J.M.J. Our Lady, as always and especially each Saturday, and Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr (+circa 303), occupy our focus today.
A brief passage from The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913):
"Like so many of the early martyrs, Lucy had consecrated her virginity to God, and she hoped to devote all her worldly goods to the service of the poor.
Her mother was not so single-minded, but an occasion offered itself
when Lucy could carry out her generous resolutions. The fame of the virgin-martyr Agatha, who had been executed fifty-two years before in the Decian persecution, was attracting numerous visitors to her relics at Catania, not fifty miles from Syracuse, and many miracles had been wrought through her intercession. Eutychia was therefore persuaded to make a pilgrimage to Catania, in the hope
of being cured of a hæmorrhage, from which she had been suffering for
several years. There she was in fact cured, and Lucy, availing herself
of the opportunity, persuaded her mother to allow her to distribute a great part of her riches among the poor.
"The largess stirred the greed of the unworthy youth to whom Lucy had been unwillingly betrothed, and he denounced her to Paschasius, the Governor of Sicily. It was in the year 303, during the fierce persecution of Diocletian. She was first of all condemned to suffer the shame of prostitution; but in the strength of God
she stood immovable, so that they could not drag her away to the place
of shame. Bundles of wood were then heaped about her and set on fire,
and again God
saved her. Finally, she met her death by the sword. But before she died
she foretold the punishment of Paschasius and the speedy termination of
the persecution, adding that Diocletian would reign no more, and Maximian would meet his end. So, strengthened with the Bread of Life, she won her crown of virginity and martyrdom."
Although little is known about the life of Saint Lucy, what is most important is known: she was faithful to the end.
O Mary, Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Saint Lucy, pray for us.
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