22
November. 1662 Book of Common Prayer: Cecilia, Martyr
Cecilia, Virgin
and Martyr. -- Of this famous Saint, celebrated in all
the ancient Western martyrologies, little definite is known, the accounts being
contradictory and legendary in character. She appears to have been a Roman
lady, converter of her husband Valerian, who suffered martyrdom with her under
M. Aurelius (in the 2nd century), or in some later persecution. According to
legend, she enjoyed angelic converse and music. Pope Pascal I. (821) founding a
church, to which her relics were translated, ordained and endowed a service of
perpetual song of praise. Hence, probably, she became the patron Saint of
sacred music, believed to have been the inventress of the organ, and able by
her music to "draw an angel down." -- November 22nd.
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