Saint Lucy of Syracuse:

Feast day : 13 December

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Lucy of Syracuse, a young virgin and martyr who lived during the period 283-304. She was martyred for her faith during the Christian persecution under Emperor Diocletian. According to tradition, Lucy was born into a wealthy family and at a young age secretly consecrated her virginity to God. Having lost her father at a young age, her ill mother betrothed her to a rich pagan. Seeking a miraculous cure for her illness, they travelled to the shrine of St. Agatha in Catania. It is believed that St. Agatha appeared in a dream to St. Lucy and told her that because of her faith, her mother would be cured and that she would be the glory of Syracuse.

Lucy then persuaded her mother to distribute her wealth among the poor in gratitude for her cure. When word went around of this, her betrothed suitor denounced her as a Christian to Paschasius, the Governor of Syracuse. She was ordered to be sent to a brothel but God rendered her immovable when the guards came to take her. She was then subjected to a series of torture in prison but God saved her miraculously each time. Finally she was killed by a sword that was thrust into her throat. Before her death she is believed to have foretold the punishment of Paschasius, the end of Diocletian reign and the death of Maximian. On hearing this, the Governor ordered her eyes to be gouged but at the time of her burial, the eyes were found to be miraculously restored!

She is the patron saint of eye illnesses, the blind, martyrs and throat illnesses.