Saint Cecilia

The story of Saint Cecilia is a tale of virtue, martyrdom, and a soul that “sang” for God. Born in Rome in the second century, a very devout girl named Cecilia was raised by a family of worldly nobles. The young virgin was given in marriage to a young pagan man named Valerian.

Valerian and Saint Cecilia’s wedding day had arrived, and the young girl was dedicated to giving her life to Christ alone. She “sang in her heart” to God before the marriage was consummated. Cecilia informed her husband that she had taken a vow of virginity during the ceremony. She added that an angel was protecting her. Valerian was skeptical, so he asked to see the angel as proof. Cecilia promised that the angel would appear once Valerian was baptized by the Pope.

Valerian was baptized and when he returned, an angel was with Saint Cecilia. Valerian was now a believer. Soon he asked the Lord to convert his brother Tibertius as well. He told his sibling about what he had experienced. Tibertius was inspired by the story and was baptized soon after.

The brothers took their newfound faith and performed many corporal acts of mercy. They gave their money to the poor, cared for the sick, and buried Christian martyrs. These heroic acts, along with their open preaching led to their martyrdoms. Before they were executed, the two brothers witnessed their faith to Maximus, the boss of the executioners. Word got back to Saint Cecilia and she sent a priest to him. Maximus and his whole family were baptized. The new Christian man told everyone he could that he saw Valerian and Tibertius’ souls rise up to heaven. Because of this confession, he was martyred with lead whips.

The leader of the city was working to confiscate Valerian, Tibertius, and Maximus’s property. While he was in the process of doing so, he caught word that Cecilia had given all of her considerable wealth to follow the Lord. He arrested her and attempted to suffocate her by overheating a bathhouse and throwing her inside. Saint Cecilia was protected by the Lord, and she survived. A soldier was then ordered to decapitate her. Three swings of the sword did not remove her head. Saint Cecilia was badly wounded and it took three days for her to die. Before she left this world she gave her property to the Pope for the use of the Church.

Saint Cecilia’s body was laid to rest in the catacombs. When her grave was discovered in 817, her body was placed in the Church of Saint Cecilia and many believers grew in devotion to her. Because Saint Cecilia “sang in her heart” to the Lord, musical concerts and festivals were celebrated on her feast day. Many confirmation students with musical talents choose her as their patron to this day.