Saint Cecilia

Who they were

Tradition holds that Cecilia, a noble Roman girl, was martyred around 230 under the emperor Alexander Severus and Pope Urban I. Her veneration is very old: the title of her basilica in Trastevere is earlier than 313, and her feast was kept by 545.

The Passion of St Cecilia, more literary than historical, tells that on her wedding day she told her husband Valerian that she was a Christian vowed to virginity; he was baptised by Pope Urban, and his brother Tiburtius followed. Both were beheaded, with the officer Maximus who had converted on the way to prison, and then Cecilia herself was martyred.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Cecilia has been honoured as a martyr since the early centuries. Because of the words in her Passion that 'while the instruments played, she sang in her heart to the Lord alone', she is patron of musicians and singers.

Why that counted as sanctity

Cecilia gave her whole heart to Christ, drew her husband and others to Him, and died for Him. The Church remembers her singing to God in her heart.

Connected on this site

• Valerian of Rome Saint Spouse
• Urban I Saint
  “The church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, founded in the 3rd century by Pope Urban I, is believed to be on the site of the house where she lived and died.” — Wikipedia