St. Lucy

Despite the popularity of the song, Santa Lucia, not much is known about St. Lucy.  Her name is a derivative of the Latin, "lux" and hence in Sweden, because her feast fell on the winter solstice in the Julian calendar, it became a time to celebrate the shortest day and the coming of LIGHT.  The Gregorian Calendar moved the feast to where it is now, but nevertheless the tradition of celebrating the coming of light continues.
We read that Lucy was a martyr because her suitor revealed that she was a Christian when she refused him in marriage.  Legendary stories range from an attempt to be placed in a brothel, but the guards could not move her, to her plucking out her eyes to make herself less attractive. He image often shows her holding a platter with her eyes on it and because of this story, she is the patroness of the blind. 
As we have passed the halfway mark of Advent and draw closer to Christmas, we talk more about the Light that has shone in the darkness:  "The People who walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Is 9:2) ).  May Lucy help us to see more clearly what we can do to let our own light shine in our darkened world. What can we do today to bring light to others?
Bro. Rene