《Enkindled in the Spirit: The Life and Martyrdom of St. Lucy》 Prologue Prologue: Come with me now, let us leave home, Let us go to those days of old - let us go to the empire of Rome. Those glorious days of old, They were historic times if I may be bold. The forum, the Circus Maximus, the Coliseum¡¯s gladiator fights, Things that would make you want to turn out the lights, Nevertheless, we must keep one thing in sight, The Christians were growing in number with all their might.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The Apostles preached the Gospel of Christ to the whole world, They cleansed those, whose souls were soiled, Among tax collectors and sinners they toiled To bring all men to Jesus Christ. However, Rome persecuted the Christians For they believed that the teaching of God were true, And the gods were false - this they knew, Many of them died in life anew. Our tale starts on the island of Sicily, We arrive in Syracuse, a city moving busily, We meet a girl named Lucy, a saint whose eyes were pretty, Yes, the virgin-martyr of Syracuse on the Island of Sicily. Let us look at Saint Lucy¡¯s life, Her joys and hardships, her achievements and her strife, The events that came upon this martyr¡¯s life, Yes, let us look at her life. She died for Our Lord, She died with a heart that was unspoiled, She died for the man she adored - St. Lucy died for Jesus Our Lord. Her mother¡¯s illness, with the help of God she cured it, To suffer many pains for Christ¡¯s sake she did permit, To her enemies, her soul she did not submit, Because she was Enkindled in the Spirit. Chapter 1 This is the tale of Lucy, a young woman who died for the Christian Faith. This tale takes place during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, in the year 300 of Our Lord, or 1053 in Roman years. Lucy lived in a wealthy villa, owned by her mother, Eutycha, outside of the city of Syracuse. Lucy awoke one fall morning. Lucy was seventeen years old and had brown hair. Her eyes were blue and were like jewels that sparkled. She got up and began to dress. She had put on her blue stola and put on a green pala. She was draping it over her right shoulder, when her servant, Amata, entered the room. Amata was seventeen years old, had titian hair and blue eyes. She wore a white stola. ¡°My Lady, your mother wishes to speak to you in her chamber,¡± Amata said. ¡°Tell her that I will be with her shortly,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Yes, My Lady,¡± said Amata. Lucy put on her sandals, and made her way to her mother¡¯s chambers. She began to pray, in a low voice: ¡°O Jesus Christ, I offer you today, my prayers, works, joys, sorrows and sufferings, for the praise of thy holy name, in reparation for sins, for the conversion of sinners, and in particular for the purity of my soul. Amen.¡± She entered her mother¡¯s chambers. Her mother, Eutycha was seated. Her servant was working on her hair. Lucy knocked on the open door. ¡°Come in,¡± said Eutycha. Lucy came in. Eutycha was forty years old. She had black hair that had a touch of gray in it, and green eyes. She wore a red pala and a yellow stola. ¡°Please sit down, darling.¡± Eutycha motioned Lucy to sit down on a chair. Lucy sat down.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± Eutycha asked. ¡°No, mother,¡± Lucy replied. Her mother motioned to one of her attendants. The servant left the room. She quickly returned with a plate of bread, honey, and olives. Lucy began to eat. ¡°Lucy, why must you wear your hair long, like a young girl? Why not wear your hair up like a young woman who is of age to marry?¡± Eutycha asked. ¡°I wish to wear my hair long, mother,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°Fine. The reason I called you in here was that I want to tell you that Virgil of Patavium is coming to see you again. He will be here at the fourth hour.¡± ¡°Not again, Mother,¡± Lucy said as she stood up. ¡°Lucy, since your Father died twelve years ago, your uncle has been the overseer of this farm. It¡¯s time you were married, so you can become the overseer of this farm.¡± ¡°Mother, I have chosen Christ as my spouse. I do not want to marry,¡± Lucy explained. ¡°O come now Lucy, you cannot live that way. Who would run the farm? There are no such things as an unmarried woman, except for the Vestal Virgins, but you cannot become one because you are a Christian. Besides the book of Proverbs says: ¡®Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her,¡¯¡± Eutycha said. ¡°There might be unmarried Christian women who choose the way I want to live, mother. Besides, it says in the prophecy of Osse: ¡®Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils,¡± Eutycha stated. ¡°And I will give her vinedressers out of the same place, and the valley of Achor for an opening of hope: and she shall sing there according to the days of her youth, and according to the days of her coming up out of the land of Egypt,¡± Lucy asserted. ¡°Her husband is honorable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.¡± ¡°And I will espouse thee to me for ever: and I will espouse thee to me in justice, and judgment, and in mercy, and in commiserations. And I will espouse thee to me in faith: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day, said Eutycha. ¡°Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.