Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/181

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ST. CECILIA 167 pumshed for slighting the saint, and that very day he fell dangerously ill. He nnderstood the cause, and made a vow to follow the example of his pre- decessors, whereupon he recovered. There were martyrs of both sexes in this persecution, but Tegahkouita is the only red Indian worshipped as a saint, and although she is not canonized, it was found impossible to prevent her being honoured and invoked as the patron of Canada. Charlevoix, Hiatoire et Description General de la Nouvelle France, St. Cattula, Catulla. St. Catula (1), March 24, M. in Africa. AA.SS, St. Catula (2), May 7, M. in Africa. AA.SS. St. Catula (3), June 26, M. at Home. Mart, of Beichenau, St. Catula (4), Castula (3). St. Catulla, Catalla, or Cattxtla, March 31. Matron in Paris. Buried St. Denis and his companions, a.d. 272. Catulla walked beside St. Denis while he carried his head to the place of burial. Paul Lacroix, from a manuscript of the fourteenth century, in the Biblio- th^ue Nationale. AA,S8.y Prwter. Butler. Ferrarius calls her " Virgin." St. Caw, Welsh. Mother of SS. Cain, Cwyllog, Gwenafwy, Peillan, Peithien, and several sons, all saints. Rees, 230. St. Cazarie, Casabia (i). St. Cebedrude, or Cebetrudb, Gebetrudb. St. Cecilia (l), Nov. 22 fCisciLiA, Cicely), V. M. 180 or 230. Patron of music, musicians, and musical instrument- makers, and one of the four great patron- esses of the Western Church. Represented (1) with a caldron ; (2) with an organ or other musical instru- ment; (3) with a wreath of roses or green leaves; (4) with an attendant angel. St. Cecilia was a noble Roman lady, probably of the family of Ceecilii Maximi Fausti. Her parents were secretly Christians, and brought her up piously. She always carried a copy of the Gospels concealed in her clothes. She composed hymns and played on all instruments, but finding none worthy to express her devotion, she invented the organ, and dedicated it to the service of God. She was married at sixteen to Valerian, whom she converted to Christianity. He de- manded to see her guardian angel, and she sent him to St. XJrbau, who wa» con- cealed in the catacombs on account of the persecution, and who completed the conversion of Valerian, and baptized him. Valerian, returning to his wife, heard celestial music, and, entering the room, saw an angel standing by her side, with two crowns of everlasting roses, which he placed on the heads of Valerian and Cecilia, telling Valerian, as the reward of his obedience to his wife's holy advice, that he might ask what he would, and it should be granted. Vale- rian asked the conversion of his brother Tibertius. This was promised, and was brought about by the persuasions of Cecilia. All three went about doing^ good, until they attracted the attention of the enemies of Christianity, when the two brothers were thrown into prison. They converted their gaoler Maximus, who was put to death with them, and buried with them by St. Cecilia in the cemetery of St. Calixtus, on the Appian Way. Almachius, the prefect of Rome, con- demned her to death, in the fear that her rank, wealth, and charity should promote the cause of Christianity. To spare the ignominy of public punishment, an executioner was sent to her house, a common act of courtesy towards persons of high rank under sentence of death. She was to be stifled in her bath. She suffered a whole day in the heat, but as it did not even injure her, the man tried to behead her. His hand, however, trembled so that when he had inflicted three strokes with his sword, as the law did not allow a fourth, he was obliged to leave her mortally wounded and bleeding. She prayed that she might live until she had bequeathed her house and property to the Church. She lived thus for three days, receiving visits from the faithful, who eagerly collected her blood as a holy relic, while she conversed with St. Urban, and gave him her final directions. St. Cecilia's is the only