ST LUCY, PATRON SAINT OF EYE PROBLEMS, JUNE 4, 2023
Ophthalmologists who practice in sections where there are many Italians frequently hear reference to Santa Lucia as a patron saint of those who suffer from ocular troubles. We make special intercession for those afflicted with disorders of the eyes.
She is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse, Sicily and of virgins. Because of various traditions associating her name with light, she came to be thought of as the patron of sight and was depicted by medieval artists carrying a dish containing her eyes.
St Lucy was a martyr of the Diocletian persecution against Christians, one of the most severe during the Roman Empire. She was born in Syracuse, Sicily, in 283 AD, and was the daughter of a rich nobleman, who died when she was still a child.
Lucy grew up with her sickly mother Eutychia, a woman of Greek descent who wasn’t Christian. Nonetheless, she grew up a devout Christian. In her teenage years, she decided to consecrate her virginity to God and to devote her life to the service of the poor. However, ignoring Lucy’s promises, and worried about her daughter’s future, Eutychia arranged her marriage to a young, rich, and pagan man.Young Lucy, who was renowned for her beauty and her sparkling eyes, refused to marry the man and followed her own spiritual calling. In the end, she persuaded her mother to respect her firm resolution and to let her devote to suffering and needy people. As Lucy’s reputation quickly increased in Syracuse, the emperor Diocletian began the last and worse persecution against Christian of all times. In those sorrowful days, fearless Lucy helped Christians hiding in the dark underground catacombs. She carried food and drink, but also comfort and relief to the persecuted.Unfortunately, the pagan man to whom Lucy was betrothed heard of her activities, and denounced her to the Roman governor as a Christian. The governor seized this opportunity to demonstrate Rome’s greatness and power. The helpless, but very courageous young girl was arrested, tortured, and humiliated. Though, she valorously resisted to every cruel attempt to annihilate her inner strength. St. Lucy never renounced her faith, nor denied Jesus.
Legend has it that Saint Lucy either plucked out her own eyes to avoid marriage to a pagan, or had her eyes put out by the Emperor Diocletian as part of her martyrdom.St. Lucy was executed in Syracuse, Sicily in 304 AD, on December 13th. Her remains rest in the Basilica of St. Lucy in Syracuse, Sicily where the beautiful Caravaggio’s painting “Burial of St. Lucy” is housed too. She is one of eight women along with the Blessed Virgin Mary who is commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.
Candles, and light sources in general, along with the eyes, are the main symbols of St. Lucy’s worship. In fact, her name (Lucy, Lucia) comes from “lux”, the Latin word for “light”. Therefore, she is worldwide venerated as the patron saint of the blind and eye problems and as an example of moral courage, integrity and purity of heart.
PAPA spiritual advisor, Father Michael Luan Truongluan Nguyen, is scheduled for cataract surgery on June 13, 2023. Please keep him in your prayers as we begin the Novena to St Lucy, patroness of eye problems. Pray for the surgeon and that Our Lord will direct his hands.
Prayer for the Eyes
I come to you for you to protect my eyesight and to heal the illness in my eyes. O Saint Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes so that I may see the beauties of creation, the glow of the sun, the color of the flowers and the smile of children.
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