¡± Lucy said. Four hours later, Virgil and his guests arrived at the villa. Eutycha and Lucy met Virgil at the gates. Chapter 2 ¡°Virgil of Patavium has arrived with his guests. He has come to court the ever-beautiful maiden Lucy,¡± said Decimus, Virgil¡¯s servant. ¡°Please come in, Virgil,¡± Eutycha said. ¡°Thank you, Domina Eutycha,¡± Virgil said. He was twenty-three years old had black hair, brown eyes and a muscular build. He wore a white tunic and a green cloak. ¡°The gods have blessed you with your beauty, fair maiden Lucy,¡± Virgil said as he kissed Lucy¡¯s hand. Lucy shuddered. ¡°We have prepared refreshments, Virgil. Let us talk as we recline at table,¡± said Eutycha. Virgil, his guests, Lucy and Eutycha reclined at table. After the meal, Lucy and Virgil strolled through the gardens of the villa. ¡°Lucy, you are very beautiful,¡± Vigil said. ¡°I accept the compliment,¡± Lucy said. ¡°A woman like you needs a man she can rely on,¡± Virgil said as picked a flower and put it in Lucy¡¯s hair. ¡°Will you marry me, Lucy?¡± She thought for a moment and said: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Virgil. I cannot marry you.¡± ¡°Why not? If it¡¯s because you love another man, I will fight him to the death.¡± ¡°I have my reasons, Virgil. Leave me in peace.¡± Virgil left that evening. He stayed at an inn in Syracuse. Eutycha came to Lucy in her room. ¡°Lucy, I am very disappointed in you. You turned down a very wealthy man.¡± ¡°Mother, I do not want to marry Virgil. I choose Christ as my spouse.¡± ¡°I have let Virgil come back another time. I hope you will reconsider¡­Ow!¡± ¡°What is it mother?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Nothing Lucy, I¡¯m sore from reclining at table, I¡¯ll be fine tomorrow morning. I assume you are going out to feed the poor.¡± ¡°Yes I am, mother,¡± said Lucy. ¡°Be careful, Lucy,¡± said Eutycha. ¡°I will, mother.¡± Lucy went out to the stables and had a horse saddled for her. She got on the horse and left the villa. She had gone only a half-mile when she met another person also on horseback. Lucy got down from the horse. The other person got down off his horse. ¡°Are you ready, Marcus?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Yes, I am, ma¡¯am,¡± said Marcus. Marcus was seventeen years old and had a good build. He had titian hair and blue eyes. Marcus lit a small fire by the road to light a few candles for his ingenious device to light Lucy¡¯s way. Since Lucy¡¯s hands were usually full because she was carrying bread to feed the poor, she wore a wreath on her head, covered with candles. They walked to town and put the horses up at a stable of a good friend of Marcus¡¯. Then Lucy and Marcus entered the poor side of town. She went to one house where an old woman was sitting in the doorway. Lucy handed the old woman a loaf of bread.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Thank you very much!¡± The old woman said in excitement. ¡°You are very welcome. May God¡¯s blessing be upon you,¡± Lucy replied. Lucy and Marcus walked though the streets giving bread to the poor of the city. When the two completed their deliveries, they walked to retrieve their horses and started back home. On the way home, Lucy talked with Marcus. ¡°How are your master and mistress?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Master Tiberius is doing well and Mistress Portia is doing all right,¡± Marcus replied. ¡°How is your Christian formation coming along?¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯m close to becoming a Christian. My Baptism should be in a few months, I hope. Lucy, I need to talk to you.¡± ¡°What is it, Marcus?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°A few nights ago I¡¯ve been dreaming that I¡¯ve see a woman. She was about my age and had the same hair color as me and the same eye color as my eyes. Yet, she didn¡¯t call me ¡®master.¡¯ She called me ¡®brother.¡¯ I¡¯ve talked with the priest about this, but he thinks, I¡¯m hallucinating. I recall when my mother died, she muttered as her last words: ¡®Amata.¡¯ I didn¡¯t know what she meant by that.¡± ¡°You know what, Marcus, my servant is named Amata. She fits your description perfectly. I¡¯ll ask her about her mother, tomorrow. I might have an answer by next week. What else is on your mind?¡± ¡°Have you talked with my master and mistress about my freedom?¡± ¡°Not yet. I was going to that today but I was unable to go. Virgil had a party at my house today, and had asked me to marry him, again. Perhaps I can talk to them about that next week as well. Do you think you could find work?¡± ¡°Yes I think I can. Well here is your house. Good night, Lucy.¡± ¡°Good night, Marcus.¡± Lucy went to the stables to put her horse away. Since the horse master was asleep and had not been awakened by Lucy¡¯s return, Lucy had to unsaddle the horse and feed it and give it fresh water before locking the pen and going into the house. She got ready for bed and got in it. She was very tired but she knew she had done the right thing and that her reward would be great in heaven. She prayed and went to straight to sleep. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lucy awoke the next morning later than usual, because she was up late because of her excursions the night before. She dressed and said her morning prayers. She wandered through the gardens looking for her mother. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. She went to her mother¡¯s chambers. Lucy knocked on her mother¡¯s door. One of her servants answered it and ushered her in. Lucy went to her mother¡¯s bed. ¡°Lucy, I do not feel well. Get the local physician.¡± ¡°Yes, mother.