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| Devotion |
| The cult towards Santa Lucija
extended itself rapidly following her martyrdom and her
name was introduced early in the Mass Liturgy. This despite
the fact that she never had an own, complete liturgy.
In fact, the mass liturgy used during Santa Lucija’s
is the “Comune delle Vergini”. |
Crown in Venice, Italy |
| In the 6th century, Pope Gregory
the Great, who lived between 590 and 604, inserted Santa
Lucija in the Roman Liturgy, and during his papacy two
churches were dedicated to her, one in Siracusa and another
in Rome, both in Italy. Shortly after, her name was also
included in the Ambrosian Liturgy. |
| In the VII century, she was mentioned
in a poem by S. Adelmo called "De Laudibus Virginum". |
| The name Lucia is derived from
the Latin ‘Lux’, which means light, brightness
or brightening. |
| Legend, established after year 1000, speaks
of pulling out of the eye ball of Santa Lucia during her
martyrdom. This is commonly depicted in any pictorial
representation of Santa Lucia. But most probably her protectorate
towards the eyesight is derived from her name rather than
from this supposed part of the martyrdom, since in the
“Passio”, no reference to such martyrdom is
made. |
Relic
in Siracusa, Italy |
| Lucia was also mentioned
by Saint Thomas Aquinus and also by Dante, who made her
the symbol of illuminating grace. He also declares himself
as her follower. As mentioned in the ‘Convivio’,
Dante used to refer to her often in order to heal various
eyesight problems he had. |
Relic in Siracusa, Italy |
Santa Lucija is the protector of the blind,
eye specialists, ophthalmologists, tailors, embroiderers,
electricians and women with a criminal past. |
| In Italy she is the protector
of the cities of Siracusa and Mantova, and in Malta she
is the protector of Santa Lucija, in Gozo. |
Ex-voto
|
Martydom column - Siracusa
- Italy |
| This information has been translated
and adapted from the site Cara
Santa Lucia. Special thanks for their authorisation
to traslate and publish this information. |
| Last Update: December 2005 |
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