This Little Light of Mine

Some day, I suspect, my husband and I will awake on a December 13th to our Lucy bride donned in a white dress, red sash, and seven lighted candles on her head, carrying a tray of cross shaped buns and hot, steaming coffee, brothers in tow singing "Santa Lucia." But on this St. Lucia's Day, we were content with delivering Pepparkakar, a traditional Swedish ginger cookie, to my parents and neighbors that have lived by them for all my thirty-eight years; dressing Little Lu in one of her brother's baptismal gowns and a red $2.00 Goodwill scarf; and processing around the house singing to one of our favorite saints. To my precious daughter, a beautiful first namesday to you. May God grant you many years and may you grow to emulate the kindness and courage of the one whose name you bear.

With what wreaths of praise shall we crown Lucia, the namesake of light? What diadem of honor befits the brow of her who willingly gave up her life for her heavenly Bridegroom, bringing Him as dowry, as though they were priceless rubies, the drops of her precious blood, shed by the sword for His sake?

Come, you who love the martyrs, and let us fashion wreaths of praise, glorifying her who in her pure virginity, her blameless life and spotless death glorified above all the Holy Trinity, the one true God, and put to shame the mindlessness of the pagans! For having been faithful to Christ unto the end, she has truly entered into the joy of her Lord, and abides forever in the eternal bliss of His mansions on high.

-Verses from the Aposticha for the Feast of St. Lucia

PS Thomas insisted he wear his serving vestment, carry a cross (an Ethiopian one at that), and design a paper Gospel for Russell to carry. And a happy namesday to our dear friend Carrie!

And finally, if you are looking for an absolutely delightful book about St. Lucia, my family cannot say enough about Katherine Bolger Hyde's work. It even has the Saint Lucia song.