13 December • St. Lucy, John the Baptist, and the Festival of Light
On this Memorial of St. Lucy (December 13th), Fr. Greg Heille of the Aquinas Institute of Theology weaves together Scripture, history, and childhood memories to explore the theme of "Light" during Advent.
The Gospel readings for today speak of John the Baptist as the return of the prophet Elijah—the one who points the way to the Messiah. Fr. Greg connects this role of the "forerunner" to two powerful women saints: Our Lady of Guadalupe (celebrated yesterday) and St. Lucy (celebrated today).
Sharing personal stories from his upbringing in Northern Minnesota, Fr. Greg explains the rich Scandinavian traditions surrounding St. Lucy's Day. He discusses how her feast, originally coinciding with the Winter Solstice on the Julian calendar, became a celebration of the "return of the light." Ultimately, this homily invites us to see Jesus as the true Light who has come to set us free.
Key Themes:
- John the Baptist as the New Elijah
- St. Lucy: Virgin, Martyr, and Servant of the Poor
- Scandinavian traditions and the Winter Solstice
- The Incarnation as the return of Light
🙏 Timestamps / Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction: Memorial of St. Lucy
0:13 - Scripture: Is John the Baptist actually Elijah?
1:15 - Recapping Our Lady of Guadalupe & The Poor
1:42 - Who was St. Lucy? (Martyrdom in Syracuse)
2:12 - Scandinavian Traditions: The Festival of Light
2:30 - The Winter Solstice Connection
3:04 - Conclusion: Celebrating the Light of God
Hashtags:
#StLucy #Advent #Catholic #Homily #FrGregHeille #FestivalOfLight #JohnTheBaptist #WinterSolstice #Christianity #SaintLucyDay #AquinasInstitute #SantaLucia
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