Santa Lucia

The Church sets aside its focus on Advent, in a way, to celebrate the Memorial of St. Lucy, a popular Sicilian saint who stays with us via music (Santa Lucia) candle celebrations and food!  What little we know about her justifies this centuries old devotion to her.  She made a vow of virginity as a young girl, and rather than break that vow, she ultimately gave her life, losing her eyes to the knife before actually succumbing to the sword.  Hence, she is the patron of  eyesight and her intercession is universally sought for the healing of eye maladies.  As a reminder of this role ,her statue traditionally includes a platter displaying her eyes.
Although she was martyred in Syracuse, Sicily in 304, her cult has had a major following in Scandanavia even after the Reformation and she is one of the few saints honored in the Lutheran Church.  Because her name means LIGHT in Latin, she is used as the basis for the celebration of  the longest night and Christmas Day, which was December 13th until 1753 in the old Julian Calendar.  Festive food and drink, prepared weeks in advance are served at banquest during which a young girl in a white robe and wearing a crown of burning candles makes her entry, really bringing light to the long winter darkenss.
St. Lucy and the St. Lucy Feast fit right into Advent as we look toward the Light of Christ coming at Christmas and at the end of time.  Over and over again during this season, Isaiah is quoted:  "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone." (Is 9: 1).  May St. Lucy shed light on our blindness, give us courage to give more of ourselves to Jesus, and help us through our actions  overcome the darkness and gloom of the worlld in which we live.
Bro. Rene