A Bundle of Myrrh

 

St. Lucy

December 13th the church remembered St. Lucy (St. Lucia) who was martyred in 304 AD. In many stories it is said that she was given by her mother to marry a pagan man, but she refused and gave her dowry to the poor. The man she was to marry denounced her as a Christian in a time that that meant a death sentence. Since she could not be burned (the flames would not burn her) or moved (she became as heavy as a mountain…I know the feeling), her eyes were gouged out and she was killed by being stabbed through the neck. Because her eyes were taken, and since her name means ‘light‘, she became the patron saint of the blind.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5

Traditionally, when commemorating this day, the family’s oldest daughter dresses in a white dress with a red sash around her waist and wears a wreath with candles on her head and takes buns and coffee to her parents or family.

I love this tradition…minus the fire hazard, and hope to do something like this in a few years, but since we’re still in the too little phase we adapted the traditions to suit us. We commemorated the day with candlelit buns (cinnamon, instead of saffron) and coffee (for me). I did try to make something like this, but it was a flop. Pilsbury came to the rescue!

The girls made candle wreaths to wear.

We talked about how Lucy loved Jesus and that some people get hurt because they love Him. I’m happy to teach the girls about those saints who have lived and died before us. And how we can be  thankful for their example of Christian love and good works.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16

Almighty God, who didst give Thy servant Lucia boldness to confess the Name of our Saviour Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we likewise may ever be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us and to suffer gladly for His sake; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Source here)

We are never so thankful for light as we are after we have not had it. It was so fitting that on the night of St. Lucy’s Day I was driving down a country road in complete darkness and fog looking for a church. The feeling of being lost and disoriented in the darkness is so unnerving. I strained to see anything that would tell me where I was. I was about to give up when I was saved by two other cars coming in my direction, with LIGHTS, leading the way.

I thank God for light, both physical and spiritual and was reminded to pray for those still in darkness.

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to lighten the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

For more ways to celebrate St. Lucy’s Day go HERE.

And listen here to a beautiful song in Swedish that we need my sweet cousin Kristina to translate for us!

This entry was posted on Friday, December 16th, 2011 at 9:21 am and is filed under Church Year. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.