¡± Lucy had one of the fastest servants get the physician. He came to the villa. He was shown to Eutycha¡¯s room. He looked at Eutycha studied her for half an hour. ¡°She has flux blood. Hemophilia. Normally women are only carriers of it, and men are the ones who have it. Only a few women actually have the disease.¡± He handed Eutycha some herbs and told her to take them. The doctor said that she would be cured. The herbs did not work. Other doctors came in and looked at Eutycha, some of the physicians made cuts in her, some did nothing. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lucy needed to find out if Marcus and Amata were siblings, since she promised Marcus that she would look. One day she went to her uncle, Cornelius, to ask him to look. ¡°Sure I can do that,¡± said Cornelius. ¡°Why do want to know?¡± ¡°I think that Tiberius and Portia¡¯s servant Marcus is the brother of Amata,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°I see,¡± said Cornelius. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can find.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After four years Eutycha had seen more physicians than Lucy had suitors. There were physicians from Athens, Syene, Jerusalem, Carthage, Rome, Gaul, Hispania, Babylon, Londinium, and as far east as the Orient. Virgil stopped by once a month, to ask Lucy to marry him, but she continued to refuse. One day after a physician from Delhi left, Lucy entered her Mother¡¯s room. ¡°How are you mother?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°I feel awful, Lucy. Those physicians have not helped.¡± ¡°I have an idea. I know of a place where we could have you anointed. Maybe God will heal you.¡± ¡°Where, Lucy?¡± Eutycha asked. ¡°In Catania, fifty miles away from here.¡± Chapter 3 ¡°Take me to Catania,¡± said Eutycha. Catania was home to Agatha, a virgin, and a martyr. She suffered persecution during the reign of Emperor Decius. Agatha had been stretched, mutilated and starved. While she was being starved in prison, the Apostle, St. Peter healed her and comforted her. After her healing and even more intense torture, Agatha soon died. Many Christians, mostly from the island of Sicily, made pilgrimages to her gravesite. Lucy and Eutycha arrived in Catania. They entered the catacombs where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was to take place. Lucy and Eutycha put their palas over their heads. The celebrants were singing: ¡°Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, Blessed is He, Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest.¡± The Mass continued with a reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans. Then the Gospel was proclaimed: ¡°And when Jesus had passed again in the ship over the strait, a great multitude assembled together unto him, and he was nigh unto the sea. And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus: and seeing him, falleth down at his feet. And he besought him much, saying, ¡®My daughter is at the point of death, come, lay thy hand upon her, that she may be safe, and may live.¡¯ And he went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him. And a woman who was under an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things from many physicians; and had spent all that she had, and was nothing the better, but rather worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the crowd behind him, and touched his garment. For she said, ¡®If I shall touch but his garment, I shall be whole.¡¯ And forthwith the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the evil. And immediately Jesus knowing in himself the virtue that had proceeded from him, turning to the multitude, said, ¡®Who hath touched my garments?¡¯ And his disciples said to him, ¡®Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou who hath touched me?¡¯ And he looked about to see her who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said to her: ¡®Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace, and be thou whole of thy disease.¡¯¡± said the priest. Lucy thought to herself: ¡°Perhaps I can pray to God, through the intersession of Agatha, that my mother can be cured of her illness. Maybe a miracle would convince her to allow me to remain unmarried and that she will grant my request.¡± After Mass, Lucy said to her mother: ¡°Do you remember today¡¯s Gospel, mother?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Yes I do,¡± replied Eutycha. ¡°It was about the woman who was cured of her illness by touching Jesus¡¯ cloak.¡± ¡°Do you believe the miracle in the Gospel?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Well, the apostles were witness to it and have told us it is true.¡± Eutycha replied ¡°If you believe this well-known Gospel, mother, believe that Agatha has merited from Christ, since she suffered for His name, that she may always behold Him in her presence, in eternal bliss. Now touch her tomb and you will immediately be healed,¡± said Lucy. ¡°All right Lucy, let us pray for her intercession. Take me to her tomb,¡± Eutycha said. They went to the tomb of Agatha and knelt to pray. While they prayed, Lucy fell asleep and while she was sleeping, she had a vision from God. In the vision, the holy Virgin and Martyr Agatha appeared with a host of Heavenly angels. Agatha was clothed in white and holding a palm branch and a lily in her hand. ¡°My sister Lucy, true virgin of God, why do you ask me for what you yourself could grant? Your holy faith has helped your mother: look! She is entirely healed through Christ; and even as this town is made famous by me through Christ''s favor, so shall Syracuse be made famous by you, because you prepared yourself for Christ, in your pure virginity, as a pure habitation,¡± Agatha said. Then Lucy woke up. She was shaken from the vision. But she arose and went to her mother. ¡°You are mightily healed. Now I pray you, by the same one who healed you with prayers, that you never name to me any bridegroom, nor expect of my body any mortal fruit. As for the property that you would have given me for my pollution, give it to me for my chastity: for I am going to Christ,¡± Lucy said.