Prayer to Saint Cecilia Patroness of Musicians

Prayer to Saint Cecilia

O glorious Saint Cecilia, faithful servant of Christ and joyful witness to His love, you praised God in your heart even in the midst of suffering.

Patroness of musicians and singers, intercede for all who use music to glorify God and uplift His people. Help us to offer our talents humbly, to serve with discipline and devotion, and to let every note we play or sing be a prayer of praise.

Guide musicians to seek harmony not only in sound but also in their lives, so that their music may reflect the beauty, truth, and peace of God. May our voices and instruments draw hearts closer to the Lord and inspire faith in all who listen.

Saint Cecilia, patroness of musicians, pray for us.

Amen.

Saint Cecilia is widely recognized as the patron saint of musicians and singers. While it is not definitively known if she herself was a musician, tradition holds that she "sang in her heart to the Lord" at her wedding and heard angels sing. This association with music developed over time, particularly in the 15th century, as music was considered the language of angels, and Cecilia was known for her visions of angels. By the 16th century, she was often depicted in religious art playing instruments like the organ or viol.

Many prayers invoke Saint Cecilia's intercession for musicians and those involved in church music. A common prayer asks her to inspire musicians to gladden hearts with God's gift of music and remind them of the divine Musician who created all beauty. Another prayer acknowledges her heroic martyrdom and faithfulness to her "divine Bridegroom," Jesus, and asks for her help in praising Him through song.

The story of Saint Cecilia recounts that she was born in Rome around AD 214 to a noble family. She made a vow of virginity to God but was compelled to marry a pagan nobleman named Valerian. Cecilia revealed her vow to Valerian, stating that an angel protected her. Valerian, after being baptized, was able to see the angel and respected her vow. He and his brother, Tiburtius, converted to Christianity through Cecilia's evangelization and subsequently suffered martyrdom. Cecilia herself was arrested for her faith and condemned to death . She survived an attempt to suffocate her in a bath and was then sentenced to be beheaded. After three strikes of the sword, she was only injured and lived for three more days before dying. Her body was found to be incorrupt when her tomb was opened in 1599.

Her feast day is observed on November 22. Many novenas and prayers are dedicated to Saint Cecilia, seeking her intercession for musicians, singers, authors, and students, and for guidance in living a life of faith and holiness.

OTHER PRAYER : "O glorious St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, you won the martyr's crown without renouncing your love for Jesus, the delight of your soul. We ask that you help us to be faithful in our love for Jesus, that, in the communion of the saints, we may praise Him twice in our song of rejoicing for the Blood that He shed which gave us the grace to accomplish His will on earth. Amen."