Believed to have been born in the 2nd century, not much is known about Saint Cecilia for certain. Differing dates are given by various biographers, and it is uncertain how factual her biographies are. She is thought to have been born to a patrician family in Rome. Raised a Christian, she decided at a young age that she would give herself to God. However, her father arranged a marriage between Cecilia and a young man by the name of Valerian. On the day of her marriage, Cecilia wore sackcloth next to her skin, fasted, and prayed to the saints and the angels to assist her in guarding her virginity, as she had made a personal vow of chastity. According to the story, she told her new husband that an angel was watching over her, and that the angel would be angry with anyone who took her virginity. Her husband asked to see the angel, and Cecilia told him that if he believed and was baptized, he would see the angel. She sent him to the Bishop of Ostia, who later became Pope Urban II, who baptized him. When he returned, he found Cecilia praying. An angel with flaming wings was alongside her, holding two crowns of roses and lilies. The angel placed the crowns on the heads of Cecilia and her husband, then vanished. Her husband's brother, Tibertius, entered the chambers and commented on the fragrance of the flowers. He also consented to being baptized. Valerius and Tibertius devoted their lives to burying the Christian martyrs who were being killed daily by the prefect of the city. Arrested, they were both beheaded by the prefect. Called to renounce her faith, Cecilia instead began preaching and converting others to Christianity. She was arrested and sentenced to be suffocated in the bathroom of her house. The furnace was stoked with seven times the normal amount of fuel yet, after a day and a night, she was found to be unharmed. The prefect ordered a soldier to behead her. The solder struck her three times but was unable to sever her head. She was left bleeding, however. She lived for three days, and was buried by Urban in the catacomb of Saint Callistus. Hundreds of years later, Pope Paschal I wanted to transfer her body to a place of honor, but Church officials were unable to locate her body. In a dream, Cecilia told the pope where her bones could be found. Her relics, along with the bones of Valerius and Tibertius, were moved to the Church of Saint Cecilia, and old church that was believed to be located on the site of her family home, and which was dedicated to the saint. There, he founded a monastery in their honor. In 1599, the Church of Saint Cecilia was rebuilt. At that time, her sarcophagus was opened, and her body and clothing were found to be intact. The casket was placed on display for a month, until November 22, the feast of Cecilia, and it was said that the fragrance of flowers came from her casket. That is the story, or one of them anyhow. Cecilia does not appear in Church documents until Pope Saint Gelasius (492-496) introduced her name into his Sacramentary. Cecilia is the patron saint of music because, on the day or her marriage, she heard heavenly music and sang to God in her heart. She is represented with an organ or organ pipes in her hand.
Recommended Resources
Biographical information and other known facts about the saint are put forth, along with artistic depictions of the 2nd or 3rd century saint, including a short and extended biography, a quiz on Saint Cecilia, and other information. A list of books, publications, and links to additional resources are published, and a variety of products depicting the saint, such ad pendants, medals, jewelry and other gifts, are included.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=34
Catholic Saints Info: Saint Cecilia
The Catholic resource presents a profile of the saint, as well as an account of her death and and an account of her status as a saint, which was pre-congregation, meaning that she was determined to be a saint before the institution of modern investigations prior to canonization. A list of her patronage, an overview of her representation, medals, pendants and art work are included, with a list of books relevant to the saint.
http://catholicsaints.info/saint-cecilia/
New World Encyclopedia: Saint Cecilia
St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and church music, as well as one of eight women commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. The online encyclopedia entry offers a brief biography and discussion of the saint, her life and death, later cult and legacy, and her status as the patron saint of church musicians, other art and literature. References and external links are included.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Saint_Cecilia
A biographical account of the 2nd or 3rd century saint is put forth, along with links to other relevant sites,. Medallions of Saint Cecilia, popular with Catholic musicians, are depicted, with links to sites from which they may be purchased. Other resources include prayers to Saint Cecilia, the Litany of Saint Cecilia, and other verse, along with an introduction to the site’s author, owner and founder of a goldsmith business in New York.
http://www.saintcecilia.us/
So much as is known or suspected, the birth and childhood of Saint Cecilia are set forth, her life, death, and the work of the Holy Spirit within her, along with an account of the circumstances by which she has come to be considered a saint within the Catholic Church. Other topics include a discussion of her status as a patron saint of musicians and singers, her feast day, and the site author’s reasons for choosing Saint Cecilia.
http://ceciliathepatronofmusicians.weebly.com/
