St LUCY, Patroness of our eyes 1st Class with authentic

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St LUCY, Patroness of our eyes 1st Class with authentic:
$301.00

The relic is 1 3/4 in height and 1 1/2 in width.

All the details of her life are the conventional onesassociated with female martyrs of the early 4th century. John Henry Blunt viewsher story as a Christian romance similar to the Acts of othervirgin martyrs.[6]

According to the traditional story, Lucy was born of richand noble parents about the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin,[1]but died when she was five years old,[7]leaving Lucy and her mother without a protective guardian. Her mother\'s nameEutychia, seems to indicate that she came of Greek stock.[1]

Like many of the early martyrs, Lucy had consecrated hervirginity to God, and she hoped to distribute her dowry to the poor.[1]However, Eutychia, not knowing of Lucy\'s promise, and suffering from a bleedingdisorder, feared for Lucy\'s future. She arranged Lucy\'s marriage to a young manof a wealthy pagan family.

Eutychia and Lucy at the Tomb of Saint Agatha, by Jacobello del Fiore

Saint Agathahad been martyred fifty-two years before during the Decian persecution. Her shrine at Catania, lessthan fifty miles from Syracuse attracted a number of pilgrims; many miracleswere reported to have happened through her intercession. Eutychia was persuadedto make a pilgrimage to Catania, in hopes of a cure. While there, St. Agatha came toLucy in a dream and told her that because of her faith her mother would becured and that Lucy would be the glory of Syracuse, as she was of Catania. Withher mother cured, Lucy took the opportunity to persuade her mother to allow herto distribute a great part of her riches among the poor.[1]

Eutychia suggested that the sums would make a good bequest,but Lucy countered, \"...whatever you give away at death for the Lord\'ssake you give because you cannot take it with you. Give now to the true Savior,while you are healthy, whatever you intended to give away at your death.\"[8]

News that the patrimony and jewels were being distributedcame to Lucy\'s betrothed, who denounced her to Paschasius, the Governor ofSyracuse. Paschasius ordered her to burn a sacrifice to the emperor\'s image.When she refused Paschasius sentenced her to be defiled in a brothel. TheChristian tradition states that when the guards came to take her away, theycould not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. Bundles ofwood were then heaped about her and set on fire, but would not burn. Finally,she met her death by the sword.[1]

Absent in the early narratives and traditions, at leastuntil the 15th century, is the story of Lucia tortured by eye-gouging.According to later accounts, before she died she foretold the punishment ofPaschasius and the speedy end of the persecution, adding that Diocletian wouldreign no more, and Maximian would meet his end.[1]This so angered Paschasius that he ordered the guards to remove her eyes.Another version has Lucy taking her own eyes out in order to discourage apersistent suitor who admired them. When her body was prepared for burial inthe family mausoleum it was discovered that her eyes had been miraculouslyrestored.[7]

Veneration[edit]