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°You know my wealth, and I have kept your father''s property for sixteen years now against all losses, and I have increased it further. First close my eyes, then dispose of the property however you please, dear daughter.¡± Eutycha said. ¡°Listen to my counsel; you can take nothing with you from this life, and whatever you give away at death for the Lord''s sake you give because you cannot take it with you. Give now to the true Savior, while you are healthy, whatever you intended to give away at your death,¡± Lucy replied. She told this to her mother many times. Finally Eutycha gave in and said: ¡°All right, Lucy. I will give everything to the poor, Eutycha replied. I will do it because it makes you happy. You do not have to marry Virgil.¡± ¡°Thank you mother!¡± Lucy exclaimed as she hugged her mother. ¡°This means we will need to sell the villa and live in the poor side of town,¡± said Eutycha. ¡°I have a good idea who will get the villa,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Who is it you have in mind, Lucy?¡± Eutycha asked. ¡°Amata,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°She has served me for the past ten years. She deserves to be free. I will give her the villa the next time I take food to the poor. Now let us praise God and give away our wealth.¡± From that day on Lucy and Eutycha sold everything, including their villa and their heirlooms. They gave it to the poor and lived with the poor, every day praising God. As soon as they got home, Cornelius came out to meet them. ¡°Lucy, I looked into the slave action lists. Apparently in 1045, there were three slaves sold at an auction in Palermo. Tiberius, and Your father bought some slaves. A woman named Amelia gave birth to fraternal twins in 1040. She named the boy Marcus, and the girl Amata. When they were sold in 1045, Marcus and His mother were sold to Tiberius and Amata was sold to us. Amelia died in 1052.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Cornelius. I must be going.¡± Lucy got on a horse and went to Tiberius¡¯s house. She still needed to repay Marcus for his acts of kindness and all his work he had done with Lucy over the years. She rode over to the house of Tiberius and Portia. She walked up to the house and rapped on the door. A servant opened the door. ¡°I am Lucy, daughter of Eutycha, and Lucius. I wish to see Tiberius and Portia, please,¡± Lucy said to the servant. ¡°Please come in, Lucy,¡± the servant said. ¡°Thank you,¡± said Lucy. The servant led her into the garden where Tiberius and Portia were sitting. ¡°Announcing Lucy, Daughter of Lucius and Eutycha,¡± the servant announced ¡°Thank you. What brings you here, Lucy?¡± Tiberius asked. ¡°I wish to free your servant named Marcus.¡± ¡°Why do you wish to do that? Is it that you fancy servants than rich young men?¡± said Portia. The two laughed. ¡°That is not the case. Marcus has assisted me in feeding the poor of the city. He asked me to free him. I promised him that I would do so. I delayed in doing so, since my mother¡¯s illness was my main concern. Now I have come to fulfill my promise. Besides I think one of my servants is his sister,¡± said Lucy. ¡°How much will you give us for Marcus¡¯ freedom?¡± Tiberius asked. ¡°I give you all of this,¡± Lucy replied as she opened a medium bag full of gold and laid it the floor. There was gold everywhere. ¡°You do not need all of this?¡± Portia asked. ¡°I will need it when I die. I will have no need of it in the next life,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°Tiberius, free Marcus,¡± Portia said. Tiberius thought for a few minutes. Lucy prayed that Tiberius would say yes. ¡°All right, I have made up my mind. MARCUS!¡± Tiberius called. Marcus came into the garden. ¡°Yes my master?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°You are free man, Marcus. Your friend Lucy has freed you,¡± Tiberius replied. ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± said Marcus. ¡°Call me Tiberius, Marcus. You are welcome,¡± said Tiberius. ¡°You are always welcome to visit us, Marcus,¡± Portia said. ¡°I will, Portia. Farewell,¡± Marcus said. ¡°That was very kind of you, Lucy,¡± said Portia. ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± Lucy said as she and Marcus left the house. Marcus turned to Lucy. ¡°What about Amata?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°Uncle Cornelius looked into the records. You are the Brother of my servant Amata,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°Will you give her freedom as well?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°I have a better idea. I plan to give her the villa. Both of you will be in charge of the villa. We will tell Amata tonight, Lucy replied. Mother and Uncle Cornelius are in the processing of moving out. None of the servants know of our plans.