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What is the importance of the prayer of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is a great example of humility, devotion and generosity. While still alive, she took a vow of chastity and donated all her possessions to those in need. A great example of a human being, prayers to her can help you on your path, giving you light and the necessary discernment to travel your path.
In addition, Saint Lucia is also known for being the protector of the eyes. This "title" was given by the fact that she pulled out her own eyes and gave them to those who persecuted her because of her belief. Thus, it was understood that Lucia preferred not to see anymore, than to deny her faith.
This way, you can turn to her if you or someone close to you has vision problems, or something like that. Saint Lucia has very powerful prayers that can help you with that.
Getting to know Saint Lucia of Syracuse
Born in Italy, in the region of Syracuse, in the middle of the third century, Lucia belonged to a wealthy family which gave her an excellent Christian education. This led her to take a vow of perpetual chastity.
A great example of generosity, he gave everything he had to the poor. In the following you can see these stories in more detail. See.
Source
Luzia was always an example of light, from a very young age. As she came from a well-to-do Italian family, she was able to have a good Christian upbringing. Her love for Christ, made her take a vow of perpetual virginity, however, with the death of her father, Luzia almost had to break this promise.
Luzia discovered that her mother wanted to see her married, but the suitor was a pagan. With her mother seriously ill, Luzia asked for some time to analyze the situation and went with her mother to the tomb of the martyr Saint Ageda. The cure of her mother's illness would be for Luzia the confirmation of her not getting married. Thus, the miracle happened and Luzia understood there thethat God intended for her.
History
After the cure of her mother's disease, Luzia sold everything she had, and gave it to the poor. However, when she refused her former suitor, he denounced her to the authorities, saying that she was a Christian. And so, the young woman began to suffer persecution and torture.
First they tried to attack her virginity by taking her to a brothel. But with the power of her prayer, no man was able to touch her. Unsuccessfully, they tried to burn her, but the flames of fire proved powerless before her.
Again without success, they applied an immensely cruel punishment, and gouged out her eyes, delivering them on a plate. However, miraculously, two more were born on the spot, at the same minute. Finally, the young woman could not resist the sword, and ended up decapitated in the year 303.
Visual features of Santa Luzia
In the image of Saint Lucia we can see a sequence of objects full of many meanings. The tray with her eyes is a representation of her fidelity to Christ. After all, during the persecutions she suffered, Lucia would have had her eyes gouged out so as not to break her vow of chastity and not to deny God.
Her red tunic is the symbol of her martyrdom. When she tore out her eyes, other even more beautiful ones were born in her at the same instant. The yellow ribbon is a representation of her victory over human corruption.
The palm in her hands is another representation of her martyrdom, and the green indicates the life she attained after death. Finally, her white veil signifies her purity.
What does Santa Luzia represent?
Saint Lucia is the true representation of love for Christ above all things. The young woman was even able to pluck out her eyes, so as not to break her promise of chastity, and thus avoid her marriage.
In addition, Saint Lucia was always a great example of generosity. She was even capable of selling everything she had to give to those in need. Through a whole life of devotion to God, and helping her neighbor, Lucia certainly left many teachings on earth, showing her faithful the true meaning of life.
Martyrdom
After being accused of being a Christian and practicing religious acts forbidden at the time, by her ex-prefect, the authorities began to persecute Luzia. The young woman was judged and condemned, and for taking her chastity very seriously, the first torture was to take her to a brothel.
When she got there, Luzia began to pray, and not even ten men together could lift her off the ground. This aroused the wrath of the governor, who ordered her killed. It was then that they threw boiling oil and resin over her, but once again, nothing happened to her. However, the martyrdom of Saint Luzia did not end there.
But what they didn't expect was that at the same moment other eyes would be born. Filled with rage, the ruler ordered her killed. Luzia couldn't resist the sharp sword, and ended up being decapitated.
Devotion
Around the year 1040, a Greek general named Mariace, took the body of Saint Lucia to Constantinople at the request of the Empress Theodora. Some time later, in 1204, the Venetian crusaders managed to recover the body, which was then taken to Venice.
There he is until today, in the Church of Saint Jeremiah, where he is venerated until the current days, by faithful from all over the world, who come to visit this sacred place. Because of his story of having torn out his own eyes, Saint Lucia also has a great devotion of faithful who end up having diseases in the vision. With great faith, they appeal to her asking for the intercession for the grace of healing.
