So nice…
The first time I saw a statue of Saint Lucy was at St. Anthony Church in Atlanta’s West End. I was in the first grade. I thought she was holding marbles on the plate in her hand. Then someone told me it was her eye balls! I still have PTSS over that!
Here’s the story of this great saint, though:
St. Lucy was a virgin martyr of the 3rd century, who is traditionally invoked for her intercession for any eye problem or eye disease.
After refusing to worship pagan gods, she was sentenced to death. At first her persecutors had a fire built around her and boiling oil poured on top of her.
However, she was able to endure such torture, which enraged her persecutors.
The executioner finally gouged out her eyes, and drew a sword and struck Lucy in the throat. This last blow was to be the cause of her martyrdom.
Afterwards St. Lucy was always depicted with eyes on a platter, and was declared the patron saint of all those with eye diseases.
2 comments:
My eldest daughter is called Lucy, and I’ve always enjoyed freaking her out with pictures like this. My favourite is in the church on the island in lake Orta, where St Lucy is portrayed wearing a cloak entirely covered with pictures of eyes.
Sophia here: Too bad you couldn't have that, Father. It would have been quite lovely.
Fr. Trigilio, who was the visiting celebrant on EWTN this morning mentioned that he was moved almost to tears when he arrived and the choir was practicing it. He added that many people know it only as a song sung in Italian restaurants. The choir sang it at Communion. He also mentioned that his dad's family is also from the same region of Sicily as St. Lucy!
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