St. Cecilia As My Patron For Confirmation

To complete my Sacraments of Initiation, I have chosen Saint Cecilia as my patron for Confirmation. Confirmation is a critical stage in my journey of becoming a member of the Catholic church, as well as deepens my Christian commitment. Not only did this name sound beautiful and fit my first and last name nicely, but the individual behind the name captivated me as well. I chose this name because I preferred to be represented by a martyr with such merit and faithfulness to God. As the first Saint to be found incorrupt, St. Cecilia was unique and her frequent praying in spite of the challenges surrounding her is a valuable attribute to admire. I also praise her substantial association to the arts, which I can relate to due to my love for music,
painting, writing, and playing of the clarinet. During the process of choosing my new saint name, I contacted my grandmother for advice, whom I share a close connection with. After many different suggestions, she put much emphasis on St. Cecilia and advocated that it would best suit me. Due to her vast knowledge of Catholicism, I respected her opinion and committed. Thus, I have established St. Cecilia as my guiding saint during this essential step of the Catholic community.

A patron saint is defined as a holy or virtuous individual who engages in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy while is a heavenly advocate of a place, nation, craft, class, clan, or person.
St. Cecilia was specifically a patron of musicians, composers, instrument makers, poets, and the blind. She is said to be a hallow of music, especially church music, due to how she sang in her heart to the lord while heavenly music was played at her wedding. As a result of this, she is often depicted in art with a viola, organ, or organ pipes in her hand. Since the time of the Renaissance, an abundance of musical pieces, songs, art, poems, and festivals have been created as acts of homage to her. Furthermore, although it is not known whether or not she could physically see, her name derives from the Latin caecus (meaning blind). Consequently, she is also considered the Catholic patron of blind
individuals.

Born in the 2nd century A.D, St.
Cecilia is thought to have been the daughter of a very wealthy Roman family. She was forced into marriage to a pagan named Valerian, and informed her husband of her vow of virginity to God as well as the angel protecting her. In response to his request of proof, she later told him to travel the third milestone on the Via Appia to be baptized by Pope Urbanus in order to gain the eyes to see the angel. When he returned to his wife, Valerian saw an angel by her side, which convinced her brothers to be baptized and devote their time to burying saints who were murdered by the prefect. Throughout her life, St. Cecilia continued her relationship with God by praying, preaching, and converting hundreds of people into Catholicism. Due to these controversial works, the prefect of the city, Turcius Almachius, arrested and condemned her to death by suffocation. Shut in the bathhouse while the fires persistently stoked and caused scorching temperatures for one night and one day, St. Cecilia was expected to die. However, she did not shed a single drop of sweat. With this news, Almachius sent an executioner to decapitate her. Despite delivering three blows to her, the executioner was unable to sever her head, and he ran off while leaving her wounded. She lived for three days, in which crowds visited her and collected her blood as she prayed to them. She died a martyr in the early 3rd century, and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. In 1599,
officials exhumed her corpse, finding it incorrupt and dressed in gold embroidered dress while draped in a silk veil. As an act of holy reverence, no further examinations were made, and a "mysterious and delightful flower-like odor which proceeded from the coffin" was observed