Today is the feast day of patroness of the Archdiocese of Omaha, St. Cecilia. According to legend, St. Cecilia was married, but decided to remain a virgin. She warned her husband that an angel guarded her. When he wanted to see the angel, she told him he needed to be baptized. He was and he saw the angel. His brother also converted and the two dedicated themselves to burying the martyrs. Eventually Cecilia was arrested and condemned to death by suffocation in the baths, which were like our modern spas. She survived and was condemned to die by beheading. The executioner tried three times and then left her to die, but she survived for three days, whereupon she died.
St. Cecilia’s life and death are a
matter of legend due to the lack of verifiable witnesses. However, there
were martyrs throughout the early Church. St. Cecilia is also the
patroness of music due to her hearing heavenly music in her heart when she was
married. Omaha is the only diocese that has her patronage.
Music raises our spirits, reflects
our mood, changes our mood, and allows us to sing and worship God. “The
true purpose of sacred music, … ‘is [for] the glory of God and the
sanctification of the faithful.’” We sing in Mass so that we may glorify
God, raising our hearts and souls and voices in praise together. We are
grateful for the musicians and song leaders and choir members who help us, in
the words of St. Augustine, “pray twice” when we sing.
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