Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, c. 304 | For All the Saints

Source: Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, c. 304 | For All the Saints

"Lucy (Lucia), whose name means 'light,' lived at the end of the third century in Sicily and died as a martyr at Syracuse, probably in the last great persecution ordered by the emperor Diocletian. Her memory was venerated at an early date, and she is included in the eucharistic canons of the Roman and Ambrosian rites and is found in the Roman sacramentaries and in Greek liturgical books. Two ancient churches were dedicated to her in England, where she has been known at least from the time of Aldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury, who praised her in his treatise on virginity in the late seventh century."