St Cecilia -22nd November

This noble virgin was born in Rome towards the close of the second century, while Alexander Severus was the reigning emperor. Her talent for music was remarkable, and she not only composed and sang hymns, but is said to have invented the organ, consecrating it to the service of God. When she was about sixteen, her parents married her to a young senator named Valerian. He was a pagan, but of a noble and generous nature. Cecilia having revealed to him the vow of virginity she had made, the young husband reverenced her angelic resolution; and Cecilia was the means of converting him and his brother, Tiburtius. to Christianity. After their martyrdom, the young widow was put to the torture, being first immersed in boiling water (from which she emerged unscathed), and then struck with an axe in the head and breast. She lay bleeding from these cruel wounds for the space of three days, praying, and exhorting all who visited her, and at last expired, singing hymns of praise to God. Saint Cecilia is the patroness of sacred music.

Prayer to Saint Cecilia

O glorious Saint, who chose to die
instead of denying your King.
We pray you please to help us
as His fair praise we sing!
We lift our hearts in joyous song
to honor Him this way.
And while we sing, remembering
to sing is to doubly pray.
At once in our hearts and our
tongues we offer double prayer
Sent heavenward on winged notes
to praise God dwelling there.
While with our hearts and tongues
we try with song to praise God twice.
We ask dear Saint to help us be
united close with Christ!

Prayer to Saint Cecilia

O glorious St. Cecilia, virgin and
martyr, you won the martyr’s crown
without renouncing your love for
Jesus, the delight of your soul. We
ask that you help us to be faithful in
our love for Jesus, that, in the
communion of the saints, we may
praise Him twice in our song of
rejoicing for the Blood that He shed
which gave us the grace to accomplish
His will on earth.
Amen.

Prayer to Saint Cecilia

Dear Saint Cecilia, one thing we know for certain about you is that you became a heroic martyr in fidelity to your divine Bridegroom.

We do not know that you were a musician but we are told that you heard Angel’s sing.

Inspire musicians to gladden the hearts of people by filling the air with God’s gift of music and reminding them of the divine Musician who created all beauty.

Amen.

Prayer to Saint Cecilia

St. Cecilia, I confide in your intercession because you generously offered your life as a sacrifice for the love of Jesus, to whom you were devoted with your whole heart and soul. Jesus will not refuse your prayers. Beg Jesus to grant me this favor:

(Mention your request)

For the sake of Jesus Christ, Who filled your heart with pure and heroic love, Who crowned you with the glorious crown of martyrdom, Who permitted your body to remain incorrupt through these many centuries, and Who willed that your memory be praised by the Church at every Holy Day Mass, I earnestly ask you to intercede for me. I resign myself entirely to the Holy Will of God. Help me to imitate your faith and love of God, that I may be ready to make any sacrifice for my Catholic faith. Through your prayers may I someday reach heaven and praise with you the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the loving Spouse of your soul and mine.
Amen.

Prayer Invoking the Intercession of St. Cecilia

O Eternal God, who gave us, in the person of St. Cecilia, a powerful protectress, grant that after having faithfully passed our days, like herself, in innocence and holiness, we may one day attain the land of beatitude, where in concert with her, we may praise You and bless You forevermore in eternity.
Amen.

Prayer to St. Cecilia

O gentle Cecilia, sweet voice and melody of the Heart of Jesus. We come to you to beg your assistance. Pray for us Cecilia, teach us to sing to glories of God and also for the Glory of God. Give us the voice to sing the “Ave” as you did at the hour of your martyrdom. Pray for us o martyr with a singing heart.
Amen.

Litany of St. Cecilia

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, wise virgin, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, whose heart burned with the fire of Divine love, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, apostle by thy zeal and charity, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who converted thy spouse and procured for him the crown of Martyrdom, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who by thy pleadings moved the hearts of pagans, and brought them into the true Church, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who didst unceasingly see thy guardian Angel by thy side, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who didst mingle thy voice with the celestial harmonies of the virgins, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who by thy melodious accents celebrated the praises of Jesus, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, illustrious Martyr of Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, who during three days dist suffer most excruciating torments, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, consolation of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, protectress of all who invoke thee, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, patroness of holy canticles, Pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, special patroness and advocate of all singers, musicians, authors, and students, Pray for us.
We salute thee, O Virgin, who didst give thy blood for the defense and faith of Jesus Christ.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
God glorified Saint Cecilia,
And He crowned her virtues.

Let us pray

O Eternal God, Who didst give us, in the person of Saint Cecilia, a powerful protectress, grant that after having faithfully passed our days, like herself, in innocence and holiness, we may one day attain the land of beatitude, where in concert with her, we may praise Thee and bless Thee forevermore in eternity.
Amen.