Cecilia | |
---|---|
![]() Saint Cecilia playing the pipe organ | |
Virgin and martyr | |
Born | 200–230 AD Rome |
Died | 222–235 AD[1] Rome |
Venerated in | Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church Anglican Communion Lutheran churches |
Major shrine | Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome |
Feast | 22 November |
Attributes | Flute, organ, roses, violin, harp, harpsichord, songbird, singing |
Patronage | Sacred music, organ builders, luthiers, singers, musicians, poets, Archdiocese of Omaha, Albi, France, Mar del Plata, Argentina |
Saint Cecilia (Latin: Sancta Caecilia), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman Christian virgin martyr, who is venerated in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden.[2] She became the patroness of music and musicians, it being written that, as the musicians played at her wedding, Cecilia "sang in her heart to the Lord".[3][4] Musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast, on 22 November,[5] is the occasion of concerts and musical festivals. She is also known as Cecilia of Rome.
Saint Cecilia is one of several virgin martyrs commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass in the Latin Church. The church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, founded in the 3rd century by Pope Urban I, is believed to be on the site of the house where she lived and died.