Dec 13 – Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr
St. Lucy (c. 283) was a rich, young Christian of Greek ancestry. She was raised in a pious family, and vowed her life to Christ. Her Roman father died when she was young. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her. For three years, she managed to keep the marriage on hold. To change the mother’s mind about the girl’s new faith, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha, and her mother’s long haemorrhagic illness was cured. Her mother agreed with Lucy’s desire to live for God, and Lucy became known as a patron of those with maladies like her mother’s.
Her rejected pagan bridegroom, Paschasius, denounced Lucy as a Christian to the governor of Sicily, who sentenced her to forced prostitution. But when the guards went to fetch her, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. The governor ordered her killed instead. After torture that included having her eyes torn out, she was surrounded by bundles of wood which were set afire; they went out. She prophesied against her persecutors, and was executed by being stabbed to death with a dagger. Her name is listed in the prayer “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” in the Canon of the Mass.
Legend says that her eyesight was restored before her death. This, and the meaning of her name, led to her connection with eyes, the blind, eye trouble, etc.
- Patron Saint Index
Isa 40:25-31
Mt 11:28-30
He does not grow tired or weary…
One of my favorite scriptures is Lamentations 3:22-24, “The favours of the Lord are not exhausted, His mercies are not spent. They are renewed each morning, so great is His faithfulness.”.
There have been times in my life when I could only get through the next minute because of my faith in Him. It was His strength I needed to even take another breath. As I continue to grow in my spiritual life reading scripture daily, I find this sentiment reiterated on so many pages.
Mental and emotional strength make the difference in our days. Some days, we have mental and emotional toughness, and some days we do not. Some days, just getting out of bed can be the victory. Our strengths are conditional and can be exhausted. Day after day after day of a hardship can take a significant toll on our bodies, minds and emotions. We can get a good night’s sleep, but our mental, emotional and physical bodies are not always renewed to the brim upon waking.
Sometimes, it is a small issue that we need His strength to get through — a test in school, a presentation at work, a confrontation at work, an issue with a friend or a family member. These are common daily situations that are scattered throughout our life. And then there are the bigger situations, times when we pray and all we can do is lean into His strength to continue. Seasons in our life when we are faced with a serious illness or loss of a significant relationship, job and even death of someone we love. We all experience times when we feel (and actually left to our own are) helpless and hopeless, and without our faith we would be. Our shoulders are not broad enough. We labour and are heavy laden. We need rest. And He takes our yoke. He does not faint nor grow weary. He can handle our burden, all of our burdens.
(Today’s Oxygen by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Father God, I give you my problems, those I’ve created on my own and those that You have allowed to be placed in my path. I ask you to constantly remind me that I am not bothering You with my problems and that You desire to carry my yoke. Your grace and mercy amaze me!
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for always carrying my burdens, especially the ones that I have only because of my disobedience. Thank you Father God, for always giving me rest in your loving arms.
OXYGEN 
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