Saint Lucy - One of our Patron Saints

This weekend (December 13, 2025), we remember one of the Patron Saints of our newly combined parish family, St. Catherine of Siena-ST. LUCY and St. Giles, of the Catholic Communities of Oak Park and Neighbors.

Lucy was a young woman with remarkable courage who chose to follow Christ even when it was costly. Lucy reminds us that the light of faith can shine even in the darkest of moments. She is honored as a patron of sight – both sight of our eyes and the deeper vision of the heart that helps us recognize Christ at work among us.

Let us remember St. Lucy this weekend and ask her to pray for us that we may carry Christ’s light with courage, walk with clear vison, and be a source of hope for one another as we grow together in this new community and family of faith.

Fr. Carl Morello
Pastor
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish

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Saint Lucy, “Be Our Light if Darkness"

On December 13, we celebrate the feast day of one of our patron saints, Saint Lucy. Not much is known about Lucy for sure, except that she was born in Syracuse, Italy, in 283 A.D., and martyred there in 304 A.D. during the Diocletian persecution of Christians. Her veneration spread to Rome, so that by the 6th century, the whole Church recognized her courage in defending the faith.

Saint Lucy’s courage and faith have inspired countless generations of Christians. Her name, “Lucy,” means light and symbolizes her role as a bringer of spiritual light. She is the patroness of the blind, those with eye disorders, and martyrs, and her feast day is celebrated on December 13th, a date associated with light during the Advent season.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be the light of the world, reflecting Jesus' light in our lives. The purpose of being the light is to guide others out of darkness and lead them to the truth of the Gospel.

When we shine our light in the darkness, we can help transform lives, as people are drawn from darkness into God's marvelous light, as expressed by the martyr and virgin Saint Lucy. Ultimately, being a light in the darkness brings glory to God, as others see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.

As we celebrate joy on the feast day of Saint Lucy, let us keep in mind the festiveness of this third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. Just as Saint Lucy held on to her faith as she was tortured, in all of her very being, she looked to joy in the light of Christ to be her guide.

Though many of her words are preserved through tradition, one of her most famous declarations before her death is: “No one can take away my faith; the more you try to destroy it, the stronger it grows.”

Happy feast day, Saint Lucy.

Prayer to Saint Lucy:

“O Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, you who sacrificed your life for Christ, intercede for us who seek your guidance. May your example of faith inspire us to walk in the light of Christ, and may your patronage bring healing to those who suffer from blindness, both physical and spiritual. Amen.”

Other Saint Lucy Facts:

• Patron saint to the blind, ophthalmologists, those with vision difficulty.
• Eyes on a Plate: In art, Saint Lucy is frequently depicted with a dish containing her eyes, representing her patronage of the visually impaired.
• Candlelight: In some cultures, young girls wear white gowns with crowns and carry candles to symbolize light in darkness, reflecting Saint Lucy’s legacy of faith and hope.
• Saint Lucy is invoked by writers and those suffering from throat infections.
• Mention in the Canon of the Mass: Saint Lucy is one of the seven female saints mentioned in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) of the Catholic Mass.