A REFLECTION FOR THE FEAST OF ST. LUCY
In
Scandinavia, in the days of the old Julian calendar, the night of December 13
was the longest night of the year.
Because of this, the feastday of St. Lucy on this same date had become
associated with the ancient Festival of Light, on which the sun was born again
in the heavens to bring its light once more to the world. As the sun returned, the nights became
shorter, the earth’s vegetation sprung gradually back to life, and the dark
days of winter gave way to the brilliance of the Scandinavian spring and summer
seasons.
It
is surely divine Providence that established the death of the Virgin Martyr St.
Lucy on this day. Lucia of Syracuse lived
in the early 4th century during the persecutions of the Roman
Emperor Diocletian. According to legend,
she brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a
candle-lit wreath on her head to light her way and leave her hands free to
carry as much food as possible. For this
reason, young girls in Sweden continue to this day the tradition of wearing on
their heads a tall crown of lights, four lit candles, as they walk in
procession through the churches on the feast of Sankta Lucia, handing out pepparkakor,
gingernut cookies to the children.
How
fitting it is then, that the sacrament of Confirmation should be presented to
our children on this day. The crowns
they wear are not mere candles, but the invisible tongues of fire of the Holy
Ghost, bringing light, grace and his heavenly gifts to their souls. From now on, these children will walk
confidently forward in the ranks of God’s earthly army, their way lighted by
these tongues of fire. As soldiers of
Christ, they will henceforth bear a spiritual medal of honor, the indelible
mark of the sacrament that confirms them as true warriors, standing in battle
array behind the Queen of Heaven, ready to do battle for the King of kings.
From
youngest to oldest, we welcome to the ranks of the confirmed: Payton Dillon,
whose confirmation name is to be Agnes; Ava Ream, who will be called Bernadette;
Michael Upchurch, with his new name of Thomas; Alizabeth Upchurch who will add
Anne to her name; and Ava Poeppelman, who will take the name Philomena. Together with some of our adult converts, they
begin today to carry those tongues of fire on their heads, a burning fire of
love for God that will forever enlighten their souls and light their way to
heaven.
St.
Lucy carried her crown of lights on her head too, and like her, our confirmands
will also wear their tongues of fire, their crown of lights from the Holy Ghost,
on their heads too. In doing so, they
will always remember this day when they read the words of our Lord: “Neither do
men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
St. Lucy wore her crown of lights on her head so that her hands would be
free to perform more effectively her works of charity. May our new confirmands have the same
intention, as they follow the example of the sun in the heavens today, and
begin to shine their own light of charity on a dark and troubled world.
The wicked tormentors of
St. Lucy plucked out her eyes, but God miraculously intervened and restored her
eyesight. May the light of the Holy
Ghost enlighten all men in their blindness, that they may all see the goodness
of God, especially in the good works shining forth from those confirmed with
the light of the Holy Ghost this day.
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