{"id":8320,"date":"2018-12-12T15:09:12","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T21:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/?p=8320"},"modified":"2026-02-26T13:41:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:41:42","slug":"light-of-st-lucy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/2018\/12\/12\/light-of-st-lucy\/","title":{"rendered":"Light of St. Lucy"},"content":{"rendered":"

I remember spending a lot of time picking out my new confirmation name. Among the saints, the holy men and women who have come before us to help intercede during our lifelong faith development, I was looking for someone a bit out of the ordinary. I had narrowed my choices down to two saints: one simply because I enjoyed her name, and the other, Santa Lucia \u2014 St. Lucy \u2014 whose name means light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, I asked for her patronage because people have often told me that I light up a room when I walk in. She also is the patron saint of eyesight, and as someone who has had glasses and contacts for over 15 years, that resonated with me. Both of these aspects remind me to look for goodness in the world. Even if I can\u2019t see it, St. Lucy\u2019s example encourages me to be the light in a darkened world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"boy-girl-present-lit-candles\"
Image by Per Palmkvist Knudsen<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I got a bit older and had already selected Lucy as my saint, I started learning more about the traditions of Santa Lucia Day. In many Scandinavian traditions,<\/span>\u00a0St. Lucy Day<\/strong><\/a> is marked by the eldest daughter coming into a darkened room with a crown full of lit candles on her head. She then proceeds to light the other candles in the room and thusly ushers in the season for the family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My heart expanded with joy when I read this. Not only am I the eldest daughter, but I also have a tiny \u2014 not at all out of control<\/span> \u2014\u00a0obsession with Christmas. This information seemed to give me permission (that I wasn\u2019t really seeking) to officially be the herald of the season for my family. They all take it in good fun, chalking it up to one of my quirks. (Make no mistake though, none of them would ever let me walk around with fire on my head. I am much too clumsy for that!) <\/span><\/p>\n

Advent always seems to slip so quickly away from me. I feel like I never have enough time to truly prepare my heart for the coming of the Lord. But<\/span> the day of St. Lucy, Dec. 13, always feels like a moment in the season that reminds me to pause. It\u2019s true, The Light of the world is coming. He comes through Mary, through the Grace of God, and it\u2019s up to me to help<\/span><\/p>\n

It is so symbolic to me where this day falls in the season, only about a week out from the shortest day of the entire year \u2014 winter solstice. I have always known the shortest days to be the darkest ones. There is something so comforting in the reminder that the darkness will not last forever. There is something so majestic that from it comes this shining ray of hope. <\/span><\/p>\n

As the Christmas holiday comes closer and the darkness gets longer remember the day, dedicated to the girl with lit candles upon on her head, right in the middle of it. She was a martyr persecuted for her faith, giving glory to God and physical light to her family and to her people. <\/span><\/p>\n

Even though St. Lucy’s day is just one in the preparation for Christmas, it is the one that feels most like it belongs to me. It reminds me to ask my saint to help me see God\u2019s glory and look for glimpses of his divine plan. This feast day helps me remember to let the light of Jesus shine through me and that no amount of darkness lasts forever. <\/span><\/p>\n

In my mind, that is a lot to celebrate.<\/span><\/p>\n