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It was the twelfth hour. Amata was about to go to bed when the porter ran over to her. ¡°Amata there is someone at the door for you!¡± Amata walked quickly to the door. In the entry stood Lucy. ¡°My Lady!¡± Amata exclaimed as she hugged Lucy. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°My mother has been cured of her illness. I do not have to marry Virgil. We are giving all our possessions to the poor and proclaiming His words to all. I am giving you the villa and all its servants and animals.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± ¡°I am serious, Amata. Mother and I cannot take any of this with in the next life.¡± ¡°Am I supposed to take care of the villa all by myself?¡± ¡°No. You will have help.¡± Marcus stepped into the entry. ¡°This is your twin brother, Marcus.¡± ¡°Marcus!¡± She hugged her long lost brother. She then hugged Lucy and thanked her. ¡°Amata, proclaim His words to all. Farewell,¡± Lucy said as she left them. Amata tuned to Marcus. ¡°How long has it been since we last saw each other, Marcus?¡± Amata asked. ¡°Since we were five years old, Amata.¡± The porter came in the entry. ¡°Sir, I am now the mistress of this house. This is my brother, Marcus.¡± ¡°Welcome, master,¡± the porter said. ¡°Call me Marcus.¡± ¡°Welcome, Marcus. I¡¯ll leave you two alone for a while.¡± The porter left. Marcus put his arm around Amata and together they watched the sun go down. Chapter 4 Chapter IV However, Virgil, the man Lucy was supposed to marry, arrived on the Ides of December at the villa only to be greeted by Amata, Lucy¡¯s former servant and Marcus, Amata¡¯s brother. The two bowed at Virgil. ¡°Is Lucy here?¡± Virgil asked. ¡°My Lady does not live here anymore. After she went to Catania, she and her mother sold everything including the villa. I was set free,¡± Amata said. ¡°How did you come to purchase the estate?¡± Virgil asked. ¡°She gave it me.¡± Amata told Virgil how she was given the villa and how she found her long lost brother. She told Virgil what Lucy told her: ¡®Proclaim His words to all.¡¯ ¡°¡­Then Lucy left. To this day I sill cannot understand what she told me,¡± Amata said. ¡°Where does Lucy live now?¡± Virgil asked. ¡°She lives among the poor now.¡± Amata replied. ¡°Oh and why is that?¡± Virgil asked. ¡°Let me guess she has sold everything so she could join the Vestal Virgins. How lovely. I never thought she would make a good one. I guess she has denounced me in marriage.¡± ¡°Actually, she wishes to remain a virgin, but not to be in the service of the temple. She has found another man. He is richer than the Emperors or the Senate combined,¡± Amata said. ¡°Who is this man?¡± Virgil asked. ¡°I will have him brought to the Coliseum and we will fight, man to man!¡± ¡°I do not know his name, sir,¡± Amata replied. Virgil walked away from the villa. He had only gone a few steps, because something clicked in his mind. Pulling out a knife, he charged back to the villa. He grabbed Amata by the arm, raised the knife and yelled: ¡°IS SHE A CHRISTIAN?! ANSWER ME OR YOU WILL DIE!¡± Marcus pulled out a small knife to protect his sister. ¡°Y-yes, I b-believe s-she i-is.¡± Amata responded trembling. ¡°A FILTHY CHRISTIAN! THAT IS WHY SHE KEPT REFUSING TO MARRY ME WHEN I ASKED HER! TAKE ME TO HER!¡± ¡°Y-yes, M-My L-Lord. I-I will do what you s-say,¡± Amata said trembling. She and Marcus led Virgil to Lucy. Marcus put away his knife, for the time being. Lucy and Eutycha were sitting in their house, singing hymns and psalms because they had finished selling the vast majority of their possessions. The house had just only one room. It had a small fireplace, and little furniture. There was a table in the center of the room which Lucy and Eutycha sat at. On the table was an open scroll of psalms, and a wreath with candles in it, and a basket.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lucy and Eutycha were praying the first psalm. When they were somewhere in the middle of the psalm the door slammed open. Virgil and five legionaries stood in the doorway. Amata and Marcus entered the house as well. ¡°Virgil!¡± exclaimed Lucy. ¡°Lucy, you have betrayed me! I know your secret! You are a Christian! You know it is against the law to be a Christian! The Emperor has proclaimed it as law!¡± Virgil exclaimed as he slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Virgil! Please have mercy! Leave me in peace!¡± said Lucy. ¡°You want mercy! Then beg for it at the feet of Paschasius, the governor of Sicily!¡± Virgil responded. ¡°Virgil! Leave her alone! She has done nothing wrong!¡± Eutycha exclaimed. ¡°I will have no excuses! Arrest her! Take her to Paschasius!¡± ¡°Virgil! Stop this!¡± Eutycha exclaimed. Lucy was bound and sent to Paschasius for judgment. Eutycha fell to her knees and cried. She pleaded for mercy from God to protect her daughter. Amata went over to Eutycha to comfort her. Eutycha hesitated. ¡°Go watch the trial. Maybe God will protect my daughter. If she dies, I know I will see her one-day when we are reunited in heaven. Now go.