By Br. André Marie, M.I.C.M.

Theme: Concerning Heroes and Heroines  

The noble Roman, Saint Cecilia, one of the seven women martyrs commemorated in the Canon of the Mass, is the heroine Brother André chose to exemplify. Her story is a beautiful tribute to virginity and fortitude. Garnering biographical material from the Golden Legend by Blessed Jacobus de Varagine, a Dominican Friar of the 13th Century, and the commentary of Abbot Dom Gueranger, Brother related the first of her “Big Ideals”: how she consecrated herself as a spouse of Christ, and later converted her suitor Valentinian who, upon his baptism, saw the angel who guarded Cecilia’s virginity. Valentinian was martyred before Cecilia by beheading. Then Brother spoke of her second “Big Ideal”: how, with great fortitude and zeal, she defended her faith before the Roman provost refusing to sacrifice to the gods. The law allowed the executioner to strike her neck three times with a sword but he was not able to sever it completely. Thusly, she lay wounded for three days winning converts with her words, spoken miraculously, before passing away to eternal bliss in the year 178.

 From 2012 SBC Conference

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