According to legend, Cecilia was a young Christian of high rank betrothed to a Roman named Valerian. Through her influence, Valerian was converted, and was martyred along with his brother. The legend about Cecilia’s death says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she lived for three days, and asked the pope to convert her home into a church.
The story of Saint Cecilia is one of courage, evangelization, and love of God in the midst of persecution and strife.
St. Cecilia is most remembered today as the patron of musicians due to this legend:
“While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love of Jesus, her true spouse.”
St. Cecilia is typically portrayed in art, statues, rosaries, and medals with a harp or other musical instruments. St. Cecilia gifts remind us to invoke the prayers of Saint Cecilia for those musicians lifting their talents up to God.
The intercession of St. Cecilia is also the patron saint of:
* Church music
* Poets
* Singers
* Authors
Prayer to Saint Cecilia:
O glorious Saint, who chose to die
instead of denying your King.
We pray you please to help us
as His fair praise we sing!
We lift our hearts in joyous song
to honor Him this way.
And while we sing, remembering
to sing is to doubly pray.
At once in our hearts and our
tongues we offer double prayer
Sent heavenward on winged notes
to praise God dwelling there.
While with our hearts and tongues
we try with song to praise God twice.
We ask dear Saint to help us be
united close with Christ. Amen.
