Roman Martyr. Patron saint of music and the blind. She is one of the most famous Roman martyrs. It's believed that she was born in the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. According to 5th century legend, Cecilia was a noble woman who, as a child, vowed to give her virginity to God. When she was forced to marry St. Valerian, who was a pagan at the time, it was said that she heard heavenly music in her heart. She told Valerian that an angel of God told her that she had to remain a virgin. He promised to respect this wish if only he could see the angel. Cecilia told him that he would see the angel if he were to get baptized by Pope Urban. On his way back from being Baptized, Valerian saw Cecilia talking to the angel. She was also successful in converting Valerian's brother, St. Tiburtius, who also saw the angel. Both men were martyred before she was. Cecilia converted many others to Christianity and gave her possessions away to the poor, which enraged the governor Turcius Almachius, who ordered her to be burned. When the flames wouldn't burn her, she was ordered to be beheaded. However, after three strikes to the neck by a sword failed to severe her head, the executioner ran away, leaving Cecilia mortally wounded. She lived for three days, and asked the pope to convert her home into a church. The Basilica di Santa Cecilia was built in the 5th century in Rome, Italy. St. Cecilia was first buried the catacombs of St. Calixtus. Pope Paschal I, who rebuilt her church in 821 A.D., moved her remains to a crypt at the church. It also contains the remains of St. Valerian. Her feast day is November 22.
Roman Martyr. Patron saint of music and the blind. She is one of the most famous Roman martyrs. It's believed that she was born in the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. According to 5th century legend, Cecilia was a noble woman who, as a child, vowed to give her virginity to God. When she was forced to marry St. Valerian, who was a pagan at the time, it was said that she heard heavenly music in her heart. She told Valerian that an angel of God told her that she had to remain a virgin. He promised to respect this wish if only he could see the angel. Cecilia told him that he would see the angel if he were to get baptized by Pope Urban. On his way back from being Baptized, Valerian saw Cecilia talking to the angel. She was also successful in converting Valerian's brother, St. Tiburtius, who also saw the angel. Both men were martyred before she was. Cecilia converted many others to Christianity and gave her possessions away to the poor, which enraged the governor Turcius Almachius, who ordered her to be burned. When the flames wouldn't burn her, she was ordered to be beheaded. However, after three strikes to the neck by a sword failed to severe her head, the executioner ran away, leaving Cecilia mortally wounded. She lived for three days, and asked the pope to convert her home into a church. The Basilica di Santa Cecilia was built in the 5th century in Rome, Italy. St. Cecilia was first buried the catacombs of St. Calixtus. Pope Paschal I, who rebuilt her church in 821 A.D., moved her remains to a crypt at the church. It also contains the remains of St. Valerian. Her feast day is November 22.
Bio by: Red Queen
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