Saint Cecilia, Patroness of Musicians

Cecilia is frequently depicted playing a viola, a small organ,
 or other musical instrument, evidently to express what
 was often attributed to her viz., that while the musicians
 played at her nuptials she sang in her heart to God.

Description of Illustration: halo, pipes, white cloak, chaste, musician, portrait in a frame

       Saint Cecilia (Latin: Sancta Caecilia) is the patroness of musicians. It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord." Her feast day is celebrated in the Latin Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches on November 22. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.

       While the details of her story appear to be fictional, her existence and martyrdom are considered a historical fact. She is said to have been beheaded with a sword. An early Roman Christian church, Santa Cecilia, was founded in the fourth century in the Trastevere section of Rome, reputedly on the site of the house in which she lived. A number of musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast day, November 22, became the occasion of for concerts and musical festivals. Read more...

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• The Life, Miracles and Martyrdom of St. Cecilia of Rome, Virgin and Martyr of the Christian Church
• Here Followeth of St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr in Caxton's translation of the Golden Legend
• Catholic Online - Saints & Angels: St. Cecilia
• Order of Saint Cecilia
• St. Cecilia at the Christian Iconography web site