Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Cecilia,
V.M., (22nd November, 2018) on the Gospel and the Memorial
Rev 5:1-10;
Ps 149:1-6.9. (R. Rev 5:10);Lk 19:41-44.
Saint Cecilia was born in Rome to an extremely rich
family and was given in marriage to a youth named Valerian. When she told
Valerian that she had taken a vow of virginity and had an angel protecting her,
he asked to see the angel. Following his baptism as instructed by Cecilia as a
condition, he returned and found an angel at her side. The angel crowned
Cecilia with a chaplet of rose and lily and when Valerian's brother, Tibertius,
heard of the angel and his brother's baptism, he also was baptized and together
they were burying the saints murdered by the prefect of the city, Turcius
Almachius. They were arrested and executed. Cecilia was also later arrested and
condemned. After unsuccessful trial to suffocate her in the baths, she was
struck three times on the neck. She bled for three days preaching or praying.
Saint Cecilia’s body was found in 1599 to be incorrupt and was transferred to
Cecilia's titular church in Trastevere and placed under the high altar. She is
the patroness of music and the first of all incorrupt saints.[1]
Topic: Recognising the time.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem in today’s gospel because she
failed to recognise the things that make for peace. He prophesied that the days
would come when her enemies would set up ramparts around her, surround her, hem
her in on every side, and crushed her and her children to the ground. They
would not leave within her a stone upon another. All because she did not
recognise the time of her visitation from God.
Equally, many till today do not recognise often the time of their
visitation from God. We spend time searching for it, keep procrastinating the
time to do this good or that. In the second letter of Saint Paul to Corinthians
we read, “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of
salvation” (2Cor 6:2). Whoever wants
to be acceptable to God must serve Christ, cf. Rom 14:18.
Cecilia is a good example for all of us. We ought to follow
her and stop procrastinating for tomorrow may be too late.
Bible Reading: 2Cor
6:14–7:1.
Thought for today: Now is the favourable time.
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to make the
best out of every second we have – Amen.
Saint Cecilia – Pray for us.
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May
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