Who was Saint Lucy?
Lucy lived in Syracuse, a city on the island of Sicily, about three hundred years after Jesus. Christians then had to be careful, because the emperor did not allow them to worship Jesus. Lucy loved Jesus with all her heart and promised to give her whole life to him.
The old story of her life says that her mother was very sick. Lucy took her to pray at the tomb of Saint Agatha, and her mother got well. Then Lucy asked to give the family’s riches to the poor, and her mother said yes.
A legend says Lucy brought food to Christians hiding in dark tunnels, wearing a crown of candles so her hands were free to carry it. Lucy stayed faithful to Jesus even when she was arrested, and she died as a martyr. Today, on December 13, children in Sweden wear crowns of candles, and families everywhere remember the girl whose name means light.
When is Saint Lucy’s feast day?
Saint Lucy’s feast day is December 13. It falls in Advent, in the darkest weeks of the northern winter, and families celebrate it with candles.
Clara tells the whole story at bedtime, in the Little Prayer Stories app.Get the app →
