Lucia, virgin and martyr

Biography

His feast day, as a martyr, is already mentioned in an inscription in the catacombs of Saint John, in Syracuse, Italy, which dates back to approximately the year 400. There is also a church in his honor in Syracuse, where, according to Tradition, he suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Diocletian. In the Roman Canon her name appears among the most venerated women martyrs of the early Church. Since the Middle Ages she has been invoked as the patron saint of sight, either for eye problems or to cure spiritual blindness. In addition to this saint being honored in Italy, it is noteworthy that she is also particularly honored in Sweden, a totally Protestant country. Lucia means "LUMINOUS", "FULL OF LIGHT", and that is why in some places she is represented with a lit lamp in her hand, as if in chorus with those prudent virgins of whom the Gospel speaks. The legend presents our saint making a pilgrimage in the company of her sick mother, to the tomb of St. Agatha in Catania, province of Sicily. Once her mother was cured, Lucia took a vow of poverty and virginity, in honor of the saint. Her fiancé resented Lucía's promise, and accused her in court of being a Christian. Lucía defended herself with great courage, saying: "I am not afraid of your threats. I belong to Jesus Christ and since I belong to him, he will know how to defend me and will give me strength to be able to resist whatever torments you want to unleash on me. I am a living temple of God and you cannot desecrate it." And so it was. She was cruelly martyred and later died decapitated. It was December 13, 300.