray that you st lucy continue to restore chaniya s vision to 20/20 pefect vision from now to through out her entire life and i pray that you restore her poor vision to perfect vision in her left eye and that she does not have to undergo anymore surgerys st . lucy ...and her right also functions properly also st lucy to help her use her left more amen
Today is my little brother's homecoming from 6 months in Afghanistan. I have travelled for 6 hours with my mother and 4 year old daughter to see him. Last night at diner, I noticed that my daughter had conjuntivitis. We took her to a local emergency room and she was given some drops. When I went to give her the drops this morning, she had it in both eyes. Please pray that this goes away before my brother comes home or that no one else contracts it. Thank you so much and Semper Fidelis!
a Church also dedicated to saint lucy is at Brgy. Perez, Bulakan, Bulacan
St.Lucy please pray to the Lord for all of us preparing for our examinations in February.Please be a light for all of us in our pursuit of Jesus.Amen.
St. Lucie, Please watch over my beloved dog Lucie who passed on 12/10/12 your feast month. We named her in honor of my father who passed 1/7/01 in Port St. Lucie Florida, She was born 1/10/01. She was a rescue my brother found for us. My brother is dying of cancer, living with me. She was the "light" of my life.Please guide her to greet my brother when he crosses over, and watch over her and help her find me when I cross over. Amen
St Lucy, you brave all that came your way for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ and you were killed for absolutely nothing at all, pray for me that i have Christ in my heart and soul through out my earthly life and also pray for me that i have good sight the entire rest of my earthly life. i pray that you intercede for me through our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ, the Living GOD. Amen
St.Lucy I started my eye problem four years ago. I had catract surgery and my eyes were alright till this Thanksgiving. When I notice my left eye could't hadly see out of it' has gotten wrost.My right eye I'am finding had to read small print. I'am going to see a speailist for my eyes at the beginning of the new year.I PRAY all the time that my sight will improve, I ANOIST my eyes with holy water every day,so please pray foe me thank you
Dear St Lucy, please pray interceeding for my eyes. I really don't know what is wrong but I do know part is dry eyes and pain and sometimes burning. The Doctors try to help with drops but even drops sometimes present a problem. Thanks be to God thru Jesus Christ. Thank you.
Dear st Lucy, please help Ashton sight and his eye to get better and be nothing serious and back to normal. Thankyou so much I will keep praying go hou
St. Lucy, Please pray for me to seek the will of God always and to place him above everything else in life.
Thank you Saint Lucy for helping me in my time of need. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dear St. Lucy, I found you to be such an inspirational Saint that I took your name in Confirmation as my Saint. I haven't prayed to you for a long time, but now I am coming
to you on Dec. 13, your Feast Day for your prayers and intercession for my Bob's eyes. He has had problems with his eyes for some time now and we are so in need of your
love and prayers. Please intercede for my eyes too, St. Lucy, as they have been giving me
some trouble lately. I ask for this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Thank you dear St. Lucy.