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Virgil and the legionaries lead Lucy to the basilica. The basilica was large inside. The hall had two rows of columns down the center of the hall. At the end of the basilica, was a raised area, which contained a magnificent chair, and a wooden platform. The platform was used for judging criminals. Behind the chair was a wall, which contained a slab of rock with the inscription ¡°SPQR¡± engraved on it. The letters stood for Senatus Populusque Romanus meaning The Senate and the People of Rome. The Governor, Paschasius sat in the chair. His master servant stood to the right of him and, Julia, his servant girl stood to his left. The hall was packed with Paschasius¡¯ friends, who came from Syracuse, Catania, Palermo, and other cities. His friends were detestable people who did unspeakable evil. Virgil went up to Paschasius. They clasped hand and embraced. Lucy was led the wooden platform. Two soldiers stood at opposite ends of the raised area. ¡°What is the trouble Virgil?¡± Paschasius asked. The Governor, Paschasius, was about thirty years old. He had a good build. He had black hair green eyes and wore a gold crown. He wore a purple tunic and an animal skin. He was a wicked man taxing the poor and enforcing all the laws of the Empire. Amata, Lucy¡¯s former servant, and her brother Marcus made their way through the crowds to watch the trial. ¡°As you know, Paschasius, I am espoused to this maiden named Lucy. She has refused to marry me, saying that she has found someone else to marry. She wishes to marry a man richer than the Emperors or the senate combined. However, This maiden and her widowed mother have sold their possessions including their large estate. They have given everything to the poor of Syracuse. I said to myself, ¡®Why would this maiden give away all her possessions in order to marry a man who is richer than the Emperor or the Senate combined?¡¯ I then began to draw conclusions. I have concluded that this maiden, Lucy, is a Christian! I am accusing this maiden, Lucy, of being a Christian!¡± Paschasius stared at Lucy. Then He said in a loud booming voice: ¡°Are you a Christian?¡± Lucy began to sweat. She swallowed hard and said in a firm voice: ¡°Yes! I am a Christian!¡± Paschasius stroked his chin. He replied in a loud voice: ¡°Do you know it is against the law to be a Christian? I suppose that if will beg for mercy, I will give you mercy. Offer incense to the gods and you will be spared from my wrath.¡± Chapter 5 Lucy looked into Paschasius¡¯s eyes. They were filled with rage, for he was a man who hated the Christians and wanted them destroyed. ¡°A pure offering is this, and acceptable to God, that one should visit widows, and comfort exiles, and help orphan children in their affliction. For four years now I have been employed about no other deeds, but have offered these offerings to the living Lord. Now I desire truly to offer myself to him, because for some time I have had nothing to spend in his service,¡± said Lucy. Paschasius held up his hand to silence her. ¡°Stop¡­. or I will have you whipped!¡± Paschasius exclaimed. ¡°The words of the living God cannot be suppressed or put to silence,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°What, are you a god?¡± Paschasius asked slanderously. ¡°I am the Almighty''s handmaid and therefore I speak God''s words, since he says in his Gospel, ¡®It is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit speaks in you,¡¯¡± Lucy responded. ¡°Really! Does this ¡®Holy Spirit¡¯ dwell in you?¡± Paschasius asked arrogantly. ¡°The Apostle promised those who preserve their chastity that they might be God''s temple and the habitation of the Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°I shall immediately have men lead you to an evil place, where you will lose your purity. The Holy Spirit will flee from you when you are thus foully dishonored.¡± Lucy swallowed hard and said: ¡°No one''s body is polluted so as to endanger the soul if it has not pleased the mind. If you were to lift my hand to your idol and so make me offer against my will, I would still be guiltless in the sight of the true God, who judges according to the will and knows all things. If now, against my will, you cause me to be polluted, twofold purity will be gloriously imputed to me. You cannot bend my will to your purpose; whatever you do to my body, that cannot happen to me.¡±Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Ivor, carry out my wishes,¡± said Paschasius. ¡°Aye, my Lord Paschasius,¡± said his master servant, Ivor. Ivor was from Selgovae know known as Scotland. He was taken from his homeland during a Roman border raid. Lucy began to worry. She began to pray, silently: ¡°Lord Jesus, deliver me from the hands of my foes. Protect me, O glorious Holy Spirit.¡± ¡°Ivor, take her out of here,¡± Paschasius said impatiently. ¡°Aye sir.¡± Ivor began to drag Lucy out of the hall and to the place of evil. At that moment, the Holy Spirit took hold of Lucy. It felt like a heavy weight that was put on her back. Yet, there was nothing there. ¡°My, Lord, the lass is na movin¡¯. It looks like she ha put on a weight,¡± said Ivor. ¡°Oh, stop being so lightheaded, Ivor. I will do it. Watch this.¡± He prepared to drag Lucy out of the hall. However, he could not move her either. Lucy stood firm as a mountain. Paschasius was perplexed. ¡°Have ropes tied on her hands and feet. Call in a century, Ivor,¡± Paschasius commanded. ¡°Aye, my Lord,¡± Ivor said. Strong ropes were tied to Lucy¡¯s hands and feet. A century was brought in. Twenty men took a rope. ¡°My men are ready, my Lord Paschasius,¡± the centurion said. ¡°Proceed, centurion,¡± Paschasius replied. ¡°Parate, viri! Trahete!¡± (¡°Ready Men! Pull!¡±). The men pulled as hard as they could. However, Lucy stood firm. ¡°She¡¯s na movin¡¯, sir. Shall I call in a cohort?¡± ¡°Not yet, Ivor. Bring in the sorcerers. Maybe they can move her.¡± ¡°Aye Sir.