Then [one of the elders in heaven] told me, “These are the ones coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are before the throne of God and worship him night and day in his Temple. The one seated on the throne will shelter them: no longer will they hunger; no longer will they thirst; the sun will not strike them, or any scorching heat. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
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St. Lucia was born in Sicily in the year 283. Her parents were well-off, members of the nobility. Yet, while still young, her father died. Her mother, Eutychia, then had to raise her as a single mother. Fortunately, Eutychia had the wealth of her husband, and so Lucia did not grow up in poverty or want.
Eutychia taught and raised young Lucia in the Christian faith. As Lucia grew, she became a devout, young woman. The stories of Christ’s love for the poor and hungry touched her heart. So, Lucia felt moved to devote her worldly wealth to help the poor. But her mother, being a practical woman, did not allow this. Her mother, Eutychia, knew that without a husband, no new income was being brought into the household.
But then something happened that changed Eutychia’s mind. She had been suffering for several years from a hemorrhage, a slow, but chronic, flow of blood. Lucia prayed that God would heal her mother. And God answered her prayer. We don’t know how, but Eutychia’s blood flow stopped, and she came to full health.
In response to this healing, Eutychia allowed Lucia to have her wish. Lucia then began to give out her share of the family wealth to the poor. But there was a problem.
Lucia lived during a time when families arranged most marriages. But she was promised to a deceitful young man who wasn’t a Christian. This man loved Lucia’s riches much more than he loved her. So when Lucia gave away her wealth, he became furious and sought revenge. He went to the governor of Sicily and told him that Lucia was a Christian.
This was during the year 303. Christianity was still illegal, and Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of the Church was taking place. All that someone had to do was denounce a person publicly to the authorities, and that person would be arrested.
Once arrested, if a Christian didn’t deny or recant the faith by cursing Christ, he would be tortured and killed. During worship, Christians would use incense as part of their liturgy. So, they would also be forced to offer incense to Caesar, to show by their actions that Caesar was God, not Jesus. If not they would not do that, they would be killed.
Lucia refused to deny her faith in Christ or burn incense to Caesar–even under the threat of death. So the authorities in Sicily began to torture her, including cutting her eyes out. When she still refused to denounce Christ, they began to burn her at the stake. But this failed because it was winter and the wood was wet. So they finally stabbed her to death with a dagger.
Lucia’s death as a martyr made her well-known in Sicily. For the authorities carried out much of what they did in public, knowing their methods would deter and frighten many away from Christianity. Yet, because of that, we know the story of her life and her martyr’s death. We normally remember Lucia on December 13th.
The name Lucia means “light.” Because of that, in Sweden, traditionally, one of the daughters of a family would dress in white, wearing a crown of lighted candles. While still dark, early in the morning, she would sing from room to room, awakening her family and offering them cakes or bread. The cakes or bread became part of the tradition because Lucia once brought bread to needy people who were living in a cave. This gift also reminds us of Lucia’s faith that Jesus is the bread of life.
Other parts of this tradition are also worth noting. The white robe reminds us of the holiness of the saints who have died in Christ, and indeed of all those buried with Christ in Baptism. As the Book of Revelation says, “These are the ones coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” Jesus Christ. St. Lucia’s holiness arose not from her own goodness, but from the cleansing forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
The crown of candles is also significant for a couple of reasons. First, it reminds us, that even when Lucia no longer had eyes, she still had the light of Christ by which to walk. She could yet “see” by faith, far better than any of her persecutors could see. Although physically blind, she had better vision than any unbeliever. For the gifts of the Holy Spirit enlightened her.
The candles also remind us of the crown of glory that all believers will inherit through Christ in eternity. Although her life in this world ended in darkness and death, her eternal existence is one of light and life, even as it is for all the faithful. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Jesus entered our world of darkness by becoming one of us. He was born in a cold stable that He might warm us with the light of His presence, during the darkest time of the year. As the days from December 25th onward get longer and lighter, so it is with the coming of Jesus–the light overcomes over the powers of darkness.
Jesus suffered on the cross under a dark shroud as the sacrifice for our sin. Yet, on the third day, He came forth from the gloom of death in resurrection light. He is, indeed, the unconquerable One. Through faith in Him, as Romans 8 says, we, too, are conquerors, victors over death and the devil.
St. Lucia gave witness to that in her life and even in her death. In fact, the word “martyr” means “witness.” In giving away much of her wealth to help the poor, she testified to the love of Christ. For her Savior, Jesus, was rich, but for our benefit became poor, that we through His poverty might also become rich.
Lucia confessed to a belief in God as the Creator who can and does provide for our daily needs. In her death, Lucia testified to God as the Re-Creator, who is even more powerful than death. She confessed that she loved the Lord and His salvation even more than life itself in this world. She looked for a better country, an eternal one. She knew the only way to have life in the world to come was to lay down your life in the world that is.
So it is also for you, especially during the season of Advent. For it is during this season that we set our hearts on the coming of the Lord. Yet, God may not call you to be a martyr. But He has called you to confess Christ in word and deed and to take up your cross and follow Him.
Jesus said, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25). Baptized into Christ, the pattern of His life is to become yours. As it was with Christ, it’s now humility before glory; it’s death before resurrection. Your old Adam is crucified, so Christ may be first in your life and that His life may show forth in and through you.
This life of repentance and faith is not always easy. It is a narrow road on which God has called you to run the race of faith. But along this road, as the book of Hebrews says, a great cloud of witnesses surround you. Saints Abraham, Moses, David, and Samuel are all encouraging you to press on in the faith. The prophets, apostles, saints, and martyrs are doing the same, even St. Lucia. And above all, the One who made this path and ran it for you, Jesus, is also upholding you.
As it was with St. Lucia, you are upheld by the One who was martyred for you. Consider Him, Hebrews says, so you will not grow weary and lose heart. “Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the founder and finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross. He despised the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Know this: Your road will end where Christ’s road ended because you are in Him, and He is in you. You have received Him in Word and Sacrament. What is now only a candle in the darkness will soon become the dawn of the everlasting day of resurrection at Jesus’ return. May that joy set before you give you endurance as you run the race of faith. Amen.
