St. Lucy (283-304 AD), whose name means “light,” was a young Christian martyr from Syracuse, Sicily. Known for her courage and devotion to Christ, she consecrated her virginity to God and gave her dowry to the poor. According to legend, her eyes were gouged out during her martyrdom, leading to her patronage of the blind and those with eye troubles.
Her feast day on December 13 was once coincident with the Winter Solstice, making her a special symbol of light during the darkest time of year. Her prayers are particularly meaningful for those seeking spiritual light, healing of eye problems, and courage in faith.
Historical Context
Saint: Lucy (Lucia)
Feast Day: December 13
Patronage: The Blind, Eye Problems, Writers
Era: 3rd-4th Century
Saint Lucy Prayer 1
Saint Lucy,
You did not hide your light under a basket,
but let it shine for the whole world,
for all the centuries to see.
We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did,
but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity
illumine our daily lives.
Please help us to have the courage
to bring our Christianity into our work,
our recreation, our relationships, our conversation —
every corner of our day.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
Saint Lucy Prayer 2
Saint Lucy,
Your beautiful name signifies light.
By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you,
increase and preserve this light in my soul
so that I may avoid evil,
be zealous in the performance of good works,
and abhor nothing so much as the blindness
and the darkness of evil and of sin.
By your intercession with God,
obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes
and the grace to use them for God’s greater honor and glory
and the salvation of all men.
Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr,
hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
Saint Lucy Prayer 3
O God,
Our Creator and redeemer,
mercifully hear our prayers
that as we venerate Thy servant, Saint Lucy,
for the light of faith thou didst bestow upon her,
Thou wouldst vouchsafe to increase and to preserve
this same light in our souls,
that we may be able to avoid evil,
to do good and to abhor nothing so much
as the Blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.
Relying on Thy goodness, O God,
we humbly ask Thee, by the intersession of Thy servant,
Saint Lucy that Thou wouldst give perfect vision to our eyes,
that they may serve for Thy greater honor and glory,
and for the salvation of our souls in this world,
that we may come to the enjoyment
of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in paradise.
Saint Lucy, Virgin and martyr,
hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
Saint Lucy Prayer 4
Saint Lucy,
Whose beautiful name signifies light,
by the light of faith which God bestowed upon you
increase and preserve His light in my soul
so that I may avoid evil
and be zealous in the performance of good works,
and abhor nothing so much as the blindness
and the darkness of evil and sin.
Obtain for me, by your intercession with God
perfect vision for my bodily eyes
and the grace to use them for God’s greater honor and glory
and the salvation of souls.
St. Lucy, virgin and martyr
hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
Saint Lucy Prayer 5
O God, our Creator and Redeemer,
Mercifully hear our prayers
as we venerate Thy servant, St. Lucy,
for the light of faith Thou didst bestow upon her,
Thou wouldst vouchsafe to increase
and to preserve this same light in our souls,
that we may be able to avoid evil,
to do good and to abhor nothing so much
as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.
Amen.