Some prayers of Saint Lucia of Syracuse
Saint Lucia is a very popular saint in the Catholic Church. Her story of faith and love for Christ above all things has always enchanted the faithful. So, when it comes to prayers, Saint Lucia has many special ones.
And it could not be otherwise, after all she has a legion of believers around the world. Check out some of the following prayers to Santa Luzia.
Prayer 1 to Saint Lucia
"O Saint Lucia who preferred to let your eyes be leaked and plucked out before you denied the faith. O Saint Lucia whose pain of leaked eyes was no greater than that of denying Jesus Christ. And God, with extraordinary miracle, returned other eyes healthy and perfect to reward your virtue of faith.
Saint Lucia, protector, I have recourse to you (Place your hand on your eyes and make your intention). Saint Lucia, protect my sight, my eyes. Saint Lucia, intercede with God to heal my eyes and preserve them from all evil. O Saint Lucia preserve the light of my eyes, so that I may see the beauties of creation, the brightness of the sun, the colorful flowers, the smiles of children.
But above all, Saint Lucy, following your example, preserve the eyes of my soul, in faith by which, through faith, with an enlightened soul I can see God and his teachings so that I can learn from you and always have recourse to you. Saint Lucy, enlighten my soul with the eyes of faith, for our Lord Jesus Christ said: "the eyes are the window of the soul" (cf. Lk 11:34).
Holy Lucia, may I learn from you the firmness of faith and always have recourse to you.
Saint Lucia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Saint Lucia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Saint Lucia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Saint Lucia, give me light and discernment. Saint Lucia, pray for us. Amen."
Prayer 2 to Saint Lucia
"I believe in you, Saint Lucia, patroness of the blind. I believe in you, Saint Lucia, of the good news messenger. I pray to you, O Saint Lucia, to give me good sight that I may see the wonders of creation. O my Saint Lucia, dear Saint Lucia, the wonders of creation are the miracles of life.
I want to see these miracles. I want to see this magic. I want light in my eyes. I want to see it, Santa Luzia. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Prayer 3 to Saint Lucia
"Come Saint Lucia, by night and day, bring me that light, from the arms of the cross. If the cloud of blood is of water formed, by Christ it shall be undone. By Saint Lucia, you will have joy, to see that light, which in heaven is produced."
Prayer 4 to Saint Lucia
"Saint Lucia, consecrated to God with the vow of chastity, you faced with fortitude those who tried to violate this vow. You did not accept in any way to worship false gods and for this you were martyred. Obtain for me from God firmness in my good resolutions. Protect me against every evil of the eyes (ask fervently about your eye problems).
Grant that I may use my sight only to look at the world and at people with charity and optimism. Through your powerful intercession, obtain for me the strength to overcome any setbacks, especially the one I am going through now (tell Saint Lucia all your problems). Keep my faith alive in Jesus Christ, our only Lord, He who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for allForever and ever. Amen!"
Prayer of Saint Lucia for healing of the eyes
"O God, to you I have recourse through Saint Lucia, virgin and martyr, patroness of all who suffer from diseases of the eyes, drive away, or cure the diseases that impair our eyesight. Give us eyes attentive to your wonders, the needs and sufferings of our brothers. May the blessing of Saint Lucia help us to contemplate your glory, present in creation and in eternity. Amen."
Prayer of Saint Lucia to illuminate paths
"Saint Lucia, who kept Faith and trust in God, even having gone through great suffering, help me not to doubt the Divine Protection, defend me from blindness not only physical but also spiritual, and grant this request of mine (make the request).
Preserve the light of my eyes that I may have the strength to keep them always open to truth and justice, and that I may contemplate the wonders of the universe, the brightness of the sun and the smile of children. Oh, my dear Saint Lucia, I thank you for having heard my supplication. Saint Lucia pray for us! Amen."
Prayer of Saint Lucia in Umbanda
In Umbanda, Santa Luzia is synonymous with Ewá, so let's go part by part. Firstly, Santa Luzia was, according to Catholicism, a young virgin and martyr, who died in 304, after suffering severe persecution, just for being a Christian. For having plucked out her eyes in devotion to Christ, Santa Luzia is known until today as the protector of the eyes.
