This week in our school community: 22 November 2024

Feast Day of St Ceclia

 

 

  

When we overhauled our House system a few years ago and our students researched then picked the new House saints, they agonised over the inclusion of one female saint.  In the end the decision was made to choose St Josephine Bakhita and St Edith Stein, but St Cecilia was a popular choice, particularly due to our association with performing arts.  Today is her feast day. 

St Cecilia lived in Rome in the third century AD. While she is one of the most popular saints from early Christianity, we know only a little about her. We do know that she was prayerful — that she confronted challenging situations with songs of praise in her heart.  She married a Roman soldier, Valerian, and converted him to Christianity by her example.  In fact, Valerian and his brother began helping Christians bury their dead, in defiance of Roman law — a decision that led to their martyrdom. 

After their deaths, Cecilia continued to share her faith.  Eventually she was also arrested and sentenced to death.  Legend states that after surviving suffocating steam chambers and three beheading attempts, she continued to sing praises to God.  When Cecilia died three days later, she was buried by the Pope.  She is the Patron Saint of Musicians and has inspired countless musicians throughout the centuries.

Her life reminds us that, despite the trying circumstances we may confront, we can keep a song in our heart and inspire those around us to do the same.  Music is a great source of strength, inspiration and relief for people and has been for generations as genres have changed.  Let us never underestimate the power of music to convey God’s love and pray to St Cecilia for musicians all around the world.

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain