This lesson is a part of a series of mini-Advent lessons to help you lead your students into a daily encounter with Christ.
Advent Teaching: We celebrate Saint Lucy’s Day with a number of traditions to remember the life of Saint Lucy and the symbolism of light during the Advent season.
Learn
Saint Lucy was born into a noble Roman family in 283. When her mother became sick, Lucy convinced her to visit the shrine of Saint Agatha to ask for prayers. After her mother was healed, Lucy convinced her rich parents to donate the money for Lucy’s wedding to the poor.
According to tradition, Saint Lucy herself brought food and supplies to the Christians hiding in the catacombs. She wore a wreath of candles in the dark so that she could keep her arms free to carry as much as possible.
The name Lucia comes from the Latin word “Lux” which means light. The feast of Saint Lucy was celebrated around the shortest and darkest day of the year and Catholics often remember her with a candle procession or wearing a wreath of candles upon their heads as she did for the poor.
Meditate
Think about the darkness that people living in poverty experience during this winter season. Imagine living without hope during a time of so much food and so many presents.
Today we remember the gifts of Saint Lucy and the light of Christ she brought to those in need. Think about the ways you can be generous this Advent season. There are so many opportunities to give to others.
Pray
Let us pray:
Saint Lucy, your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, increase and preserve this light in my soul so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.
By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use thme for God’s greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men.
Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.Amen.
Source: Saint Lucy’s Parish Website