150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (17)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Saint Cecylia

Cecilia is one of the Church’s most famous holy martyrs. She was born in Rome, most likely in the early 3rd century in the Trastevere district, and lived there with her husband Valerian, whom she drew to faith in Christ and convinced to live a life of chastity. Valerian was said to have had a vision of an angel who guarded his wife’s chastity. Cecilia’s house was a place of prayer, where Pope Urban I himself celebrated liturgies and performed baptisms. He also baptized Valerian and his brother Tiburtius there. The law of the time, directed against Christians, forbade, among other things, the burial of dead followers of Christ. Both brothers disobeyed this prohibition, for which they died a martyr’s death (their liturgical memory is April 14). A few days later, it was discovered that Cecilia’s home was a meeting place for Christians, for which she was also punished with death. First, an attempt was made to strangle her with steam in the house’s bathhouse, and when that failed she was beheaded with a sword. “Contract” with the executioner allowed three blows. Unfortunately, this also failed. Cecilia died after several days of agony. This was most likely in 230. The aforementioned Urban I buried her in the Catacombs of St. Calixtus, and made her home a church. Although some of the facts of St. Cecilia’s life may be mere legend, she herself is a historical figure. The first documented evidence of a basilica built over her house dates back to the 5th century.

In 821, Pope Paschalis I, who greatly venerated the martyrs, moved St. Cecilia’s body to the new Basilica dedicated to her. In 1599, during restoration work, St. Cecilia’s sarcophagus was opened. To the eyes of those gathered, the untouched body of the Saint appeared, as if sleeping, dressed in a white gown with gilding. Marks from a sword stroke were visible on her neck, and the fingers of her hands symbolically expressed the mystery of the One God in Three Persons. The then Pope was immediately summoned, as well as the famous artist Stefano Maderno, who made a sketch of what he saw. A year later, a figure of Cecilia appeared in the Basilica made of white marble according to this drawing. Many tourists come to this Basilica for this particular work of art.

During archaeological work, ruins of residential buildings dating back to the 2nd century BC and the 2nd-4th centuries AD were discovered, which may be the remains of St. Cecilia’s house and a 5th century baptistery. These sites, along with the bathhouse (caldarium) – the site of Cecilia’s martyrdom – are open to the public today. The new crypt is decorated with frescoes illustrating the life of Cecilia and other martyrs of the Church of the first centuries.

Since the 16th century, the Basilica has been cared for by Benedictine nuns, who receive the lambs consecrated by the popes on the day of St. Agnes’ memory (previously bathed and adorned by our sisters from the community in Via Machiavelli). From the wool of the lambs, the Benedictine Sisters weave palliums for new archbishops in their workshop. It is also worth mentioning that the rector of the Basilica is Fr. Marco Frisina, a composer of sacred and film music known not only in Italy, and conductor of the choir of the Diocese of Rome.

In her notes, St. Francis Siedliska wrote of her great veneration for St. Cecilia and her prayers at the site of her martyrdom. On the day of her memorial, she prayed especially for her mother Cecilia.

Pictures – CSFN

Basilica of St. Cecilia: facade, altar with sculpture by Stefano Maderno, crypt, fresco – Angel offering lilies to Cecilia and Valerian