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St. Cecilia
🎡

St. Cecilia

c. 200-230

πŸ“… Feast Day: Nov 22

πŸ“– Life Timeline

Unknown Born in c. 200 AD, Rome
230 AD Died β€” c. 230 AD, Rome (beheaded)
Pre- Canonized β€” Pre-Tridentine

✝ Biography

Born in Rome c.200-230 AD to a noble pagan family. Promised in marriage to Valerian, she told him she had consecrated her virginity to God and that an angel guarded her. Valerian, moved by her holiness, went to meet the angel and was converted by St Urban, Pope. Cecilia gave her house for a church (now Santa Cecilia in Trastevere). When Valerian's brothers tried to force her from her faith, Valerian and his brother Tiburtius were beheaded. Cecilia and her husband's remains were buried by St Urban in her own house-church. When discovered by the authorities, Cecilia was sentenced to be suffocated in her steam bath but survived three days. The executioner tried three times to behead her but could not sever her neckβ€”each strike only wounded her. She was then buried in the Catacomb of St Callixtus. Died c.230 AD under Emperor Aurelian. Patron saint of music, her hymn 'Trinity, I adore Thee' is sung as she plays the organ in tradition.

πŸ›‘ Patronage

Patron of: Musicians, musicians' unions, organists, composers, and music publishers. Her name means 'heavenly light.'

πŸ’¬ Words of the Saint

Keep my heart and my body virginly pure, O Lord.

πŸ“œ Key Facts

Born c. 200 AD, Rome
Died c. 230 AD, Rome (beheaded)
Feast Day Nov 22
Canonized Pre-Tridentine

πŸ•Š Legacy

Cecilia is the most depicted female saint in Christian art after Mary. Legend says she sang in her heart to God while dying. Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, and countless composers dedicated works to her. St. Paul IV declared her patroness of music in 1584.

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