Ah, Blessed Cecilia! I love this feast day. My mind and heart go to the Church in Trastevere, just south of the Vatican, where the sacred remains of the Virgin Martyr lie in peace beneath Moderno's magnificent statue. There her sarcophagus lies with that of her husband and his brother, all witnesses to Christ through the shedding of their blood.
In the Fraternity of St Genesius, St Cecilia is invoked as one of the Holy Intercessors - Saints and Blesseds who are patrons of the various arts. Cecilia is patron of music, not because she was musician but because of a line in the story of her life and martyrdom that during her marriage ceremony she sang a song of love to God. An interesting way of becoming patron, but one which reminds us that artistic activity is, and should be, ultimately, an act of praising God. Cecilia will certainly assist us in that regard.
But Cecilia is also one of the great women of the early Church who preferred to die rather than renounce her faith in Christ. As a strong woman of faith who embraced a life of virginity and consecration even though she was forced into marriage. Instead of abandoning that promise to Christ she won her new husband over to her way of thinking and then over to her faith. She remained a virgin even though married: in this she is certainly a challenging figure for us in a time which cannot understand chastity, much less perpetual virginity.
So today we might say a prayer to St Cecilia for all our musicians, but perhaps more for those struggling with chastity: in this present age they need strong examples to encourage them.
The tomb of St Cecilia: in the Basilica, the famous statue by Moderno lies over it. Below, in the crypt, her sarcophagus is to be seen just above the altar, behind the grille:
It's that time of year again. Advent is upon us, Christmas is looming, and today is the feast of St Cecilia, the patron of music and musicians. So there is no better excuse to devote today's post to a little bit of music in honour of the Virgin Martyr. And while you listen to it, say a prayer for all involved in the music industry.
First, the mandatory homage to the lady of the day:
And a piece from James MacMillan (can't forget him today, with the day that's in it!):
And if you have time, sit back and enjoy: one of my favourite pieces of music, Arvo Part's Beatitudes:
For those involved in music, today's feast day is a great solemnity - St Cecilia's day. In my pre-priest days, when singing, many times I invoked the holy virgin and martyr of Rome as I went to face the terror of the audience, praying my voice would hold up and that my singing teacher would be filled with divine charity should anything go wrong! Thankfully, good old Ciss up in the heavenly choir heard the prayer!
We know something about St Cecilia. She was a Christian of Rome who suffered for the faith around the year 250 or so. She was married, but remained a virgin while converting her husband, St Valerian, and his brother: they would also be martyred for the faith. Her persecutors tried a few times to dispatch her, finally trying to behead her, making a bags of the job and leaving her to die: she lingered for a few days. She was buried in the Catacombs of St Callistus, near the chamber of the popes - so she must have been a notable figure in the Church of Rome. Her body was translated to a church built over her home after the persecution ended. In the 1599 her body was exhumed and found incorrupt: the sculptor Stefano Moderno preserved in a marble statue an image of the body as it was found at that time.
Cecilia is often depicted with a musical instrument - a pipe organ, violin, even a double bass! There is little chance she played a musical instrument, she may even have been tone deaf, but she is the patron of music and musicians because we are told in one of the ancient Acts of her martyrdom, that she was singing a hymn to the Lord in her heart when she was being married to Valerian - a sign that God was the first in her life and she was determined to remain true to him. She did, her martyrdom is proof enough of that. So her patronage evolves from an image used to reveal her absolute fidelity to God and her love of him. That is the lesson for us today. Our musician friends can also see that, like Cecilia, they are invited to offer a hymn of praise to him through their lives and their work. So today, we pray for all musicians, may their patroness watch over them, intercede for needs and bring them to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.
As you would expect there are many musical works about and dedicated to St Cecilia. One of my favourites is Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St Cecilia, a setting of a poem by W H Auden. I used to love Britten, particularly his sacred works, but in the last few years I have chilled towards them: technically interesting, they lack a warmth and devotion which should really distinguish sacred music from other types. The Hymn to St Cecilia still bears up somewhat, despite being written by Auden, a man not known for faith. The poem is quite secular and strange, but its chorus is lovely:
Blessed Cecilia appear in visions
to all musicians appear and inspire.
Translated daughter come down and startle
composing mortals with immortal fire.
In honour of our Saint, here is a video of the piece. Interestingly today is the anniversary of Britten's birth, appropriate for one who would be a composer.
Prayer for the feast of St Cecilia
Blessed Cecilia,
beloved virgin of Christ and martyr,
listen to our prayers and assist us in our needs.
For all musicians obtain from God the grace
to come to know and love him
who has blessed them with such wonderful graces and talents
so in their hearts, their lives and their works
they may praise him, as you did.
Help them, dear Saint,
that through faith, hope and love,
they may they come into his presence,
leading others through their fidelity
and evangelical witness of their music.
Let us pray.
Lord of mercy,
be close to those who call upon you.
With St Cecilia to help us
hear and answer our prayers.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
