Saint Cecilia was a real Roman martyr who has become a fictional character and patron saint of musicians.
The Feast of Saint Cecilia
Her feast day is November 22. Musicians have written many songs to the saint. Her feast day is a popular day for music festivals.
Saint Cecilia Felt Divine Inspiration
It is said that she became the patroness of musicians after singing heartily to God at her wedding because she didn’t want to get married.
In Rome, the church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is supposedly built on the site of Cecilia’s house. Her body was reinterred there. During a renovation in 1599, it was found incorrupt (undecayed) as if she was asleep.
In a way, Cecilia is the saint of divine inspiration. If you are a musician or other creative, you know what that means.
Some inspiration gets worked and reworked endlessly. Other inspiration arrives in an instant. It’s the strangest feeling when something bursts out of you complete as if it came from somewhere else. It’s like a fish jumped out of your mouth, whole. That would be the earthly energy we describe as Cecilia.
In New York City
There is a parish in East Harlem.
Saint Cecilia & Holy Agony Church
120 East 106th St, New York, NY 10029
(between Park and Lexington)
East Harlem, Manhattan
Things Are Looking Up
Cecilia is commonly represented looking up, as if for divine inspiration. Looking up is a trick salespeople on the phone use to keep themselves focused and positive. Try it. We don’t know why it is true, but it is very difficult to hold bad thoughts when you are looking up.
