Monday, Nov. 22
Left illustration shows Cecilia with Valerian and Tyburius;
center is Guido Reni's portrait of the saint.
ST. CECILIA (Rome, 3rd century)
Virgin and Martyr, Patron of Music
For a saint who is so universally popular, little is known about this young Roman noblewoman.
The Golden Legend about her says she was married young to Valerian, whom she convinced
on their wedding night not only that they should be chaste but also to convert to Christianity.
He and his brother Tyburius converted, devoting themselves to burying Christian martyrs
and giving their goods to needy Christians. Eventually they were beheaded for refusing to
denounce the faith but not before converting Maximus, the guard assigned to them. The Roman
provost had him beheaded for this, and then sent for Cecilia, who refused to worship Jupiter
as ordered. He ordered her steamed to death in her bathroom, but when she was unharmed,
he had her beheaded. She survived the mandatory three sword strikes but lived three more
days, during which she gave away all she had, and converted more people to Christ.
Her musical fame rests on a passing notice in her legend that she praised God, singing
to him, as she lay dying. Her incorrupt body was found long after her death. Devotion to her
started in the 6th century.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/112210.shtml
No OR today.
THE POPE'S DAY
The Holy Father met today with
- The new cardinals, their families and other pilgrims who came to Rome for the consistory. Plurilingual address.
- Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of San Cristobal de La Habana (Cuba)
- Cardinal José T. Sánchez, Emeritus Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy
- Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal, Emeritus Archbishop of Cebu (Philippines)
SAY A PRAYER FOR
CARDINAL NAVARRETE, S.J. (1920-2010)
The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence today to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus on the death of Cardinal Urbano Navarrete, S.J., emeritus Rector of Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, at the age of 90. He was made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in Oct. 2007.
Cardinal Navarrete in Rome in Nov. 2007 for the Consistory.
On Wednesday, Nov. 24, Cardinal Angelo Sodano and members of the College of Cardinals will concelebrate a Memorial Mass for Cardinal Navarrete in St. Peter's Basilica. The Holy Father will deliver the eulogy and preside at the rites of Ultima Commendatio and Valedictio.
***
The Vatican also released today the text of the Holy Father's message to participants in the recent symposium
in Rome sponsored by the International Center of Friends of Cardinal Newman on the topic, "The primacy of God
in the life and writings of Blessed John Henry Newman".
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 22/11/2010 15:49]