“Take me to Catania,” said Eutycha. Catania was home to Agatha, a virgin, and a martyr. She suffered persecution during the reign of Emperor Decius. Agatha had been stretched, mutilated and starved. While she was being starved in prison, the Apostle, St. Peter healed her and comforted her. After her healing and even more intense torture, Agatha soon died. Many Christians, mostly from the island of Sicily, made pilgrimages to her gravesite.

  Lucy and Eutycha arrived in Catania. They entered the catacombs where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was to take place. Lucy and Eutycha put their palas over their heads. The celebrants were singing:

  “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest.

  Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest.

  Blessed is He, Blessed is He,

  Hosanna! Hosanna!

  Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord,

  Hosanna in the highest.

  Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest.

  Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest.” The Mass continued with a reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans. Then the Gospel was proclaimed:

  “And when Jesus had passed again in the ship over the strait, a great multitude assembled together unto him, and he was nigh unto the sea. And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus: and seeing him, falleth down at his feet. And he besought him much, saying, ‘My daughter is at the point of death, come, lay thy hand upon her, that she may be safe, and may live.’ And he went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him. And a woman who was under an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things from many physicians; and had spent all that she had, and was nothing the better, but rather worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the crowd behind him, and touched his garment. For she said, ‘If I shall touch but his garment, I shall be whole.’ And forthwith the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the evil. And immediately Jesus knowing in himself the virtue that had proceeded from him, turning to the multitude, said, ‘Who hath touched my garments?’

  And his disciples said to him, ‘Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou who hath touched me?’ And he looked about to see her who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said to her: ‘Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace, and be thou whole of thy disease.’” said the priest. Lucy thought to herself:

  “Perhaps I can pray to God, through the intersession of Agatha, that my mother can be cured of her illness. Maybe a miracle would convince her to allow me to remain unmarried and that she will grant my request.” After Mass, Lucy said to her mother:

  “Do you remember today’s Gospel, mother?” Lucy asked.

  “Yes I do,” replied Eutycha. “It was about the woman who was cured of her illness by touching Jesus’ cloak.”

  “Do you believe the miracle in the Gospel?” Lucy asked.

  “Well, the apostles were witness to it and have told us it is true.” Eutycha replied

  “If you believe this well-known Gospel, mother, believe that Agatha has merited from Christ, since she suffered for His name, that she may always behold Him in her presence, in eternal bliss. Now touch her tomb and you will immediately be healed,” said Lucy.

  “All right Lucy, let us pray for her intercession. Take me to her tomb,” Eutycha said. They went to the tomb of Agatha and knelt to pray. While they prayed, Lucy fell asleep and while she was sleeping, she had a vision from God. In the vision, the holy Virgin and Martyr Agatha appeared with a host of Heavenly angels. Agatha was clothed in white and holding a palm branch and a lily in her hand.

  “My sister Lucy, true virgin of God, why do you ask me for what you yourself could grant? Your holy faith has helped your mother: look! She is entirely healed through Christ; and even as this town is made famous by me through Christ's favor, so shall Syracuse be made famous by you, because you prepared yourself for Christ, in your pure virginity, as a pure habitation,” Agatha said. Then Lucy woke up. She was shaken from the vision. But she arose and went to her mother.

  “You are mightily healed. Now I pray you, by the same one who healed you with prayers, that you never name to me any bridegroom, nor expect of my body any mortal fruit. As for the property that you would have given me for my pollution, give it to me for my chastity: for I am going to Christ,” Lucy said.

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  “You know my wealth, and I have kept your father's property for sixteen years now against all losses, and I have increased it further. First close my eyes, then dispose of the property however you please, dear daughter.” Eutycha said.

  “Listen to my counsel; you can take nothing with you from this life, and whatever you give away at death for the Lord's sake you give because you cannot take it with you. Give now to the true Savior, while you are healthy, whatever you intended to give away at your death,” Lucy replied. She told this to her mother many times. Finally Eutycha gave in and said:

  “All right, Lucy. I will give everything to the poor, Eutycha replied. I will do it because it makes you happy. You do not have to marry Virgil.”

  “Thank you mother!” Lucy exclaimed as she hugged her mother.

  “This means we will need to sell the villa and live in the poor side of town,” said Eutycha.

  “I have a good idea who will get the villa,” Lucy said.

  “Who is it you have in mind, Lucy?” Eutycha asked.

  “Amata,” Lucy replied. “She has served me for the past ten years. She deserves to be free. I will give her the villa the next time I take food to the poor. Now let us praise God and give away our wealth.”

