St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia lived in late first and early second century. She promised God her virginity, but her parents arranged for her to marry Valerian. Cecilia told Valerian that she was with an angel, but he had to be purified so that he could see the angel. Valerian was purified and baptized, and he saw Cecilia praying with an angel by her side. Valerian asked that his brother be baptized. The two brothers were martyred for burying martyred Christians. When Cecilia buried her husband and brother-in-law, she was arrested. After refusing to make a sacrifice to idols, she was martyred circa 117. The saint’s body was found incorrupt after her tomb was opened in 1599. St. Cecilia is patron saint of musicians because it is said she sang a song in her heart about her love for Jesus.