¡± Three sorcerers were brought before Paschasius. They wore black tunics and brown cloaks with hoods. ¡°You wanted us, my lord,¡± the head sorcerer said. ¡°Yes, I did. This maiden here will not move. Summon the mighty powers of the gods and command them to move this maiden.¡± ¡°Anything for you, my lord Paschasius.¡± The sorcerers put the hoods over heads and began to circle Lucy, moving their hands in a circular motion. They chanted: ¡°O powerful Jupiter, move this maiden! O mighty Apollo, unvex this maiden.¡± They continued this for a short time. When they finished, the head sorcerer told Paschasius that they were finished and they assured him that Lucy would move. Paschasius tried to drag Lucy out of the hall. She still would not move. ¡°What are we to do, Ivor? This maiden will still not budge.¡± Paschasius said. ¡°I do na believe that all the cohorts of Rome could move her. We need something stronger than men.¡± As Ivor said this, something clicked in Paschasius¡¯ mind. ¡°Ivor, you gave me in idea. We will tie the ropes that are on the maiden¡¯s hands to many teams of oxen. That should move Lucy. Ivor, bring me twenty teams of oxen.¡± ¡°Aye, My lord.¡± Twenty teems of oxen were yoked, and teemed together. Lucy wondered if she would still be standing firm. But she knew that the Lord God was all-powerful. She put her trust in him and stood firmly. Chapter 6 Ivor cracked his whip. The oxen began to pull on Lucy. Nevertheless, Lucy stood firm. Many cracks of the whip were heard. The oxen were pulling their hardest. Many were tiring out. ¡°The lass is still na movin¡¯ sir,¡± Ivor said. ¡°Stop the oxen, Ivor. Take the ropes off her, but leave them nearby,¡± Paschasius commanded. Ivor and the men unbound Lucy and lead the oxen out of the hall. Paschasius went to Lucy and asked: ¡°Why is it that a thousand men cannot move you, weak as you are?¡± ¡°Even if you called ten thousand men, they would hear the Holy Spirit speaking thus: ¡®Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decem millia a dextris tuis, tibi autem non adpropinquabit malum¡¯. (¡®A thousand shall fall beside you, and then a thousand at your right hand, but no evil will approach you¡¯.)¡± Lucy replied. Ivor returned. ¡°What shall we do now, my Lord Paschasius?¡± Ivor asked. ¡°We shall burn her alive. We shall drench the maiden in pitch and oil. If she will not move, she will die here.¡± Lucy heard this and prayed: ¡°Lord, deliver me from the fires my enemies set before me.¡± Piles of wood were set around her. Torches were brought in. ¡°Guards apply the torches, now,¡± Paschasius commanded. The guards placed the torches on the wood. Amata turned away. ¡°Your precious god will not protect you now,¡± Paschasius said. However, God protected Lucy, and made the flames not touch her.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Are you sure you poured oil on the maiden, Ivor?¡± Paschasius asked. ¡°I swear I did, my Lord,¡± Ivor said. Marcus told Amata that the fire had not harmed Lucy. ¡°Then why has she not been harmed?¡± Paschasius asked. From inside the fire, Lucy said: ¡°I have obtained from Christ in prayer that this deadly fire may have no power over me, that you will be put to shame, and that this example will dispel all fear of torture from believers and take from unbelievers their cruel joy.¡± Paschasius had his servants put out the fire. He went over to Ivor. ¡°Ivor, her eyes mock me,¡± Paschasius said. Ivor whispered into Paschasius¡¯ ear. What Ivor said to Paschasius must have been so evil, for Paschasius had a look of madness in his own eyes. He chucked an evil chuckle. Ivor went over to Lucy and put out Lucy¡¯s eyes. He gave them to Paschasius. He held them up in his hands and laughed an evil laugh. Amata gasped. Marcus comforted his sister. Many of the squeamish gasped. Paschasius tried to give Lucy¡¯s eyes to Julia. Julia gave out a scream. Lucy closed her eye lids, ran her fingers around them five times while praying: ¡°Lord, Jesus Christ, I love thee with my whole heart. Please restore my sight a sign of your love for me.¡± Immediately something happened because she felt eyes. She opened them and lo and behold, her sight was restored. Her eyes were still green and still sparkled like jewels. Paschasius slipped Lucy¡¯s eyes to Julia. He then shouted: ¡°I¡¯VE HAD IT! THIS MAIDEN HAS NOT MOVED A MUSCLE. EVEN WHITH 100 MEN, EVEN WITH TWENTY TEEMS OF OXEN SHE STILL WILL NOT MOVE. WHAT SHALL I DO?¡± His friends and his whole assembly, with the exception of Marcus and Amata, began to chant: ¡°Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!¡± Paschasius followed the crowd¡¯s advice. He then pulled out his dagger and stabbed Lucy in the throat. The cut was deep. Blood flowed from her. Virgil cheered. Lucy fell to the ground. Yet Lucy still spoke: ¡°I tell you truly that peace is granted to God''s congregation, and the furious emperor Diocletian is deposed from his empire, and Maximian the evildoer is dead. Even as the city of Catania within its walls has the powerful intercessions of my sister Agatha, so am I allotted by Almighty God now to this city of Syracuse, to intercede for you, if you receive the faith.¡± As Lucy said this, five legionaries and a centurion came into the hall. Chapter 7 ¡°Paschasius, by the decree of the Roman Senate you are under arrest, and are to be sent to Rome, for your wicked deeds to the people of Sicily. Bind him in irons. Take him to Rome!