Every November 22, the Church celebrates Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr, patron saint of musicians and poets. She is also known as Cecilia of Rome. Her cult has spread universally due to the story of her martyrdom, for which she is considered a model of a Christian woman. Already in the 5th century there was a basilica built in his honor.
Saint Cecilia (ca. 180/ca. 230) is usually depicted playing a musical instrument or singing.
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Praise God with music
The exact year of his birth is unknown, but it is believed that he lived between the end of the 2nd century (around 180) and the beginning of the 3rd century. Cecilia was born into a noble family that converted to Christianity.
In her youth she offered her virginity to the Lord, as had become customary among many Christian women of the first centuries; However, her father wanted to marry her. Thus, against her will, she was given in marriage to Valerian, a young pagan. On the day the nuptials were celebrated, with sadness at not being able to consecrate her life to Christ, Cecilia asked the Lord for peace and strength. While the musicians played at the party, she praised God with beautiful songs that came from her heart.
According to tradition, on their wedding night, Cecilia told Valeriano that she was going to tell him a secret. Cecilia told her husband that an angel of the Lord was watching over her: “If you touch me as if I were your wife, the angel will be angry and you will suffer the consequences; On the other hand, if you respect me, the angel will love you as he loves me.”
The husband asked her that if she showed him the angel, he would do whatever she asked. Cecilia replied that if he believed in the living and true God and received baptism, then he would see the angel. Valerian then went to look for the bishop of Rome, Pope Urban I (p. 222-230), who instructed him in the faith and baptized him.
Persecution times
Shortly after, the angel appeared to both of them and placed a garland of roses and lilies on their heads as a symbol of their spiritual union. Valeriano’s brother, Tiburcio, infected with the joy of the young couple, also became a Christian.
Unfortunately, a new persecution broke out against the Christians, and this time it would fall on Valeriano and Tiburcio, who would be arrested and sentenced to death by orders of the prefect Turcio Almaquio. Maximus, an official of the prefect, was appointed to carry out the sentence, but he refused to carry it out because he had also converted to Christianity. The prefect then ordered that Maximus be executed along with the brothers. Cecilia collected the remains of the three men and buried them in a Christian and non-pagan way.
The martyrdom of Saint Cecilia
It wouldn’t be long before Cecilia also became a victim of persecution. The young woman was arrested and ordered to publicly worship the gods, which she simply refused. For this reason she was sentenced to death by drowning in the bathing fountain of her own house.
Since they couldn’t kill her, the executioners boiled water and placed her in it, but the strategy didn’t work either. God protected her so that she could be a testimony against the pagans.
The prefect then ordered that her throat be cut. The story of Cecilia’s martyrdom tells how the executioner dropped his sword on the saint’s neck up to three times without success. Frightened, the man fled the scene, leaving the young virgin bathed in her own blood.
It is said that Saint Cecilia lived three more days. After his death, Pope Urban I had his body recovered and ordered it to be buried in the catacomb of Pope Calixtus I.
In Trastevere, Rome, the Basilica of Santa Cecilia was built in the 5th century. There is currently the famous life-size statue by the sculptor Stafano Maderno (1576-1636) that shows the saint as if she were asleep, lying on her side. right.
Why is Saint Cecilia the patron saint of musicians?
In 1594, Pope Gregory middle of difficulty. Cecilia had a sensitive spirit and passion for music, for which her name would be tied to this art forever.
In March 2014, Pope Francis referred to the martyrs of early Christian times who, like Saint Cecilia, “always carried the Gospel with them: they carried the Gospel; She, Cecilia, carried the Gospel. Because precisely our first food is the Word of Jesus, which nourishes our faith.”
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If you want to know more about Saint Cecilia, we suggest the following link to the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/Santa_Cecilia.
Central Editorial
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