Homily on the Memorial of St Cecilia, Wednesday, 33rd Week in OT, 22 Nov 2023
Today we gather to celebrate the memorial of St Cecilia, virgin and martyr, who suffered and died for the faith around the year 230 A.D in the city of Rome.
The life of St Cecilia is incredibly amazing and inspiring. She was a Roman citizen who comes from a noble family. It was said that when she was still young she took a vow of virginity for the love of Christ. And so when, against her will, she was given in marriage by her parents to a noble man named Valerian, she took courage to reveal to her groom inside the bridal chamber the holy vow she had made and warned him of the possible consequences if her virginity would be violated. By the grace of God, Valerian received an inspiration from above that led him to respect his bride’s perpetual vow. And through the prayers of St Cecilia he eventually got converted to the faith and was baptized a Christian (by Pope Urbanus), for until then he was still a pagan, worshiping the gods of Rome.
Later on, Valerian and his brother Tiburtius, another convert, would die as martyrs for their faith in Christ, and eventually considered saints by the Church. In fact prior to their violent death they were voluntarily giving a decent burial to those Christians who were executed by the Roman authorities for failing to offer incense to the Roman gods and goddesses. And soon after their execution, St Cecilia followed the same path towards martyrdom by beheading.
Today St Cecilia is honoured and venerated by the Catholic Church as patroness of musicians; for tradition holds that she was heard singing the praises of God while marching towards her wedding. And for a second time she was heard again singing and praising the Lord while marching forward to receive her crown of martyrdom.
Coincidentally, the first reading today from the second book of Maccabees presents to us the extraordinary courage of a Jewish mother who willingly chose to die after witnessing the martyrdom of her seven sons who vehemently refused to violate the Mosaic Law and the traditions of their forefathers.
May we too, especially by our participation in this Eucharist, be empowered day after day to live our Catholic faith passionately, and be ready to die for it courageously. May Saints Cecilia and Valerian pray for us and intercede especially for couples made one by the Sacrament of Matrimony. GiGsss!
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