Black night descends In stables and living room The sun has gone its way The shadows threaten And suddenly she stands there – with lit candles, Sankta Lucia. Front with tallow candles and lint cats. Here it will be celebrated! If one does not choose to celebrate one of the other 25 saints who also have a memorial day on 13 December … Was beaten to death One of them is Elisabeth Rosa of Rozoylengtet, who “so longed for solitude and austerity that she retired back to the solitude of the swamps in the middle of the forest to live as a recluse in a hollow oak tree.” Or Saint Antiochus of Plumbaria, who was beaten to death for setting an example. But the vast majority of us focus on Sankta Lucia on this day. She is the patron saint of both farmers, repentant prostitutes, door-to-door sellers and caretakers. And many more. Lucia should possibly also be the patron saint of those with scalp burns. Photo: AFP Tear out your own eyes Saint Lucia was born in the year 286 in Sicily in Italy and is supposed to be a historical figure. We celebrate her with light and joy, pastries and beautiful song. But – like most saints, the story is more dramatic and bloody than that. Being the weekend isn’t really that much to look forward to. We often talk about torture, martyrdom and other silly things. Lucia is no exception. She was preoccupied with God, as one should and should be if one is to become a saint. Already as a child, she promised eternal chastity – no man should take her virginity. If we are to believe the legend, she went to relatively great lengths to protect her virginity. When a pagan suitor commented that she had beautiful eyes, she tore them out and sent them to him on a platter. Lucia, either before she tore out her eyes, or after she had gotten new ones. Photo: Lucia (oil painting). Unknown painter. The slightly dramatic way of saying no to a flirt is possibly a little under-communicated in the Lucia celebration in kindergartens around the country. Luckily. But Lucia was probably satisfied. The suitor pretended to be a Christian immediately. Nevertheless, she did not escape martyrdom. After first unsuccessfully trying to be dragged to a brothel to end her purity, Lucia is finally stabbed in the throat with a sword. We commemorate these on 13 December Saint Antiochus of Plumbaria (d. ~110) Saint Arsenius of Latros (1000-t) Saint Autbert of Cambrai (~600-669) Saint Cormac of Killala (600-t) Saint Edburga of Lyminge (d. ~650) Saint Einhildis of Niedermünster (~685-~750) Saint Elisabeth Rosa of Rozoy (~1050-1130) Saint Eustratius of Sebasteia and four companions (d. ~302) Saint Gabriel I, Patriarch of Peć (~1608-1659) Saint Gwynen ferch Brychan (400-t) Saints Gwynnen and Gwynnys ap Brychan (400-t) “Saint” King Harald Gille (~1103-1136) Saint Herman of Alaska (~1756-1837) Saint Judoc of Brittany (~600-~668) Saint Lucia of Syracuse (~286-~304?) Saint Mardarios the Recluse of the Cave Monastery (1200-h) Saint Odilia of Alsace Saint Ursicinus of Cahors (d. ~590) Seven Blessed Knights of the Mercedarian Order (1200-t) Blessed Antonius Grassi (1592-1671) Blessed Erno of Huizinge (d. 1237) Blessed Herulf of Ellwangen (~730-~815) Blessed Johannes Marinoni (1490-1562) Blessed Maria Magdalena Starace (1845-1921) Translatio Magni comitis Orcadum Source: The Catholic Church A Nordic tradition St. Olav’s Cathedral in Trondheim is directly across the street from Nidaros Cathedral. It is the town’s Catholic church, but parish priest Egil Mogstad makes no special preparations for Lucia Day. – I will not underestimate her. She is mentioned in the original communion prayer. She is not “just anyone”, but the celebration is more of a Nordic tradition. Nevertheless, she is known all over the world. What are claimed to be her relics, the remains of her body, lie in a sarcophagus in the church of Santi Geremia e Lucia in Venice. We also have a kind of Lucia ourselves, says Egil Mogstad. Sankta Sunniva is the only female Norwegian saint. – She also refused to marry a non-Christian and sets out on the open sea without rudder, sails or oars. She leaves her fate in God’s hands. It is possible to draw a parallel there. Egil Mogstad is parish priest in St. Olav’s Cathedral in Trondheim.St. Lucia is mentioned in the great communion prayer. We have our own St. Lucia. St. Sunniva is the only female Norwegian saint. She also went to extremes to avoid marriage. Rosaries, medallions, jewelery and pictures of saints. There is a large selection of religious symbols available for purchase in Catholic churches. It is full of saints. It can certainly be a good idea to have a memorial medallion to remember each one. It is common to have relics in Catholic churches. The remains of Lucia are located in Venice. From 1955 with a silver mask over the face, but still with hands and feet visible. Not a good image of a woman – God becomes more human for us through the saints. Therese Marie Ignacio Bjørnaas says so. She is an associate professor at the kindergarten teacher training at DMMH and works with, among other things, religion, outlook on life and ethics. And she is Catholic. – When we pray to saints, it is an entrance to God. The saints intercede for us, they are our window to God. But Bjørnaas is skeptical of the image of women that is created in such legends. – They are so concerned with celibacy and virginity, it’s like the optimum. I react to that in the Catholic Church. What kind of image of women do we create for ourselves? But – the legend of Lucia is not alone in that. Many female saints and figures in several religions stand for precisely that of purity and virginity. When it comes to women, Lucia doesn’t really set a good example, says Therese Bjørnaas. Photo: Private Lucia for all Maybe that is about to change. The requirement for chastity and virginity is rarely as strict for men. It is often the kindergartens that are most eager to celebrate Lucia Day, and Lucia Day is also marked in kindergarten education. – In the kindergarten education at Dronning Maud, there are mostly women, so here it is often the men who attend Lucia. And in the kindergartens, everyone gets to be Lucia, both girls and boys, light or dark haired. I think that is positive. It helps to show diversity. Here is a picture from the slightly more traditional Lucia celebration. Fortunately, everyone has their eyes intact. Photo: NTB
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Sankta Lucia, the saint for both prostitutes, farmers, caretakers and people with sore throats – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
