Lucia of Syracuse, called Saint Lucia better known as Saint Lucy, was a Roman Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution.
25 Facts About Saint Lucy
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Saint Lucy is venerated as a saint in the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches.
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Saint Lucy is one of eight women explicitly commemorated by Catholics in the Canon of the Mass.
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Saint Lucy is one of the best known virgin martyrs, along with Agatha of Sicily, Agnes of Rome, Cecilia of Rome and Catherine of Alexandria.
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The single fact upon which various accounts agree is that a disappointed suitor accused Saint Lucy of being a Christian, and she was executed in Syracuse, Sicily, in the year 304 during the Diocletianic Persecution.
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Saint Lucy's veneration spread to Rome, and by the sixth century to the whole Church.
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In medieval accounts, Saint Lucy's eyes were gouged out prior to her execution.
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The most ancient archaeological traces attributable to the cult of Saint Lucy Lucia have been brought back to Sicily, particularly in Syracuse and are preserved in the archaeological museums of the city.
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Saint Lucy's father was of Roman origin, but died when she was five years old, leaving Lucy and her mother without a protective guardian.
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Saint Lucy arranged Lucy's marriage to a young man of a wealthy pagan family.
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Saint Lucy Agatha had been martyred 52 years before during the Decian persecution.
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News that the patrimony and jewels were being distributed came to Saint Lucy's betrothed, who denounced her to Paschasius, the Governor of Syracuse.
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Saint Lucy is the patron saint of authors, cutlers, glaziers, laborers, martyrs, peasants, saddlers, salesmen, stained glass workers, and of Perugia, Italy.
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Saint Lucy is invoked against hemorrhages, dysentery, diseases of the eye, and throat infections.
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St Saint Lucy is the patroness of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy.
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Saint Lucy is the patron saint of the town of Guanes, Santander, Colombia.
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In paintings St Saint Lucy is frequently shown holding her eyes on a golden plate.
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Saint Lucy was represented in Gothic art holding a dish with two eyes on it.
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Saint Lucy holds the palm branch, symbol of martyrdom and victory over evil.
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Saint Lucy first appears in Canto 2 of Inferno, the first canticle of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, as the messenger sent to Beatrice from "The blessed Dame", to rouse Beatrice to send Virgil to Dante's aid.
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Since Saint Lucy represents light, her appearance in Purgatorio 9 mirrors her appearance in Inferno 2; both times she carries him out of darkness.
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Saint Lucy carries him both out of the literal darkness to a new day, as well as the figurative darkness to lead him to salvation.
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St Lucy is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse.
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In Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and parts of Finland, girls dressed as Saint Lucy carry St Lucia buns in procession as songs are sung.
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In small towns, a parade with Saint Lucy is held the evening of the 12th when she goes through the main streets of the town munching sweets and candy from her cart, always together with her donkey.