St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia (3rd c.) is one of the most venerated of the virgin martyrs of Rome, her name appearing in the Roman Canon of the Mass. According to tradition she made a private vow of chastity to Jesus, yet was promised in marriage to a suitor. On her wedding night St. Cecilia told her husband about her vow, and that an angel guarded her purity. Her husband agreed to honor her vow and follow Christ if he could also see her guardian angel. She instructed him to first be baptized, and afterwards he was able to see Cecilia's angel. Her brother-in-law also converted, and both men were eventually martyred for their faith, but not without first converting their jailer. St. Cecilia was later arrested and also sentenced to death. Three blows were attempted to sever her head from her body, yet she survived for three days preaching to those who visited her in prison until her last breath. Her relics, along with those of her husband, his brother, and the converted jailor, were placed in the church of St. Cecilia in Rome. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians.