The gospel passage proposed for today's liturgy tells us the following about Jesus' arrival in near to the city of Jerusalem: he saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'if only this day you had known what makes for peace' (Lk 19:42). In contrast to Jesus' sadness, the Church celebrates today the memory of one of her earliest martyrs, a saint who has brought much joy to many because of her fervent faith and her belief in the gift of peace that is the focus of Jesus' words.
Saint Cecilia is one of the most famous of the Roman martyrs. As a young girl, she took a vow of virginity, but despite this declaration of her faith, this noble lady of Rome was forced by her parents to marry a pagan nobleman named Valarian. During the wedding, Cecilia sat apart singing to God in her heart, and for that she was later declared the saint of musicians. When the time came for her marriage to be consummated, Cecilia told Valerian that watching over her was an angel of the Lord, who would punish him if he sexually violated her but would love him if he respected her virginity. When Valerian asked to see the angel, Cecilia replied that he could if he would go to the third milestone on the Via Appia and be baptized by Pope Urban I. After following Cecilia's advice, he saw the angel standing beside her, crowning her with a chaplet of roses and lilies.
She is said to have perished in Sicily under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius sometime between 176 and 180 AD. May this holy woman help us with her prayers so that we too may grow ever more fervent in our faith and willing to give the testimony of our lives for the glory of our God.
Have a great day.
No comments:
Post a Comment