Lucy was a young martyr in Syracuse, Sicily, around 304, but the Scandinavians adopted her as a saint of light. Under the old Julian calendar, her feast fell close to the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. In the middle of Advent, in the deepest dark of the northern winter, her day is a promise that the light is coming.
Historical Context
In Sicily, people mark the day by eating cuccìa, boiled wheat berries, instead of bread or pasta, remembering a famine in the 1600s that ended, the story goes, when ships full of grain arrived in Syracuse harbour on St Lucy’s feast.
A December 13 Prayer
Lord, on St Lucy’s day, the nights are long and dark.
Shine your light into the dark places in the world,
and the dark places in me.
Give me Lucy’s courage to stay faithful when it costs something.
Let me carry light to someone today.
St Lucy, pray for us.
Amen.
An Advent Prayer of Light
Come, Lord Jesus, light of the world.
The people who walk in darkness are waiting for you.
Amen.
For the Blind and Those with Eye Problems
St Lucy, patron of eyesight,
pray for all who are losing their sight or have lost it.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- Before dawn on 13 December, by candlelight.
- At a Lucia procession or Advent service.
- When lighting your Advent wreath.
Scripture Connection
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” — Isaiah 9:2
Isaiah’s prophecy is read at Christmas Midnight Mass. St Lucy’s day, twelve days earlier, is a small preview of that light.
Related prayers
For more on St Lucy, see the Saint Lucy Prayer. For the month, the December Prayer Guide. For light, the Prayer for Light.