Legend says that she was the daughter of a Roman Christians, who gave her in marriage to a young nobleman named Valerian, despite her desire to remain a virgin. After the celebration of the marriage, the couple had retired to the wedding-chamber, Cecilia told Valerian that she was betrothed to an angel who jealously guarded her body; therefore Valerian must take care not to violate her virginity. Valerian agreed and was baptized. When he returned, he saw Cecilia praying in her chamber, and an angel by her with flaming wings, holding two crowns of roses and lilies, which he placed on their heads, and then vanished. In that time in Rome it was very dangerous to be a Christian. They were arrested and brought before the prefect Almachius, and when they refused to sacrifice to the gods were executed with the sword. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way. Her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome; the tomb was opened and her body was discovered incorrupt in 1599, is known to be the first saint to be incorrupt.
Saint Cecilia
Legend says that she was the daughter of a Roman Christians, who gave her in marriage to a young nobleman named Valerian, despite her desire to remain a virgin. After the celebration of the marriage, the couple had retired to the wedding-chamber, Cecilia told Valerian that she was betrothed to an angel who jealously guarded her body; therefore Valerian must take care not to violate her virginity. Valerian agreed and was baptized. When he returned, he saw Cecilia praying in her chamber, and an angel by her with flaming wings, holding two crowns of roses and lilies, which he placed on their heads, and then vanished. In that time in Rome it was very dangerous to be a Christian. They were arrested and brought before the prefect Almachius, and when they refused to sacrifice to the gods were executed with the sword. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way. Her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome; the tomb was opened and her body was discovered incorrupt in 1599, is known to be the first saint to be incorrupt.
