SAINT CECILIA
Cultivated young patrician whose ancestors loomed large in Rome's history.
Vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of
Trastevere. She told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel,
but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the
purification, and was baptized; returning from the ceremony, he found her in
prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of
their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his
brother be baptized.
During the persecutions, the two brothers gave proper burial to martyrs.
In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried
them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She
was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in
her turn.
The Acts of Cecilia has the following: "While the profane
music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love
for Jesus, her true spouse. " It was this phrase that led to her
association with music, singer, musicians, etc.
Died martyred 117 AD; suffocated for a while, and when that didn't kill her, she was beheaded; grave was discovered in 817 AD, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome. The tomb was opened in 1599 AD, and her body found to be incorrupt.
The Feast of Saint Cecilia is celebrated on November 22nd.
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