One of the most-well known traditions of St. Lucy's Day is the St. Lucy Procession, where a young girl leads the way with a crown of candles on her head.
This tradition comes from an ancient story from St. Lucy's life. It is said that during the Roman persecution of Christians, St. Lucy would visit Christians in the catacombs, bringing them food. In order to keep her hands free, she wore a crown of candles to light her way.
Even her name, Lucy, is derived from the Latin word lux, meaning "light." Ever since St. Lucy has been seen as a "light in the darkness," bringing light to all through the holiness of her life.
Five Wise Virgins
In many ways her story should remind us of Jesus' parable of the Five Wise Virgins:
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps...the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:1-10)
St. Lucy can be said to be one of those virgins who were wise and was ready to welcome the Bridegroom when he came.
The traditions surrounding her life recall how a Roman consul tried to defile her virginity:
“Then I shall have you taken to a brothel,” said Paschasius, “your body will be defiled and you will lose the Holy Spirit.”
“The body is not defiled,” Lucy responded, “unless the mind consents. If you have me ravished against my will, my chastity will be doubled and the crown will be mine. You will never be able to force my will. As for my body, here it is, ready for every torture. What are you waiting for? Son of the devil, begin! Carry out your cruel designs!”
She remained stubborn in her refusal to be defiled, which enraged Paschasius. He eventually had her eyes gouged out and stabbed her in the neck.
St. Lucy was waiting for the day when the Bridegroom would come and had her lamp ready. Nothing would dissuade her or take her away from the Wedding Feast that was prepared for her.
