Saturday, December 13, 2014

Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr: Seeing Beauty

“Lord, let us see your face and we shall be saved.” – Ps. 80:4

St. Lucy was a martyr who lived during the late 3rd century. Today, she is one of the many saints who are commemorated by name in the Canon typically celebrated during special masses. Since the Middle Ages, several accounts of her death include her eyes being gouged out before her execution. For that reason, she is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye trouble.

Our first inclination of beauty is that which appeals to our sight. Many find beauty in the vast number of stars in the dark sky, the majesty of nature, paintings by our favorite artists, or perhaps a gaze into our beloved’s eyes. These things we find beautiful profoundly affect us. Many may even confess to being “saved” by beholding such beauty. But if these created instances of beauty can move us so powerfully, how much more so can the Author of beauty work in our life, as St. Augustine once addressed, “O Beauty ever ancient, ever new…”

Like many, I often wonder what it would be like to finally see God face to face. Would I be able to soak in all that He is? Or would I just be blinded by His infinite love and goodness? St. Lucy is a model for us to gaze upon him beyond the sight of eyes and with the sight of our heart. And perhaps when we see Him heart to heart, we cannot helped but be overwhelmingly affected by Beauty and be saved by Him.

St. Lucy, may your intercession grant us the grace to see that which can only be seen by our heart.

Reflected by Michael Jamnongjit

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