{"id":"st-cecilia-virgin-martyr","name":"St. Cecilia","title":"Virgin and Martyr, Patron of Musicians","knownFor":"Patron Saint of Music, Virgin Martyr of Rome","feastDay":"November 22","lifespan":"c. 200-230","patronOf":"Musicians, Music, Organ Builders, Poets, Singers","shortBio":"A noble Roman virgin who converted her husband and brother-in-law to Christianity. She is venerated as the patron saint of musicians for 'singing in her heart' to God during her wedding.","fullBio":"According to the 5th-century Acts of St. Cecilia, she was born into a noble Roman family and from childhood had vowed her virginity to God. Against her will, she was given in marriage to a young pagan nobleman named Valerian.\n\nOn their wedding night, Cecilia told Valerian that an angel of God watched over her and would punish him if he violated her vow of virginity. Valerian asked to see the angel, and Cecilia replied that he could only see the angel if he were baptized. After his baptism by Pope Urban I, Valerian returned to find Cecilia in prayer with the angel beside her, who placed crowns of roses and lilies on both their heads.\n\nCecilia then converted Valerian's brother Tiburtius to Christianity. Both brothers dedicated themselves to burying the bodies of martyred Christians, until they were arrested and executed by the prefect Almachius. Cecilia was subsequently arrested and ordered to sacrifice to the Roman gods. When she refused, Almachius condemned her to death.\n\nThe executioners attempted to suffocate her in her own bathroom by lighting fires and sealing the room, but she survived unharmed. They then tried to behead her, but after three blows she was still alive, lingering for three days before dying. During this time, she continued to preach and distribute her possessions to the poor.\n\nIn 821, Pope Paschal I discovered her incorrupt body in the Catacomb of St. Praetextatus and translated her remains to the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, where they remain today.","miracles":["Survived being suffocated by fire and steam in her bathroom","Lived for three days after partial beheading, continuing to preach","Her body was found incorrupt in 821, nearly 600 years after her death","Converted her husband and brother-in-law through her witness","Angels appeared to place crowns on her and Valerian's heads","Countless conversions through her intercession and example"],"imageUrl":"https://page.gensparksite.com/v1/base64_upload/cfb8e2599fe07a2cdd7a9ac297251d1f","imageAttribution":"The Ecstasy of Saint Cecilia by Raphael (c. 1516-1517). Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, Italy. Oil on panel, transferred to canvas","orderByDate":230}