Cecilia, Saint

Saint, the patroness of music, said to have suffered martyrdom in 230 A. D. Her day is November 22d, and her name is one of the best known in the entire Roman calendar. She has been a favorite subject for poets and painters. Her popularity seems to be due almost entirely to the fact that, in the legends concerning her, brief mention is made of her using musical instruments to accompany her voice when praising God. The story is that Cecilia was a Roman maiden who, converted to Christianity, vowed never to marry. Her parents, however, promised her hand to a young pagan named Valerian. Cecilia succeeded in converting Valerian and he suffered martyrdom. Commanded to sacrifice to idols, Cecilia refused and was condemned to die. It was found, however, that fire did not burn her, nor was the headsman's axe able to sever her head from the body. A few days later she died and received the martyr's crown. A church was erected in Rome to Saint Cecilia as early as the fifth century. She is said to have invented the organ; other legends recount that her music called an angel from heaven, who brought her martyr's crown from paradise. Raphael and others have painted portraits of St. Cecilia. Chaucer, Dryden, and Pope have celebrated her name in poetry. Musical societies the world over are named for Cecilia, and on Saint Cecilia's day splendid music is to be heard in Roman churches.