The Nun 2: Did you know the actual history of Saint Lucy? 

The story of The Nun 2 has the mention of the legend of St. Lucy and you might think that it’s a made-up thing about her but there are real mentions of her in Catholic orthodoxy. Scroll through the article to know more

As the conjuring franchise expands, people will continue to get an amazing lineup of movies. While most of the horror movies these days are made up around fictional stories and experiences, the Conjuring franchise has been built and marketed upon the pitch that these stories are based on true events. Particularly, the first movies directed by James Wan were believed to be inspired by the cases experienced by Paranormal activity investigators, Ed and Lorraine. In Fact Talking about the recent addition to the franchise, The Nun 2 is based on the demon Nun who is on the run to search for the eyes of St. Lucy. And viewers might think that the legend of St. Lucy is a made-up thing for the film but it is real, in the Catholic Canon and Orthodoxy.

The actual history VS the film 

In the film, Sister Irene asked the Priest/Librarian in the Vatican about St. Lucy of Syracuse and why the demon Valak is after her eyes? The film emphasized on the fact that the eyes of St. Lucy held immense power and that’s why the demon went after it. The priest tells Sister Irene that St. Lucy was killed by the pagans and while she died, her family escaped and was scattered across Europe. The film goes on in implying that Sister Irene and even Lorraine Warren are the descendants of St. Lucy, a fact that is kind of hard to digest as she is worshiped in the Catholic Church as a virgin martyr and there are no records or mentions of her having siblings. 

There is a lot of debate around the actual story of St. Lucy as some scholars say that the whole thing was created by the early Catholic Church. The first written accounts about her mention come from the fish ventures in Acts of the Martyrs which was about a hundred years after her death. According to various archaeological evidences, there was a cult who worshiped Lucia of Syracuse in Sicily during the fourth century and it is also believed that the body parts of her were indeed, scattered across Europe. According to the famous legend, Lucia of Syracuse was born in 283 A.D., had a Roman and Greek Heritage and she was a part of the Roman Empire. She is known to be the earliest non-clergy or non-military Martyrs as she was killed for her unwavering religious faith during the Diocletianic Persecution. At that time, Christianity already stood on a shaky ground and many believers were killed by mobs. The historical mention of Lucia comes into focus around 304 A.D according to which her mother had betrothed her to a rich young suitor whose family kept the pagan gods of Jupiter and the empire without caring about her daughter’s wishes on this matter. Later, they both went to a pilgrimage together in Catania where they visited the site of St. Agatha’s Martyrdom who was murdered during the great persecution of Cristians by the Roman State.

Lucia asks her mother to donate her diary to the poor and needy instead of saving for her marriage. The news of this act of charity reached the betrothed and he was definitely outraged by the loss and thus, he denounced Lucia as a Cristian to Paschasius, the Governor of Syracuse. The Roman government demanded Lucia to be burnt alive as a sacrifice in the honor of Emperor Diocletian’s image and divinity. When asked to apostatize her faith. Lucia refused. As per the Catholic beliefs, Paschasius ordered Lucia to be condemned to a brothel where she would spend the rest of her life but when the guards attempted to force Lusics out of her home, her feet didn’t move. Not even when they tried it with full force. In this case, they turned to burn her alive but that didn’t work either as the flames did no harm to her. Finally, a soldier stabbed Lucia in the throat which took her life. But what about her eyes? It is believed that the gathering crowd was sympathizing too much with the beautiful young girl during the prosecution. And thus, the Roman Governor Paschasius ordered her eyes to be gouged out. 

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