¡± The legionaries bound Paschasius in irons and chains and led him out of the hall. Paschasius friends exited the hall. Virgil, Ivor, and the guards left the hall quickly. The legionaries intercepted the four. Julia stayed behind to see what would happen. The centurion looked at Lucy. He noticed the wound that Paschasius had made in Lucy¡¯s neck. ¡°Are you are a Christian?¡± the Centurion asked. ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Lucy said. The centurion called for one of the legionaries. ¡°Bring the priest from this town here. Tell him that one of his flock is dying. Give him time to get what he needs.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The legionary left the hall. The centurion took Lucy¡¯s palla and used it to stop the bleeding. Lucy looked at the centurion. ¡°Are you a Christian, too?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, I am. It is a hard life being a Christian. I have to be one in secret. My former commander, whose name is George was killed for being a Christian,¡± the centurion said. Amata rushed to Lucy¡¯s side. ¡°My Lady! You are wounded!¡± Amata exclaimed.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I know, the legionaries have sent for the priest,¡± Lucy said feebly. The kind and Christian centurion is using my palla as a bandage. ¡°Lucy, what did you mean when you said to me ¡®Proclaim his words to all?¡¯¡± Amata asked. ¡°What I meant was to proclaim the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ to all men. Will you do this, Amata?¡± ¡°I will, Lucy,¡± Amata responded. The centurion and Amata stayed with Lucy until the priest arrived. He carried a small bottle of oil and a chalice full of hosts. ¡°Who is dying?¡± the priest asked. ¡°I am,¡± Lucy said feebly. Then the priest saw the blood stained palla. The priest knew that innocent blood was spilled: the blood of a martyr. ¡°Listen to the words of our brother and apostle James: Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sin, they shall be forgiven him.¡± The priest anointed Lucy on the eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands and feet. Then he asked her to recite the Apostle¡¯s Creed, which Lucy recited. Then held out a host and held it above the chalice. ¡°Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. Beati qui ad cenam Agni vocati sunt¡± (¡°Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.¡±) Lucy responded three times: ¡°Domine, non sum dignus ut inters sub tectum meum; sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea.¡± (¡°Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof; but only say the word and my soul will be healed.¡±) The priest gave her communion saying: ¡°Serve Dei, hoc est Corpus Christi.¡± (¡°Servant of God, this is the Body of Christ.¡±) Lucy Replied: ¡°Amen.¡± And as she said the word ¡®Amen¡¯, she died. Her soul went to heaven. For she was ready to greet the man, she adored: Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ-for she was enkindled in the Spirit. FINIS Epilogue A Church was built at the site of Lucy¡¯s martyrdom. Her relics stayed in Syracuse for four hundred years, before they were transferred to Corfunum in Italy. In 972, they were transferred by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor to Metz, France and placed in the church of Saint Vincent. From there, the whereabouts of her relics is unclear; one legend says that upon the capture of capture of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) the French found the relics of Saint Lucy. They were secured by the Doge of Venice, and were transferred there. In 1513, the Venetians gave Lucy¡¯s head to the French, where it was placed in the church of Borges. Another account states that Lucy¡¯s head was taken to Rome. St. Lucy was officially canonized in the seventh century when Pope Saint Gregory The Great placed her name in the Roman Cannon of the Mass. She is one of the few female saints honored in the Roman Cannon. She was one of the most popular saints in the middle ages.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Saint Lucy¡¯s feast day is December 13th. It is celebrated in many countries. In Sweden, in the morning, the oldest daughter of the house dresses in white and wears a wreath with seven candles on her head. She serves the other members of family members coffee and buns in bed. There is a famous song about Saint Lucy that is sung on her feast day. Many singers including Caruso, Mario Lanza, and even Elvis Presley have recorded it. Paschasius, Governor of Sicily, after his arrest, was taken to Rome, where he was found guilty by the Senate, and beheaded. Acknowledgements This project took many months to complete but now it has now all paid off. When I set off on this adventure to tell the story of Saint Lucy I never knew this story would be a story that others would want to read. There are many people I would like to thank who helped me with this project. I would like to thank my mother primarily for helping with editing, and I would like to thank Walter Barnet for his assistance in the reedit of this novel. I would like to thank (now) Father Jonathan Mor¨¦ for some of the Latin translations, and finally to Vincent Uher for the advice on Church traditions in the fourth century and for giving me the idea to write the story of the life and martyrdom of Saint Lucy. Finally, I would like to dedicate Enkindled in the Spirit: The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Lucy to Vincent Uher, Father Victor Perez, Stacey Steger, and most importantly to Saint Lucy, whom this story is about.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.