Saint Cecilia
Also known as
- Caecilia
- Celia
- Cecily
- Cécile
- Cicilia
Profile
Cultivated young patrician woman whose ancestors loomed large in Rome’s history. She vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptised.
The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in her turn.
The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: “While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse.” It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.
- martyred in the 3rd century
- suffocated for a while, and when that didn’t kill her, she was beheaded
- her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome
- the tomb was opened in 1599, and her body found to be incorrupt
Name Meaning
- bodily purity
- composers
- luthiers
- martyrs
- music
- musicians
- musical instrument makers
- poets
- singers
- –
- Academy of Music, Rome, Italy
- Worshipful Company of Musicians
- –
- Albi, France, archdiocese
- Omaha, Nebraska, archdiocese of
- Valleyfield, Québec, diocese of
- –
- Acquasparta, Italy
- Albi, France, city of
Readings
Arise, soldier of Christ, throw away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. – Saint Cecilia
MLA Citation
- “Saint Cecilia“. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 August 2020. Web. 20 April 2021. <>