DEC 13: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM; THERE WILL BE A PROCESSION WITH A VISIT FROM ST. LUCY AND THE STAR BOYS. TREATS FOR THE CHILDREN. (We will welcome St Lucy and the star boys. She travels far and brings with her Lucy buns to share. The Catechism connection is understanding “sainthood”, what makes a saint and why Catholics pray to saints.)
This feast day, celebrated on December 13th, commemorates Saint Lucy who was of noble birth and vowed eternal chastity. Saint Agatha appeared to Saint Lucy when she made a pilgrimage to her tomb, asking her to help restore the health of her mother. From that time on, Lucy sold her property and gave the proceeds to the sick and the poor. She appeared before the tribunal of a heathen judge who accused her of being Christian. She was tortured and eventually killed on December 13. According to the Julian calendar, this date was the shortest day of the year and she is forever associated with lengthening days and more sunlight. Also, the name, Lucy, means “light,” and the name was invoked by those who suffered from eye trouble or blindness.
St. Lucy’s day marks the opening of the Christmas season in Sweden. She is the patron saint of light. In celebrations, a procession is headed by 1 girl who dons a white garment sashed in red and a crown of laurel holds 4 candles (or lights) on her head, while others hold only a single candle each. Lucy had the candles on her head so she could free her arms to carry bread she smuggled to Christians hiding in the catacombs. Special buns called lussekatt are served. The saffron flavored buns are shaped like the figure 8 and are topped with raisins at either end of the spiral.
