Cecilia lived in the Roman Empire in the 3rd century A.D. Cecilia, her husband and her brother, were executed because of their Christian faith. In the Roman Empire, Christianity was forbidden. Everyone had to sacrifice to the Roman deities. Since Cecilia refused, she was brought before the judge Almachius, who tried to force her to sacrifice to the Roman gods.
"Almachius said: Are you not aware of my power? Cecilia answered: Your power is like an air-filled sack. Pierce it with a needle, and it will immediately go limp. One cannot deny the Lord ´s holy name. Better to die blessed than to live cursed. Almachius said: I have the power over life and death. Cecilia said: You can take the lives from the living, but you cannot give life to the dead. Therefore, you serve death, not life. Almachius said: Do not be foolish! Sacrifice to the gods! Cecilia answered: I do not know what you have done to your eyes. Those you call gods are nothing but stones.Almachius became furious and ordered that Cecilia should be scalded for a day and a night in a bath of boiling water. In the bath, Cecilia felt quite cool - she was not even sweating. When Almachius heard this, he ordered her head to be cut off. Three times the executioner tried to cut off her head, but he could not make her head come off. You were not allowed to try more than three times to decapitate someone. After trying three times, the cruel executioner left her, she was half dead by then. For three days she survived. During this time, she gave all her possessions to the poor, and told Bishop Urban of all the people she had converted. St. Urban buried her body where the bishops were buried. He also made a church of Cecilia ´s house according to her wish."
Soon, Cecilia became a much-loved saint. The day of her death, November 22, was celebrated with merriment and music. Cecilia is now the saint of church music. We still celebrate her on November 22.