In the fourth century appeared a Greek religious romance on the Loves of
Cecilia and Valerian, written, like those of Chrysanthus and Daria, Julian
and Basilissa, in glorification of the virginal life, and with the purpose
of taking the place of the sensual romances of Daphnis and Chloe, Chereas
and Callirhoe, etc., which were then popular. There may have been a
foundation of fact on which the story was built up; but the Roman Calendar
of the fourth century, and the Carthaginian Calendar of the fifth make no
mention of Cecilia.

It is said, however, that there was a church dedicated to S. Cecilia in Rome
in the fifth century, in which Pope Symmachus held a council in 500. But
Symmachus held no council in that year. That held at Easter, 502, was in the
"basilica Julii"; that on September 1, 505, was held in the "basilica
Sessoriana"; that on October 23, 501, was in "porticu beati Petri apostoli
que appelatur Palmaria." The next synod, November 6, 502, met in the church
of St. Peter; that in 533, "ante confessionem beati Petri"; and that in 503
also in the basilica of S. Peter. Consequently, till better evidence is
produced, we must conclude that S. Cecilia was not known or venerated in
Rome till about the time when Pope Gelasius (496) introduced her name into
his Sacramentary. In 821, however, there was an old church fallen into decay
with the dedication to S. Cecilia; but Pope Paschal I dreamed that the body
of the saint lay in the cemetery of S. Celestas, along with that of her
husband Valerian. He accordingly looked for them and found them, or, at all
events, some bodies, as was probable, in the catacombs, which he was pleased
to regard as those of Cecilia and Valerian. And he translated these relics
to the church of S. Cecilia, and founded a monastery in their honor.

The story of St. Cecilia is not without beauty and merit. There was in the
city of Rome a virgin named Cecilia, who was given in marriage to a youth
named Valerian. She wore sackcloth next to her skin, and fasted, and invoked
the saints and angels and virgins, beseeching them to guard her virginity.
And she said to her husband, "I will tell you a secret if you will swear not
to reveal it to anyone." And when he swore, she added, "There is an angel
who watches me, and wards off from me any who would touch me." He said,
"Dearest, if this be true, show me the angel." "That can only be if you will
believe in one God, and be baptized."

She sent him to Pope S. Urban (223-230), who baptized him; and when he
returned, he saw Cecilia praying in her chamber, and an angel by her with
flaming wings, holding two crowns of roses and lilies, which he placed on
their heads, and then vanished. Shortly after, Tibertius, the brother of
Valerian, entered, and wondered at the fragrance and beauty of the flowers
at that season of the year.

When he heard the story of how they had obtained these crowns, he also
consented to be baptized. After their baptism the two brothers devoted
themselves to burying the martyrs slain daily by the prefect of the city,
Turcius Almachius. [There was no prefect of that name.] They were arrested
and brought before the prefect, and when they refused to sacrifice to the
gods were executed with the sword.

In the meantime, S. Cecilia, by preaching had converted four hundred
persons, whom Pope Urban forthwith baptized. Then Cecilia was arrested, and
condemned to be suffocated in the baths. She was shut in for a night and a
day, and the fires were heaped up, and made to glow and roar their utmost,
but Cecilia did not even break out into perspiration through the heat. When
Almachius heard this he sent an executioner to cut off her head in the bath.
The man struck thrice without being able to sever the head from the trunk.
He left her bleeding, and she lived three days. Crowds came to her, and
collected her blood with napkins and sponges, whilst she preached to them or
prayed. At the end of that period she died, and was buried by Pope Urban and
his deacons.

Alexander Severus, who was emperor when Urban was Pope, did not persecute
the Church, though it is possible some Christians may have suffered in his
reign. Herodian says that no person was condemned during the reign of
Alexander, except according to the usual course of the law and by judges of
the strictest integrity. A few Christians may have suffered, but there can
have been no furious persecutions, such as is described in the Acts as waged
by the apocryphal prefect, Turcius Almachius.

Urbanus was the prefect of the city, and Ulpian, who had much influence at
the beginning of Alexander's reign as principal secretary of the emperor and
commander of the Praetorian Guards, is thought to have encouraged
persecution. Usuardus makes Cecilia suffer under Commodus. Molanus transfers
the martyrdom to the reign of Marcus Aurelius. But it is idle to expect to
extract history from romance.

In 1599 Cardinal Paul Emilius Sfondrati, nephew of Pope Gregory XIV, rebuilt
the church of S. Cecilia.

St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music [because of the story that
she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married], and is
represented in art with an organ or organ-pipes in her hand.

From The Lives of the Saints by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould, M.A., published in
1914 in Edinburgh.

Saint Quote:
The Saints rejoiced at injuries and persecutions, because in forgiving them
they had something to present to God when they prayed to Him.
-St. Teresa of Avila

Bible Quote:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has
given the promise is faithful.  (Heb. 10:23)

<<>><<>><<>>
Three prayers of St. Basil the Great; one before Holy Communion, one for
guidance, and one for penance:

O Lord, I know that I am unworthy to receive Thy Holy Body and
Precious Blood; I know that I am guilty, and that I eat and drink
condemnation to myself, not discerning the Body and Blood of Christ my
God. But trusting in Thy loving-kindness I come unto Thee who hast said:
He that eateth my Body and drinketh my Blood shall dwell in me and I in
him. Therefore, O Lord, have compassion on me and make not an example of
me, Thy sinful servant. But do unto me according thy great mercy, and
grant that these Holy Gifts may be for me unto the healing, purification,
enlightenment, protection, salvation and sanctification of my soul and
body, and to the expulsion of every evil imagination, sinful deed or work
of the Devil. May they move me to reliance on Thee and to love Thee
always, to amend and keep firm my life; and be ever in me to the increase
of virtue, to the keeping of the Holy Ghost, and as a good defence before
Thy dread Judgement Seat, and for Life Eternal. Amen.

<><><>
Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to Thy quiet harbour, where I can be
safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Sheweth me the course I should
take. Reneweth in me the gift of discernment, so that I can always see the
right direction in which I should go. And give unto me the strength and
the courage to choose the right course, even when the sea is rough and the
waves are high, knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in Thy
name I shalt find comfort and peace. Amen.
<><><>

O Lord and Master, I am unworthy both of heaven and of earth, because I
have surrendered myself to sin, and become the slave of worldly
pleasures. Yet, since Thou hast created me, and since Thou canst shape me
as Thou want, I do not despair of Salvation; but made bold by Thy
compassionate love, I come before Thee. Receive me, dear Lord, as Thou
didst receive the harlot, the thief, the tax collector and even the
prodigal son. Thou lovest all people, so pour out Thy love upon me. Lift
from me the heavy burden of sin, cleanse every stain of unrighteousness
from me, and washeth me white with the waters of holiness. Amen.