St. Lucy is the patron saint of people with eye problems. Her name means “light-bringer”. She holds a special place in my heart because she is the patron saint of our 2nd daughter.
How St. Lucy Interceded for My Family
When our second daughter was 4 months old, we noticed a problem with her eyes. She couldn’t focus properly and frequently crossed her eyes.
We scheduled an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist. Needless to say, we started our novena to St. Lucy immediately.
She was diagnosed with accommodative esotropia and prescribed glasses. Finding out my tiny baby needed glasses was hard to deal with at first. What if she fell asleep with her glasses on? What if she was awake in her crib for an hour without her glasses? Would I ruin her vision?!
Over time, I realized that glasses are tough, but not nearly as tough as what she could have needed!
We praise God that through the intercession of St. Lucy, our tiny baby’s vision was preserved! And she never needed more serious treatment like surgery. We are very blessed!
In gratitude to St. Lucy, who through this ordeal became our daughter’s patron saint, we commemorate her feast day every year with delicious St. Lucy Buns and the simple tradition outlined below.
Thank you, God and thank you, St. Lucy!
Story of St. Lucy
Lucy was born to a noble family. At a young age, she consecrated herself to Jesus.
Throughout her short life, she did many things to help those in need. She brought food and blankets to prisoners in a dark, underground prison. She wanted to be able to bring as many things as she could carry, but holding a candle for light would limit her. She cleverly fashioned a wreath to wear on top of her head that could hold the candles to light her way. (This is where the traditional St. Lucy crown comes from.)
She was engaged to a pagan man who was enraged that she refused to marry him. He reported her Christianity to the governor, who vowed to make her fall into sin.
St. Lucy told the governor that she would never fall into sin, and he could never make the Holy Spirit leave her! He ordered his guards to take her to a brothel, but she became as heavy as a mountain. The guards were unable to move her.
As torture, her eyes were gouged out, but she was miraculously able to see. She is, therefore, the patron saint of the blind and those who have eye problems.
Fun (Simple) Tradition for St. Lucy Day
As St. Lucy’s feast day usually falls on a school morning, we try to keep this as simple as possible while still having fun.
Traditionally, the oldest daughter dresses up as St. Lucy and brings a St. Lucy Bun to each person. (Click on the link to open the recipe.)
In our family, everyone wants to join in, so each of our 3 girls dresses up and brings something to the table. Our older girls each carry a plate of buns while the toddler brings the napkins.
If you’re short on time or just forgot, you can skip making St. Lucy Buns from scratch and use canned cinnamon rolls. If you buy the kind that roll up, unroll them and shape them into a traditional “S” shape that resembles glasses (perfect for the Patron Saint of eye problems) and then bake them.
For a simple costume, you’ll need
A large white T-shirt (long enough to go to your child’s knees or at least close).
4″ strip of light blue fabric, long enough to wrap around their waist with enough length left to tie a knot. Bonus points if the fabric doesn’t need to be hemmed (polyester or similar).
To assemble
Simply tie the sash around the waist of the large T-shirt! Easy-peasy!
Optional St. Lucy Crown
Fancy Wreath: Make a wreath crown out of evergreen garland and add 4 battery-powered tea-lights at the “corners”.
Simple Wreath: make a wreath crown out of construction paper with 4 paper candles glued or stapled at the “corners”
Prayer to St. Lucy
(Bold added for emphasis and to aid in memorization)
O, God, our Creator and Redeemer, mercifully hear our prayers as we venerate Your servant, St. Lucy, for the light also in our souls, that we may be able to avoid evil, to do good and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and darkness of evil and of sin.
Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask You by the intercession of Your servant, St. Lucy, to give perfect vision to our eyes (especially “name”),
That they may serve for Your greater honor and glory, for our salvation and that of others, and that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in paradise.
St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.
Short Prayer to St. Lucy
(Bold added for emphasis and to aid in memorization)
Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask You, through the intercession of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, to give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for Your greater honor and glory.
Saint Lucy, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.
Happy St. Lucy Day!
Now, head over to the recipe for St. Lucy Buns and start celebrating!
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