The Lives of the Saints through 100 Masterpieces

Cecilia

The Lives of the Saints 66 Cecilia November 22 Musical instruments appear as a constant theme in portrayals of Saint Cecilia: harpsichord, spinet, harp and viola da gamba, contrabass, lute, and all string instruments, but no wind instruments except the organ. This suggests that the saint was an accomplished musician, a master of the bow and the keyboard, which naturally makes her the patroness of all musicians. In actuality, historians concur that this talent is due to an error of interpretation that arose in the Middle Ages, which had Saint Cecilia playing the organ as she went to her martyrdom. The Golden Legend, however, makes no allusion to this. It only relates the story of a noble Roman woman, a Christian of the second century who had made a vow of chastity. Notwithstanding, she was given in marriage to a man named Valerian; but in the intimacy of the nuptial chamber, she had this to tell him: “I have a lover, an angel of God, who watches over my body with extreme zeal. If he should have the least inkling that you are touching me with a love that stains, he will strike you immediately and you will lose the flower of your gracious youth.” Convinced by such words, Valerian forthwith embraced the Christian faith, and the same angel came to crown him with flowers. Drawn by their perfume, Tiburtius, the brother of Valerian, converted in his turn. All three suffered martyrdom. While the story of Cecilia makes no mention of music, it does offer an interesting description of the Christianity of the catacombs and underground galleries of the Appian Way, where the persecuted found refuge. Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665) Saint Cecilia Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid ...