Saint Lucy was a young woman in the Empire of Rome, under the Emperor Diocletian.  She was born in Sicily to rich and noble parents in 283 AD, but her father died when she was a child. Lucy vowed to give her life to God, and gave away her dowry money. But her mother was very ill, and unaware of her daughter’s vow, so she arranged for Lucy to marry a wealthy young man who was not Christian. But Lucy refused, and the young man found out that she was secretly a Christian, then turned her over to the authorities (Christianity was still illegal). She was killed for her faith with a sword.

Lucy’s name come from the Latin word for light (lux). Her feast day is marked by a festival of light in much of Europe, and especially Scandinavia. We celebrate her for her courage, as she defended her faith even unto death. We may never have to shed blood for our faith, but we show our courage in charity, as we step out of our normal activities to feed the poor, care for sick friends, defend the rights of the most vulnerable among us, and forgive those who have been at odds. Then we bring light into darkness, bring Christ into the world.