This is amazing!
Stephen Bullivant over at the Catholic Herald has made an incredible find for Narnia fans everywhere: there is a saint called Bl. Lucy of Narnia.
And November 16th is her feast day. Yes, this is real life.
If you’re lost, here’s an explanation for the uninitiated: One of the most popular book series ever is Christian apologist C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia (also a fun film series), and one of the main characters is a girl named Lucy. That’s why it’s incredible there’s a real life Bl. Lucy of Narnia.
And it’s not entirely a coincidence. Narnia (also called Narni) is a small town in Italy. Lewis came across the town on an atlas as a child and liked the name. It stuck with him and he named his imaginary book series world after it. Some also speculate that Lewis was inspired to name one of his characters after Bl. Lucy of Narnia, though it’s not absolutely clear this is the case. There have been a number of Lucy saints, most notably the 3rd century saint that’s named in the traditional Roman Canon of the Mass.
Bl. Lucy of Narnia lived in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries. Among other things, she had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a child, took a vow of virginity, and experienced stigmata.
Read more details of the amazing saint’s life in Bullivant’s great article.
Does this change your perspective on the Narnia series? Let us know in the comments!
Read next: 3 Beautiful Celebrities Who Gave It All Up to Become Nuns (or Close)