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| Martyrdom of St. Lucy, c.1480-1520 |
According to the traditional story, Lucy 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 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.
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