IX.
(DEC. 13). ST. LUCY, VIRGIN.
Then Agatha's renown spread over land and sea,
so that a great multitude out of Syracuse sought
the virgin's tomb, from a distance of fifty miles,
in the city of Catana, with great devotion.
Then came a certain widow, named Eutychia,
amongst other people, to the famous tomb,
and her daughter with her, the blessed Lucy.
The widow was diseased, so that she had a flux of blood
for the space of four years, and had tried many physicians,
but all of them could not help her, though she was but one[1]
Then it happened, at the mass, that the gospel was read
how the woman was healed, that had a flux of blood,
when she touched the Saviour's robe.
Then said Lucy, full of faith, to her mother,
'If thou believest, mother, this well-known gospel,
believe that Agatha has merited something from Christ,
since she suffered for His name that she might ever
behold Him in her presence, in eternal bliss.
Touch now her tomb, and thou shalt soon be whole.'
Then, after the mass, the mother and daughter
prostrated themselves in prayers at the tomb.
Whilst they lay there and prolonged their prayers,
Lucy fell asleep and saw Agatha
amongst hosts of angels, splendidly adorned,
and called to her thus, crying from above,
'My sister Lucy, true virgin of God,
why prayest thou of me that which thou couldst thyself grant?
- ↑ A quaint expression. Many physicians could not heal one patient.
