Welcome to WL's Home Page!

Santa Lucia

 

"A virgin and martyr of Syracuse in Sicily, whose feast is celebrated by Latins and Greeks alike on 13 Dec. According to the traditional story,  she was born of rich and noble parents about the year 283. Her father  was of Roman origin, but his early death left her dependent upon her mother, whose name, Eutychia, seems to indicate that she came of Greek stock. 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 or a haemorrhage, 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."

 

 

Information obtained at Catholic Encyclopedia

 

Sankta Lucia in Scandinavia

According to a legend, Lucia, was a medieval saint who carried food and drink to hungry folk in the province of Värmland during a period of famine. She was seen across Lake Vänern with her white gown and crown of lights. Throughout Sweden the feast day of Lucia is celebrated as a festival of lights. In the early hours of the morning of December 13 a young woman, dressed in a white  gown, and wearing a red sash and a crown of lingonberry twigs  and blazing candles,  would go from one farm to the next carrying a torch to light her way, bringing baked goods, stopping to visit at each house and returning home by break of day. Every village had its own Lucia. The custom is thought to have begun in some of the richer farming districts of Sweden  and still persists although the crowns are now electric lights. Nowadays, a girl in a white dress , bringing a tray of saffron buns and steaming coffee  to wake the family is still a custom. She is called the "Lussibrud" (Lucia bride) and her  pastry (saffron buns) is Lussekattor. Many families have a Lucia-Queen in their own  home, often the youngest daughter, who wakes the rest of the family with singing.

 

Santa Lucia's song.

 

The night goes great and mute
now one hears its wings
in every silent room
murmurs as if from wings.
Look at our threshold stands
white-clad with lights in her hair
Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
The darkness shall soon depart
from the earth's valleys
thus she speaks
a wonderful word to us

The day shall rise anew
from the rosy sky.
Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia