The Shasta courier., 1864-01-02
The Story of st. Cecilia.

erai oi lGe early Pcpes were buried, and in
which the lovely Saint Cecilia was laid to rest
The story OF Saint Cecilia, as related in the
ancient legends of the Roman Church. is as
follows:
About two hundred and thirty FIVE YEAR
after Christ, probably in the reign OF the
cruei emperor slaximir, there was time of
nerce persecution IN Rome, and the pious
Pope Urban was forced to secrete himself in
the Catacombs. There those who loved him
ana MS teaching, sought him in secret at
nlgnt. Among them was young Roman
lady, named Cecilia, rich, beautiful and bioh
porn, VINO sat down humbly among the poor
est Christians in that dismal place to listen
to the glad tidings of Christ's salvation
Ceclilas parents were pagans, and tbey in
sisted on her marrying a noble younG Ro.
man named Valeran. 1t happened that
'alerian, though pagan loved Cecilia with
a molly love, and So was easily persuaded to
brave danger and visit with her the good Pope
In the Catacombs, where he was converted TO
the Christian faith. The next dav his be-
loved brother Tiburtius, was also converted.
Inc brothers showed by their holy lives and
conversation, and by the light of peace and
Joy that shone IN their faces, the change in
eheir religion. They were brought before the
prefect, or Judge, who commanded them to
sacrlhce to the heather gods They bravely
ana calmly refused, and were condemned to
ueatn On their way to the execution they
converted young officer who had charge of
them-Maximus. They died serenely and
grandiy, and MaEimus also soon suffered
martyrdom. Then the project ordered that
SAINT Cecilia should be put to death in her
own house, by being stifed in the Caldarium
or hot air chamber of her baths.
Cecilia calmly entered the sitting apart,
ment but the legend says soft. heavenly air.
moist with cooling dews, Immediately filled
1t, so that the fire did the Saint no harm.
though 1t was kept up whole day and night.
Then the project, worse than Nebuchadnez-
Ear, sent an executioner to behead her. This
man S hand or heart failed him. for though
he struck her neck three times with his sword
he did not kill her, but left her bleeding ON
the floor of her bath broom. She lived three
days after this and her parents must have
pitied her and been kind to her at the last
for they permitted her to have her christian
friends around her. Urban, the Pope. visi
ted her, prayed with her, and gave her the
sacrament. In his charge she left the poor
who had been dependent on her. and her
house to be consecr&tad as church. She
cheered and comfortcd him and all those
about her with words of brave hope and sweet
resignation-never once murmuring that she
must die so young-never complaining of the
cruel wounds in her tender flesh. With a
smile OF farewell on her lips for them-with
smile OF welcome in her eyes for the angel
sent to bear her to the Lord, her pure soul
passed away.
Her fair body was gently lifted and laid
in a coffin of cypress wood, in the verv atti
tude and dress in which size died. The linen
napkins with which her precious blood had
been staunched were laid at her feet, and in
the night time the coffin was carried by those
loving friends to the Catacombs of St. Calie-
tus, and deposited by Urban. in chamber
near that prepared by the Popes. There res
ted the body of the saint for nearly six hun.
dred years. The place of her entombment
was forgotten, though church had stood for
centuries on the site of the house in which
she suffered martyrdom.
Pope Paschal | resolved to rebuild tbis
church with great splendor, and had an in
tense desire to find the body of the Saint tina.
It might be placed under the high altar
One morning, be says, as he was listening to
the service in St. Peters church, he fell
asleep, and in a dream ST. Cecilia appeared
to him and directed him how to End her bo
dy A new search was commenced, and in
removing wall small chamber was dis.
covered, containing a towel, marked by
painting OF young woman splendidlv at
tired. When this tomb was opened it was
found to contain coffin Of cyress wood, and
In this lay the body Of the Saint, almost un
changed, wrapped in golden garments. and
with napkins soaked in blood living at her
feet
1t was removed with great reverence and
romp, and placed under the high altar of her
church, with the bodies of Valerian. Thur
tius, Maximus, and Pope Urban, discovered
soon after.
Enclosed IN marble sarcopbagus. the bo-
dy OF the saint rested in peace for eight hun
dred years, till the reign of Pope Clement
VIII. cardinal of that time undertook
restoration of the church of St. Cecilia, and
1t was found necessary to open the vault con-
tanning the bodies of the MARTYRS. The car
dlnal having caused the top of one of the
marble collins to be lifted, found. to his great
wonder, that beneath was coffin of cypress
wood, and when this was opened, be found
the body of Saint Cecilia, just as the old
church legend had described it. dressed in
silk and gold, and eyen the blood stained
cloths at her feet. She was lying on her
right SIDE, her feet little drawn up, her
arms extended, resting one upon the other.
her neck turned so that her head rested on
one cheek. 1t was apparently precisely the
lovely, graceful attitude in which she had
died, nearly fourteen hundred years before
Very splendid and solemn ceremonies were
performed over these sacred remains, by the
Pope and his cardinals. Thousands focked !
to the church to catch glimpse Of the coffin,
around which lamps were kept shining. and
insence was burning, though the people SAID
there was no need of perfumes there, Tor
sweetest cdor breathed out Of the body. !
like that Of roses and lilies
A statue was made by the order of the
Pope. which is wonderfully beautiful. In
this was copied exactly the isvely form and
the modest attitude of the Saint. This now
lies in front of the high altar, in the church of
St. Cecilie. At last the cypress coffin was
placed in silver case, and this placed in
vault under the altar, with great pomp and
gorgeous display How unlike the sweet lady
Cecilia's first Midnight burial in the gloomy
] Catacombs So ends her wonderful story.