St. Lucy Coloring Page
This St. Lucy coloring page shows the young saint wearing a crown of candles, holding a small oil lamp and a martyr's palm, with the sea and an old Sicilian town behind her. The PDF is free to print. Lucy was a brave Christian girl of Sicily whose name means light.
The story of St. Lucy
A long, long time ago, about 1,700 years back, a girl named Lucy lived in a city called Syracuse, on the sunny island of Sicily. Her name means "light."
Lucy loved Jesus with her whole heart. Her mother, Eutychia, had been sick for years, and no doctor could help her. So Lucy and her mother traveled to the tomb of another brave saint, St. Agatha, to pray. People tell that her mother was healed that very day.
Lucy's family was rich, and they had saved a great deal of money for her wedding. But Lucy asked her mother to give it to the poor instead, and so they did. They sold their jewels and fields and shared everything with hungry and needy people.
Those were dangerous years for Christians. The emperor said everyone had to worship the Roman gods. Lucy would not. She stayed faithful to Jesus, and she gave her life for him around the year 304. An old story says that when soldiers tried to drag her away, even a team of strong oxen could not move her!
Christians have remembered St. Lucy ever since. Her feast comes on December 13, in the darkest days of the year, and people light candles to remember the girl whose name means light, and Jesus, the Light of the World.
What to color
- Her crown of candles: yellow and orange flames on green leaves. It shows she brought light to others.
- The little oil lamp: brown or gold, with a bright flame. Her name, Lucia, comes from lux, "light."
- The palm branch: green. Every martyr carries one, as a sign of winning the race for Jesus.
- Her robe and sash: white for a pure heart and red for her brave love.
- The sea and the town: blue water and sandy-colored houses, for her home in Sicily.
A prayer to pray together
Every day, at the oldest prayer of the Mass, the priest names Lucy among the saints, "with Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and all your Saints." Children can pray simply:
St. Lucy, pray for us, and help us to shine with the light of Jesus.
She is the patron of people who are blind or have trouble with their eyes, so we can also ask her to pray for anyone we know who needs help with their eyes.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page in early December, then hang it up for her feast on December 13.
- Bake sweet saffron buns or simple cookies and share them at breakfast, as families in Sweden do.
- Make a paper crown of candles from green and yellow construction paper.
- Turn off the lights, light one candle, and talk about it: how can we be a light for someone this week?
- Give a coat, a book or some coins to people in need, the way Lucy gave her wedding money away.
Read the full story: St. Lucy of Syracuse in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Lucy?
In Sweden, girls who dress as Lucia wear a white gown with a red sash, so white and red are a lovely choice. Make the candle flames yellow and orange, the leaves of her crown green, and the sea blue.
Why does St. Lucy wear a crown of candles?
Her name comes from the Latin word for light. In Sweden and other northern countries, a girl dressed as Lucia wears a crown of candles on December 13 and brings light and treats in the dark winter morning.
Why is St. Lucy sometimes shown with eyes on a plate?
Stories told long after her death say her eyes were hurt and God gave them back. That is why she is the patron saint of the blind and of people with eye trouble. This page leaves the plate out and shows her lamp instead.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.