  From that day on Lucy and Eutycha sold everything, including their villa and their heirlooms. They gave it to the poor and lived with the poor, every day praising God. As soon as they got home, Cornelius came out to meet them.

  “Lucy, I looked into the slave action lists. Apparently in 1045, there were three slaves sold at an auction in Palermo. Tiberius, and Your father bought some slaves. A woman named Amelia gave birth to fraternal twins in 1040. She named the boy Marcus, and the girl Amata. When they were sold in 1045, Marcus and His mother were sold to Tiberius and Amata was sold to us. Amelia died in 1052.”

  “Thank you, Uncle Cornelius. I must be going.” Lucy got on a horse and went to Tiberius’s house. She still needed to repay Marcus for his acts of kindness and all his work he had done with Lucy over the years. She rode over to the house of Tiberius and Portia. She walked up to the house and rapped on the door. A servant opened the door.

  “I am Lucy, daughter of Eutycha, and Lucius. I wish to see Tiberius and Portia, please,” Lucy said to the servant.

  “Please come in, Lucy,” the servant said.

  “Thank you,” said Lucy. The servant led her into the garden where Tiberius and Portia were sitting.

  “Announcing Lucy, Daughter of Lucius and Eutycha,” the servant announced

  “Thank you. What brings you here, Lucy?” Tiberius asked.

  “I wish to free your servant named Marcus.”

  “Why do you wish to do that? Is it that you fancy servants than rich young men?” said Portia. The two laughed.

  “That is not the case. Marcus has assisted me in feeding the poor of the city. He asked me to free him. I promised him that I would do so. I delayed in doing so, since my mother’s illness was my main concern. Now I have come to fulfill my promise. Besides I think one of my servants is his sister,” said Lucy.

  “How much will you give us for Marcus’ freedom?” Tiberius asked.

  “I give you all of this,” Lucy replied as she opened a medium bag full of gold and laid it the floor. There was gold everywhere.

  “You do not need all of this?” Portia asked.

  “I will need it when I die. I will have no need of it in the next life,” Lucy replied.

  “Tiberius, free Marcus,” Portia said. Tiberius thought for a few minutes. Lucy prayed that Tiberius would say yes.

  “All right, I have made up my mind. MARCUS!” Tiberius called. Marcus came into the garden.

  “Yes my master?” Marcus asked.

  “You are free man, Marcus. Your friend Lucy has freed you,” Tiberius replied.

  “Thank you, sir,” said Marcus.

  “Call me Tiberius, Marcus. You are welcome,” said Tiberius.

  “You are always welcome to visit us, Marcus,” Portia said.

  “I will, Portia. Farewell,” Marcus said.

  “That was very kind of you, Lucy,” said Portia.

  “Think nothing of it,” Lucy said as she and Marcus left the house. Marcus turned to Lucy.

  “What about Amata?” Marcus asked.

  “Uncle Cornelius looked into the records. You are the Brother of my servant Amata,” Lucy replied.

  “Will you give her freedom as well?” Marcus asked.

  “I have a better idea. I plan to give her the villa. Both of you will be in charge of the villa. We will tell Amata tonight, Lucy replied. Mother and Uncle Cornelius are in the processing of moving out. None of the servants know of our plans.”

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  It was the twelfth hour. Amata was about to go to bed when the porter ran over to her.

  “Amata there is someone at the door for you!” Amata walked quickly to the door. In the entry stood Lucy.

  “My Lady!” Amata exclaimed as she hugged Lucy. “What are you doing here?”

  “My mother has been cured of her illness. I do not have to marry Virgil. We are giving all our possessions to the poor and proclaiming His words to all. I am giving you the villa and all its servants and animals.”

  “You can’t be serious!”

  “I am serious, Amata. Mother and I cannot take any of this with in the next life.”

  “Am I supposed to take care of the villa all by myself?”

  “No. You will have help.” Marcus stepped into the entry.

  “This is your twin brother, Marcus.”

  “Marcus!” She hugged her long lost brother. She then hugged Lucy and thanked her. “Amata, proclaim His words to all. Farewell,” Lucy said as she left them. Amata tuned to Marcus.

  “How long has it been since we last saw each other, Marcus?” Amata asked.

  “Since we were five years old, Amata.” The porter came in the entry.

  “Sir, I am now the mistress of this house. This is my brother, Marcus.”

  “Welcome, master,” the porter said.

  “Call me Marcus.”

  “Welcome, Marcus. I’ll leave you two alone for a while.” The porter left. Marcus put his arm around Amata and together they watched the sun go down.