Ewá, on the other hand, according to Umbanda, has the ability to see, a gift that was attributed by the god of all oracles. Because of this, within this religion, she is also considered the protector of the eyes. Both Santa Luzia and Ewá are patron saints of ophthalmologists, and also of all those who have vision problems.
So, check out the following prayer to Ewá, within Umbanda:
"Mistress of the pink sky, mistress of the enigmatic afternoons; mistress of the laden clouds, mat of the rainbow. Mistress of the possibilities of the advantages and the paths of enchantment and beauty, of joy and happiness. Mistress of the mists dispel the clouds from my paths; O mighty princess.
Invoke the forces of the winds in my favor, may the rain cover me with prosperity, may your crown cover my destiny; O princess-mother of the occult. May I be your lost and blessed son and in your graces; may the mist that exists in my steps today be clear tomorrow, so be it!"
Rosary of Saint Lucia
Commencement - In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the first three accounts it is prayed:
"Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, look upon the merits of Saint Lucia of Syracuse who shed her blood for love of you on earth and who loves you eternally in heaven."
Opening Prayer
"O hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, prostrate at your feet we offer you the offerings of the martyrdom of Saint Lucia of Syracuse, who shed her blood for your love defending with heroic courage and burning love your name and your Catholic faith.
For the love she had for you and for her shed blood, we ask you, oh united hearts attend to our requests and make us appreciate correctly the lessons given to us by the life of your servant, Saint Lucia of Syracuse, so that we may fulfill your most holy will here on earth, so that we may be worthy to praise you together with her in the glory of heaven. Amen."
1st mystery
We contemplate Saint Lucia receiving baptism, learning with love the mysteries of the holy catholic faith and learning from her to meditate on the word of God, the messages from the sacred hearts and the lives of the saints, to be like her, true catholics and great saints for the greater glory of god.
Meditation: message of st. Lucy
"Beloved brothers of mine, I, Lucia of Syracuse, Lucia, your sister, your protector, come again today to bless you, to give you peace and also to say to you: Follow me along the path of holiness, seeking every day to give to the whole world a true witness of authentic Christians, of sincere and fervent Catholics and of true children of God and of the Immaculate Virgin, so that in this wayas I was you also be an intense, shining light to this world that walks in darkness.
Be light! Be the light for this world that walks in darkness, seeking every day to pray, to pray with more intensity, depth and love so that then, growing in sweet intimacy with the lord and with the immaculate virgin, your life may be illuminated, become radiant like a sun.
So that all those who do not yet know the Lord, looking at you, looking at the peace that reigns in you, looking at the joy, at the divine love that is in your souls, may then also want peace, may they also want to follow Christ, to follow the immaculate virgin along the path of holiness, which is the path to happiness on earth. (Saint Lucy in the apparitions of Jacareí, December/2012)
Large Account
Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, look upon the merits of Saint Lucia of Syracuse who shed her blood for love of you on earth and who loves you eternally in heaven."
Small bills (10x)
Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, hear our supplications through the merits of the martyrdom of Saint Lucia of Syracuse. Saint Lucia of Syracuse pray to God for us and give us peace.
2nd mystery
We contemplate Canta Lucia having the apparition of St. Agnes at her tomb in Catania, consecrating herself totally to Jesus and his Blessed Mother to be theirs alone forever. And we learn from her to love God and his Immaculate Mother with all our heart and to serve him with love for all our life.
Meditation: message of Saint Lucy
"Be the light, illuminating this world with your word, that it may be like mine: courageous, firm, true, fearless, imperturbable in defending the truth, in defending the glory of god, in defending his house, in defending his interests and all that is the lord's, so that thus your word becoming a two-edged sword may cut on both sides, that is, debilitate the enemies of god.
Reducing them to inertia and at the same time cause good souls to be stimulated, encouraged and emulated (committed) even more to sanctify themselves and to become ever more pleasing to the Lord. (Saint Lucy in the apparitions of Jacareí, December/2012).
