Origins
Saint Luzia was born in Syracuse, Italy, at the end of the 3rd century. It is said that he belonged to a wealthy Italian family, who gave him excellent Christian training, to the point that he made a vow to live perpetual virginity. With her father’s death, Luzia learned that her mother, called Eutícia, wanted her married to a young man from a distinguished family, albeit a pagan one.
The Pilgrimage
When asking for time for discernment and having her mother seriously ill, Saint Luzia inspiredly proposed to her mother that they go on a pilgrimage to the tomb of the martyr Saint Águeda, in Catania. By curing the serious illness, it would be confirmation of the “no” to marriage.
The miracle
Miraculously, this is what happened with the arrival of the pomegranates. Thus, Santa Luzia returned to Syracuse with the certainty of God’s will regarding her virginity and the suffering she would go through, just like Santa Águeda.
“I worship one true God, and I promised love and fidelity to Him” (Santa Luzia)
The chase
Santa Luzia sold everything, gave it to the poor, and was soon accused by the young man who wanted her as his wife. Not wanting to offer sacrifice to false gods or break her holy vow, she had to face the persecuting authorities. The mayor of the city, Pascásio, wanted to bring the Christian virgin to dishonor, but there was no human force that could drag her away.
Easter
Firm as a hill of granite, several teams of oxen were unable to carry it (Santa Luzia is often represented with the aforementioned oxen). The flames of the fire were also powerless before her, until, finally, the sword ended such precious life. The beheading of Santa Luzia took place on December 13, 304.
The eyes
It is said that, before her death, her eyes were gouged out, fact or not, Saint Luzia is recognized for the life she led to its ultimate consequences, as she testified to her accusers: “I worship one true God, and the He promised love and fidelity.”
Saint Luzia: the Bringer of Light
The name
The name of Santa Luzia derives from Latin and means: Bringer of light. She is invoked by the faithful as the protector of the eyes, which are the “window of the soul”, a channel of light.
Prayer:
Oh, Saint Luzia, you preferred to let your eyes be gouged out and gouged out, before denying your faith and defiling your soul; and God, with an extraordinary miracle, gave you two other healthy and perfect eyes back, to reward your virtue and your faith, and made you a protector against eye diseases, I turn to you to protect my eyes and cure the diseases of my eyes. eyes. Oh, Saint Luzia, keep the light in my eyes so that I can see the beauties of creation. Also keep the eyes of my soul, faith, through which I can know my God, understand his teachings, recognize his love for me and never err on the path that will lead me to where you, Saint Luzia, are, in the company of the angels and sanctuary. Saint Luzia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Amen.
My prayer
“We ask you for the protection of our eyes against all evil and disease, as well as a purified vision to see God in everything and everyone. May our vision go beyond the material and reach the spiritual, realizing that it is so real and present in our lives. Amen.”
Santa Luzia, pray for us!
Other saints and blesseds celebrated on December 13
- In Porto Romano, near present-day Fiumicino, Italy, Santo Aristanmartyr. († cs IV)
- On the promontory of Súlcis, in Sardinia, Santo Antiochusmartyr. († cs IV)
- In Armenia, the saints Eustratius, Auxêncio, Eugénio, Mardario It is Orestesmartyrs. († cs IV)
- In northern Neustria, currently in France, Saint Judocopresbyter and hermit, († c. 669)
- In Cambrai, in Austrasia, also in present-day France, Santo AutbertoBishop. († c. 670)
- In the territory of Strasbourg, in Burgundy, also in modern-day France, Saint Otiliavirgin and first abbess of the monastery of Hohenbourg. († s. VII)
- In Naples, in Campania, region of Italy, Blessed João Marinoni presbyter of the Order of Regular Clerics, called Theatines. († 1562)
- In the monastery of the Visitation of Moulins, in France, Saint Joana Francisca Frémiot de Chantalwhose memory is celebrated on the twelfth of August. († 1641)
- In Fermo, in the Marche region of Italy, Blessed Antonio Grássipresbyter of the Congregation of the Oratory.(† 1671)
- In Tjyen-Tiyou, a town in Korea, the saints Pedro Cho Hwa-sofamily man, and five companionsmartyrs.(† 1866)
- In Castellamare, in Campania, region of Italy, Blessed Maria Madalena da Paixãovirgin, founder of the Congregation of the Compassionist Sisters Servants of Mary. († 1921)
Source:
- Book “Golden Legend: Lives of the Saints” – Jacopo de Varazze
- Book “Daily Saints” – José Leite, SJ
- Roman Martyrology
– Production and editing: Melody de Paulo
– Prayer: Rafael Vitto – Community