november 22. cecilia, who dated an angel
Patron saint of musicians, church music, bodily purity, composers, luthiers, instrument makers, poets, singers, and of the blind.
Died 177 A.D.
Cecilia desired to remain a virgin, and so she wore sackcloth next to her skin, fasted, and invoked the saints and virgins, beseeching them to protect her purity. Her parents had other plans and they "gave her in marriage" to a young nobleman named Valerian. According to one account, "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse." Another phrases it differently: "Cecilia is said to have heard heavenly music inside her heart when she was forced to marry a pagan."
BETROTHED TO AN ANGEL
On her wedding night, when the couple had retired to their wedding chamber, Cecilia told her husband that she was betrothed to an angel who jealously guarded her body; therefore, Valerian must take care not to violate her. One account quotes her as saying: "I have for my lover an angel of God, who guards my body with exceeding zeal! If he sees you but lightly touch me for sordid love, he will smite you, and you will lose the fair flower of your youth."
Valerian said, "Dearest, if this be true, show me the angel." Cecilia said that he would only see the angel if he believed in one God and "received the water of the baptism." Once purified, Valerian saw an angel with flaming wings beside his praying wife; the angel crowned their heads with roses and lilies and then vanished. By another account, the angel handed the couple a bouquet of roses and lilies as reward for Cecilia's love of chastity. The bouquet would never wither, but only those who loved chastity would be able to see it.
SUFFOCATION: THE GAME WE LIKE TO PLAY
Because she buried her martyred husband and converted 400 persons with her preaching, the prefect ruled that Cecilia should die of suffocation in the baths. As such, soldiers locked Cecilia in the bathhouse and stoked the fires. By one account, "instead of choking, Cecilia began to sing." She remained there for 24 hours but was still alive when the soldiers unbarred the door. In fact, Cecilia did not even break out in sweat. She was then ordered beheaded, but--after three inefficient blows--the executioner failed to sever her head from the trunk and ran away, leaving her blood-soaked. She remained on the pavement of her bath, lying on her right side, and prayed in that position for three days and nights. Pilgrims came and sopped up her blood flow with sponges and napkins and cloths and veils.
She was found dead with three fingers extended on her right hand and one on the other, symbolizing the Holy Trinity.
INCORRUPTION: THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
In 822, Pope Pascal wished to have Cecilia's remains interred but did not know where to find them. She appeared to him in a vision and identified her own grave's site.
Cecilia is the first Saint whose body experienced the phenomenon of incorruption. She was found to be incorrupt in 1599, "as if she had just breathed forth her soul." She was seen dressed in finery: a gold embroidered dress and a silk veil. At her feet were placed the linen cloths and veils which pilgrims had used to collect her blood.