Courage, Light, and Faith
St. Lucy for Today’s Catholic YouthSaint Lucy was born in Sicily in the year 283 into a noble family, during a time when being Christian was extremely dangerous.
The Roman Empire punished Christians with prison, torture, and even death. Because of this, Lucy kept her Christian faith hidden from non-believers—but she didn’t let fear stop her from living like Jesus taught us.
Even as a teenager, Lucy was known for serving others. She helped Christians who were hiding by sneaking food and supplies to them at night. To light her way and keep her hands free for this task, she wore a wreath with candles on her head—literally carrying light into the darkness for people who desperately needed hope.
Like many young people today, Lucy faced pressure from her family and culture about her future. She was promised in marriage to a man who wasn’t Christian, but she refused. She said she was already promised to God. Her courage angered the groom and his family and drew attention to her secret faith. Because she was Christian, she was tortured.
One recorded story says that her persecutors gouged out her eyes and tried to burn her, but the fire kept going out. Finally, they killed her by thrusting a sword into her neck.
Even though she died young, Lucy’s faith and bravery spread far beyond her lifetime. Today, people around the world celebrate St. Lucy’s Feast Day on December 13th with songs, novenas, and traditions where little girls dress in white like the innocent saint who refused to hide her devotion to Christ.
Lucy is known as a model of purity and chastity, and she is the patron saint of the blind and those with sight problems.
Her life invites every Catholic to learn from her courage, her commitment to God, and her compassion for people in need.
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