St. Cecilia of Rome is our featured saint this week. The child of wealthy and illustrious parents, St. Cecilia was born in Rome in the 3rd century and raised in the Christian faith. Throughout the community, she was known for praying fervently and helping those in need.
As a child, she had vowed her virginity to God, but her parents decided instead to give her in marriage to the noble pagan Valerian. Cecilia did not oppose her parents, but prayed to God that her betrothed would believe in Christ, and that He would send an angel to preserve her virginity.
It is said that, as the musicians played at her wedding, Cecilia "sang in her heart to the Lord.” That night, she told her husband that an angel stood by to guard her vow of virginity. He promised to respect this if he were allowed to see the angel, and she promised in return that he would if he were baptized. Cecilia persuaded Valerian to visit Bishop Urban, who was hiding in a cave because of the persecution of Christians. The instructions of the wise bishop pierced the soul of Valerian. On his return from baptism he found Cecilia praying, and saw an angel of indescribable beauty standing beside her, holding two crowns of red roses and white lilies.
Valerian told his brother about these things. "Until now, we have been living as if in a dream,“ he told him. “Now we walk in God's truth and grace." Soon after, Tiburtius was converted to Christianity. The brothers distributed a portion of their inheritance to the poor, cared for the sick, and buried Christians that had been tortured to death.
St. Cecilia is remembered for her courage, compassion, and tender boldness. After St. Cecilia’s husband and brother-in-law accepted baptism by her encouragement, Governor Almachius learned of their conversion and gave orders to arrest the brothers and bring them to trial. Although he demanded that they renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, St. Cecilia’s example and encouragement had taken root. The brothers refused, and Almachius ordered that the martyrs be executed outside the city. Amazed at the courage of the saints, the commander Maximus asked to learn about Christianity in detail, so he took Valerian and Tiburtius to his home and spoke with them in secret that night. When she heard of this, St. Cecilia took a priest with her to see Maximus, and he with all his family accepted holy baptism.
On the following day, Valerian and Tiburtius were beheaded. The governor went to confiscate the property of the saints, but St. Cecilia had anticipated him and already distributed all her remaining wealth to the poor. After he heard that during this time she had also converted 400 men, he finally ordered her execution. For three days, she was tortured with fire and smoke. It was then ordered that she be beheaded, but the executioner only wounded her. St. Cecilia lived three more days in full consciousness, encouraging those around her, and died “with prayer on her lips.”
St. Cecilia was buried in the Catacomb of Callixtus and later transferred to the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. In 1599, her body was found still incorrupt. As the patron saint of church music, many musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast, on November 22/December 5, is often the occasion of concerts and musical festivals. She is also known as Cecilia of Rome.
St. Cecilia, pray to God for us!
For you made music in your martyrdom,
In all your three days dying you made room
For beautiful abundance, gifts and giving,
Your death was blessing and your passing praise…
(Ode by Malcolm Guite
https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2018/11/22/ode-to-st-cecilia-3/)