Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr

posted in: Homilies, Saints | 0

Today’s readings

According to legend, Saint Cecilia was a young Christian of high rank betrothed to a Roman named Valerian. Through her influence Valerian was converted, and was martyred along with his brother.  A legend about Cecilia’s own death says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she lived for three days, and asked the pope to convert her home into a church.  Another legend about her death says that she was boiled to death and that the pipes of the vessel whistled in a way similar to a musical organ.  Thus, she became the patron saint of Church musicians.  The point of her life and death is that, as all virgin martyrs, she zealously protected her virginity for the sake of the Kingdom of God and that she would not give up her faith to save her life.  Her way of life and death shows us the way to live for the Gospel, preferring the faith to everything else.