- Repeat the large and small bills
3rd mystery
We contemplate Saint Lucia living continually in prayer, in divine charity and being denounced as a Catholic by the Prefect Pascaso before whom she courageously defended the name of Jesus and the holy Catholic faith and we learn from her the love of prayer and to always defend by word and deed the holy Catholic faith and the holy messages of the sacred hearts in her apparitions in Jacareí.
Meditation: message of Saint Lucy
"Be the light, by your attitudes, by the acts of your life, seeking with practice to prove with your actions that you love Christ, that you love the immaculate virgin, so that from all your irreproachable conduct a mystical light of truth, of authenticity, of sincerity and of sanctity may emerge.
May it make all men recognize the existence of God, the greatness of his love, and at the same time knowing the truth, be set free from the slavery of this world, from the slavery of satan and sin, which is nothing more than slavery to the lie that outside of god, far from god, man can be happy.
Satan's lie, the work of Satan consists in making man think that by putting other things in the place of the Lord or by loving them apart from the Lord he can be happy. With this Satan has dragged multitudes and multitudes of souls down through the centuries into eternal fire from which they will never come out and where they will suffer to the point of breaking their teeth for all eternity.Jacareí, December/2012).
- Repeat the large and small bills
4th mystery
We contemplate Saint Lucia martyred, first being burnt alive, then pulled by soldiers and oxcarts and finally having her eyes cruelly gouged out by order of the evil Paschasius, heroically keeping faith and love for Jesus. And we learn from her the true love for God, the virtue of patience, fidelity to him in the sufferings of our life.
Meditation: message of Saint Lucy
"I invite you, I invite you to come after me through the path of truth becoming light for all those who lie in darkness. Take care of your soul my beloved brethren because the body already has a certain destiny, it will be placed in the grave, in less than a week it will be completely eaten by the worms and shortly after it nothing more will remain but bones and dust.
Come after Me, therefore, walking along the path of prayer and sanctity, because when you die of this world, you take nothing more with you than prayer and love. The warning is very near and when it comes, the sinners will pluck the hair of their heads, many will throw themselves on the precipices, while others will throw themselves into the nearest bonfire that is near them.
Because you will see all the time of your life spent without god offending god and working against god with your bad examples, sins, bad thoughts, words and actions. Therefore I call you, to convert yourselves already, immediately, hodie (today) as yesterday said to you santo expedito, so that in that way your life in that hour will not be a reason for remorse, despair and tragedy for you, but will be a reasonof joy, happiness and to rejoice, exult in the Lord" (Saint Lucy in the apparitions of Jacareí, December/2012).
- Repeat the large and small bills
5th mystery
We contemplate Saint Lucia dying with the sword, shedding her virginal blood for love of God, the Immaculate Virgin and the holy Catholic faith. And we learn from her the love of Christian virtues, the true love of the Lord which is proven by works and to prefer to die rather than offend God.
Meditation: Message of Saint Lucy
"Oh great punishment will be worse than being cut down more than a hundred times by fire, it will be so terrible that those who survive will incessantly call down death and on the other hand death will be their martyrdom, because from the fire and sufferings of this earth they will be cast into eternal fire that will never be quenched.
Therefore, be converted, not for fear of punishment, but for love of the Lord, for holy fear of hurting and offending him, let this be the motive of your conversion so that it may thus be pleasing to the Lord.
I, Lucia, Lucia, love you so much, I love this place so much, I love Marcos so much, because he loves me very much, the love of his heart attracts me, calls me and holds me to this place, and for this reason I pour out so many graces here, so copious, and upon you all, to whom I have already given many blessings, upon whom I am already carrying out great graces, and I will carry out many more graces if you, with docility, obedience and love, do what I do to you.Therefore, follow me along the path of holiness by being like me, lights, Lucias, for the whole world." (Saint Lucy in the apparitions of Jacareí, December/2012)
- Repeat the large and small bills
Closing Prayer
O holy Lucia, martyr of love, we beseech you, present your merits united to our supplications to the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to whom we turn in the name of your merits, so that they may heed our prayers and deign to grant us the graces we ask through you, together with the crown of eternal life.
May your blood shed for your love of the holy hearts, oh Saint Lucia of Syracuse, destroy the forces of hell in the world and deliver us from all evils. By the merits of Saint Lucia of Syracuse oh hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, save the world from threatening perdition.Amen.
Novena of Saint Lucia
Repeat the following prayers for 9 consecutive days.
