ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 22nd of November
SAINT CECILIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
Cecilia, a Roman maiden born of a noble family, at an early age vowed her virginity to God. But when she was married against her will to Valerian, she persuaded him to respect her virginity and to go to Pope Urban to receive Baptism so that he would be worthy to see her guardian angel.
SHE WAS ARRESTED
After Valerian had obtained this favour, he converted his brother Tiburtius to Christ, and they both shortly afterwards suffered martyrdom under the Prefect Almachius. Moreover, Cecilia was arrested by the same Almachius and, because she had distributed their property to the poor, ordered her to be put to death in a hot bath.
But when the heat had no effect on her, she was struck three blows with an axe and left half dead, and after three days she obtained her palm of martyrdom. She was buried in the cemetery of Callistus. Her body, and those of Popes Urban and Lucius, and of Valerian and Maximus were brought back to the city of Pope Paschal I and were buried in the church consecrated in the name of St Cecilia. [St Cecilia is the patron saint of music.]
From: An Approved English Translation of the Breviarium Romanum, Burns & Oates, London, 1964
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Cecilia may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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