Lucy looked into Paschasius’s eyes. They were filled with rage, for he was a man who hated the Christians and wanted them destroyed.

  “A pure offering is this, and acceptable to God, that one should visit widows, and comfort exiles, and help orphan children in their affliction. For four years now I have been employed about no other deeds, but have offered these offerings to the living Lord. Now I desire truly to offer myself to him, because for some time I have had nothing to spend in his service,” said Lucy. Paschasius held up his hand to silence her.

  “Stop…. or I will have you whipped!” Paschasius exclaimed.

  “The words of the living God cannot be suppressed or put to silence,” Lucy replied.

  “What, are you a god?” Paschasius asked slanderously.

  “I am the Almighty's handmaid and therefore I speak God's words, since he says in his Gospel, ‘It is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit speaks in you,’” Lucy responded.

  “Really! Does this ‘Holy Spirit’ dwell in you?” Paschasius asked arrogantly.

  “The Apostle promised those who preserve their chastity that they might be God's temple and the habitation of the Holy Spirit.”

  “I shall immediately have men lead you to an evil place, where you will lose your purity. The Holy Spirit will flee from you when you are thus foully dishonored.” Lucy swallowed hard and said:

  “No one's body is polluted so as to endanger the soul if it has not pleased the mind. If you were to lift my hand to your idol and so make me offer against my will, I would still be guiltless in the sight of the true God, who judges according to the will and knows all things. If now, against my will, you cause me to be polluted, twofold purity will be gloriously imputed to me. You cannot bend my will to your purpose; whatever you do to my body, that cannot happen to me.”

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  “Ivor, carry out my wishes,” said Paschasius.

  “Aye, my Lord Paschasius,” said his master servant, Ivor. Ivor was from Selgovae know known as Scotland. He was taken from his homeland during a Roman border raid. Lucy began to worry. She began to pray, silently:

  “Lord Jesus, deliver me from the hands of my foes. Protect me, O glorious Holy Spirit.”

  “Ivor, take her out of here,” Paschasius said impatiently.

  “Aye sir.” Ivor began to drag Lucy out of the hall and to the place of evil. At that moment, the Holy Spirit took hold of Lucy. It felt like a heavy weight that was put on her back. Yet, there was nothing there.

  “My, Lord, the lass is na movin’. It looks like she ha put on a weight,” said Ivor.

  “Oh, stop being so lightheaded, Ivor. I will do it. Watch this.” He prepared to drag Lucy out of the hall. However, he could not move her either. Lucy stood firm as a mountain. Paschasius was perplexed.

  “Have ropes tied on her hands and feet. Call in a century, Ivor,” Paschasius commanded.

  “Aye, my Lord,” Ivor said. Strong ropes were tied to Lucy’s hands and feet. A century was brought in. Twenty men took a rope.

  “My men are ready, my Lord Paschasius,” the centurion said.

  “Proceed, centurion,” Paschasius replied.

  “Parate, viri! Trahete!” (“Ready Men! Pull!”). The men pulled as hard as they could. However, Lucy stood firm.

  “She’s na movin’, sir. Shall I call in a cohort?”

  “Not yet, Ivor. Bring in the sorcerers. Maybe they can move her.”

  “Aye Sir.” Three sorcerers were brought before Paschasius. They wore black tunics and brown cloaks with hoods.

  “You wanted us, my lord,” the head sorcerer said.

  “Yes, I did. This maiden here will not move. Summon the mighty powers of the gods and command them to move this maiden.”

  “Anything for you, my lord Paschasius.” The sorcerers put the hoods over heads and began to circle Lucy, moving their hands in a circular motion. They chanted:

  “O powerful Jupiter, move this maiden! O mighty Apollo, unvex this maiden.” They continued this for a short time. When they finished, the head sorcerer told Paschasius that they were finished and they assured him that Lucy would move. Paschasius tried to drag Lucy out of the hall. She still would not move.

  “What are we to do, Ivor? This maiden will still not budge.” Paschasius said.

  “I do na believe that all the cohorts of Rome could move her. We need something stronger than men.” As Ivor said this, something clicked in Paschasius’ mind.

  “Ivor, you gave me in idea. We will tie the ropes that are on the maiden’s hands to many teams of oxen. That should move Lucy. Ivor, bring me twenty teams of oxen.”

  “Aye, My lord.” Twenty teems of oxen were yoked, and teemed together. Lucy wondered if she would still be standing firm. But she knew that the Lord God was all-powerful. She put her trust in him and stood firmly.