Regarded as the Patroness of music and musicians, Saint Cecilia is often depicted playing a musical instrument such as an organ, organ-pipes or a viola. Such patronage was attributed to her because during her wedding, she heard and sang heavenly hymns in her heart to the Lord. That is why in some countries, her feast day on 22nd of November is celebrated with music festivals and concerts. Quite a number of classical and contemporary musical compositions have also been dedicated to her or inspired by her. One of the oldest musical institutions of the world located in Rome was also named after her- the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (National Academy of Saint Cecilia) which invokes her patronage and that of Saint Gregory the Great, after whom the Gregorian chant was so named. Similar to how Saint Cecilia had sung for the Lord from her heart, the Church also recognizes how good music enriches the liturgy.
Aside from the musical aspect in the life event of Saint Cecilia, her vow of virginity and martyrdom make her one of the popular Roman martyrs. Born in Rome in the 2nd century, she was from a wealthy family. Despite her noble status, she vowed to remain a virgin, for which she sought in prayer the help of the saints and the angels to guard her. However, her family gave her hand in marriage to a young nobleman named Valerian. Before they could consummate their union, she told him of her vow and that an angel of the Lord had been protecting her virginity. Valerian demanded to see the angel as proof. In return, he was told that he would have the eyes to see only after traveling to Via Appia (Appian Way) and being baptized by Pope Urbanus. Valerian obliged and upon his return, he found an angel by Saint Cecilia’s side. Valerian’s brother, Tiburtius, also had himself baptized after learning of such story. Soon after, the brothers spent their days burying the martyrs who were murdered by the Roman prefect, Turcius Almachius. At the same time, Saint Cecilia devoted herself in preaching and converting more than four hundred people in her lifetime.
Almachius, the prefect who hated Christians, eventually had them all arrested for their Christian practices. The brothers were executed while Saint Cecilia was ordered to die by suffocation in the baths. After spending one day in heat and smoke, she did not even sweat. The prefect then ordered her beheading. The executioner could not decapitate her head even after three attempts so he just left her to bleed and die. For three days, Saint Cecilia remained alive and preached among the people. In 1599, officials exhumed her body. They found it to be incorrupt with a pleasant floral odor, the first of all the incorruptible saints. Her remains were placed under the high altar of the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome.
Saint Cecilia, pray for us!
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