Homily for Memorial of St. Lucy

Homily for the Memorial
of St. Lucy

Dec. 13, 2019

John 8: 12
Ursulines, New Rochelle, N.Y.

“Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life” (Resp. Psalm; cf. John 8:12.

Lucy’s name is related to lux, “light,” which has led to her being invoked against eye afflictions, which in turn has led to the iconography of her holding a pair of eyes on a dish—which can’t be her own, as they’re still in their proper place.

Lucy’s believed to have been martyred at Syracuse in Sicily around 303 during the severe persecution of Diocletian.  According to the legendary story of her life, she was devoted to St. Agatha, an earlier Syracusan martyr, had dedicated her virginity to Christ, was denounced as a Christian by the pagan who wished to marry her (and get her family wealth—what a way to demonstrate your love!)—and was tortured and beheaded.

Devotion to Lucy spread rapidly and led to her being invoked in the Roman Eucharistic Prayer, along with Agatha and other women martyrs, both virgins and wives.

In today’s Collect, we invoke Lucy’s “glorious intercession” to help us “behold things eternal”—to see with our spiritual vision and eventually also our bodily eyes “the light of life.”  In the 1st reading (Is 48:17-19), Isaiah speaks for the Holy One of Israel who teaches his people what is for their good and leads them on the way they should go to reach redemption—to be restored to the Holy Land after their Babylonian exile.  Lucy’s life also shows us what is good, offering us her vision of life in Christ.  She shows us the way we should go, Christ’s way, to “behold things eternal.”

Jesus concludes his short parable today about the fickleness of the world (Matt 11:16-19):  “Wisdom is vindicated by her works.”  If Lucy’s father was involved in promising her in marriage and supporting her persecution, he’s completely lost to history.  Her suitor likewise is lost except as a creep.  Even Diocletian, at one time the most powerful man in the Western world, is remembered only by historians; he’s too obscure even for Jeopardy.  But people everywhere in the world remember Lucy, take her name, and pray for her patronage.  Divine wisdom has vindicated her, and as Christ’s faithful follower she walks in the light of life.