Opening Prayers
Sign of the cross
By the sign of the Holy Cross, deliver us, God our Lord, from our enemies.
The Creed, Our Father, Three Hail Marys and Glory be to the Father are prayed.
Prayer to Saint Lucia for all the days of the Novena
"O Saint Lucy, who preferred to let your eyes be cast out and torn out before you denied the faith. O Saint Lucy whose pain of cast out eyes was no greater than that of denying Jesus Christ.
And God, with an extraordinary miracle, gave you back other healthy and perfect eyes to reward your virtue of faith. Saint Lucia, protector, I have recourse to you".
(Put your hand on your eyes and make your intention)
"Saint Lucia, protect my sight, my eyes. Saint Lucia, intercede to God to heal my eyes and preserve them from all evil. O Saint Lucia, preserve the light of my eyes, so that I may see the beauties of creation, the brightness of the sun, the colorfulness of flowers, the smiles of children.
But above all, Saint Lucia, following your example, preserve the eyes of my soul, in faith by which, through faith, with an enlightened soul I can see God and his teachings so that I can learn from you and always have recourse to you. Saint Lucia, enlighten my soul with the eyes of faith, for our Lord Jesus Christ said: 'the eyes are the window of the soul' (cf. Lk 11:34)
Saint Lucia, may I learn from you the firmness of faith and always have recourse to you. Saint Lucia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Saint Lucia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Saint Lucia, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Saint Lucia, give me light and discernment. Saint Lucia, pray for us. Amen".
Closing Prayers
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, Amen! Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ forevermore.
Further information about Saint Lucia of Syracuse
With countless faithful all over the world, the beloved Saint Lucy has many celebrations in her honor. Saint of extreme popularity in Catholicism, its devotees show all their love for her, through festivals. Learn some of them below, as well as some curiosities about this loving saint.
Celebrations of Saint Lucia around the world
Among some celebrations abroad to Santa Luzia, we can mention the festival that occurs in Sweden, as one of the most important. This traditional festival takes place there every December 13, day of Santa Luzia. The festival is composed of processions, choirs, food and drinks typical.
On this date, it is common to see this kind of celebration all over Sweden. An interesting fact about the festival, is that a group of people usually go to schools, stores, hospitals, among others, singing songs in praise of Saint Lucia, and distributing saffron bread and ginger cookies.
In other countries like Scandinavia, Portugal, United States and others, festivities are also held in honor of this saint.
Celebrations of Saint Lucia in Brazil
In Brazil, one of the largest festivals in honor of Santa Luzia, takes place in the municipality that bears the name of the saint, in the state of Minas Gerais. The party is called Jubilee of Santa Luzia, and is an intangible heritage.
The celebrations begin on the eve of 13/12, with 13 nights of novenas, prayers, penance and much devotion to Santa Luzia, patron saint of the city. In addition, Santa Luzia is also patron saint of cities in the states of Maranhão, Paraíba, Bahia, Paraná, Goiás, among others. In all these places, there are many festivities.
Interesting facts about Santa Luzia
A curious fact about the history of Saint Lucia, is that to protect her relics from Muslim invaders, in the year 1039, a Byzantine general sent them to the region of Constantinople, so that they would not be looted.
The relics managed to be brought back to the West on account of a wealthy Venetian, who was devoted to the saint. The man paid some soldiers in the crusade of 1204, and they managed to bring back the funerary urn of Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia, protector of the eyes!
You have learned in the course of this article, that Saint Lucia gained the "title" of protector of the eyes, after suffering a cruel attack, only because she was a Christian. During the episodes of her martyrdom, the young woman had her eyes torn out. But of course, the God whom she loved so much and lived for, would not leave her alone.
At the same instant, new eyes were born in the same place, thus further arousing the wrath of the governor of the time. The young girl was eventually killed, after her beheading. However, her life continued in heaven. Full of light, kindness and generosity, Saint Lucia left her legacy to her faithful all over the world.
Because of the miracle she experienced having her eyes back, today devotees turn to her, asking for intercession for healing of eye diseases. This dear saint has the power to ask the father for the grace you so much crave. Therefore, if you have experienced any problem of this type, be sure to ask for healing to St. Lucy, with great faith.