INSPIRING NOVENA TO SAINT CECILIA (VIRGIN & MARTYR), PATRON SAINT OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS: DAY 5

O God, come to my aid+
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

—Pause for an “Examination of Conscience”—

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
(strike breast) through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Daily Prayer to St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia, I confide in your intercession because you generously offered your life as a sacrifice for the love of Jesus, to whom you were devoted with your whole heart and soul. Jesus will not refuse your prayers. Beg Jesus to grant me this favour: [Mention your need(s) here…] For the sake of Jesus Christ, who filled your heart with pure and heroic love, who crowned you with the glorious crown of martyrdom, who permitted your body to remain incorrupt through these many centuries, and who willed that your memory be praised by the Church at every Holy Day Mass, I earnestly ask you to intercede for me. I resign myself entirely to the Holy Will of God. Help me to imitate your faith and love of God, that I may be ready to make any sacrifice for my Catholic faith. Through your prayers may I someday reach heaven and praise with you the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the loving Spouse of your soul and mine. Amen.

Short Meditation
(Life of Saint Cecilia)

Day 5

(Ministry and Martyrdom St. Cecilia)

While her husband and brother-in-law were giving proper burials for the believers, Saint Cecilia devoted her time to her own ministry. She preached about the good news and was able to convert over 400 people. Most of these converts were baptized by Pope Urban. Even after their deaths which caused her great sorrow, Cecilia continued with her preaching ministry.

Consequently, Saint Cecilia faced persecution for her efforts but she miraculously survived many of the torturous acts inflicted upon her. First, she was arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. She was shut inside the bathhouse for one night and even when the fires were stoked, she was alive when her persecutors opened the doors.

When the city prefect found out about this, he sent an executioner to cut off her head. The executioner struck Saint Cecilia three times but was unable to decapitate her. Saint Cecilia was left bleeding and she lived for three more days. During the final three days of her life, Saint Cecilia continued to preach or offer her prayers to the crowds who had gathered around her. On the third day, she passed into eternal glory, receiving her glorious crown of martyrdom.

Pause and reflect for a moment…

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

DAY 5 PRAYER

Saint Cecilia, on the night of your wedding you warned your husband Valerian of the angel guarding your purity. When he asked to see the angel, you told him he must be purified of his unbelief and be baptized by the bishop. The bishop was seeking refuge from the brutal Roman persecution in a cave, but he found him on the third milestone Appian Way — just as you said you would.

“Know that I have a fearful and wonderful angel of God Who diligently guards my body, so that no man might defile me. Now if he sees that you desire to touch me out of carnal desire, he shall become angry and shall slay you instantly. Thus, you shall lose the flower of your youth. However, if he sees that you love me in a clean and pure fashion, as your sister, he shall love you as me, and shall reveal himself to you!” — Saint Cecilia, to her husband, Saint Valerian (†)

Help us o holy saint Cecilia, to renew our baptismal vows in the one and Triune God this day and seek conversion wherever it may be found.

We seek your prayers for…(Mention your intentions here…) St. Cecilia, we ask for your intercession because you generously offered your life for the love of Jesus, who you were devoted to with your heart and soul. Graciously hear our prayers. Amen.

Our Father…3 Hail Marys…Glory be…

LITANY OF ST. CECILIA

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us. (repeat after each line)
St. Cecilia,
St. Cecilia, wise virgin,
St. Cecilia, whose heart burned with the fire of divine love,
St. Cecilia, apostle by your zeal and charity,
St. Cecilia, who converted your spouse and procured for him the crown of martyrdom,
St. Cecilia, who by your pleadings moved the hearts of pagans, and brought them into the true Church,
St. Cecilia, who did unceasingly see your guardian angel by your side,
St. Cecilia, who mingled your voice with the celestial harmonies of the virgins,
St. Cecilia, who by your melodious accents celebrated the praises of Jesus,
St. Cecilia, illustrious martyr of Jesus Christ,
St. Cecilia, who during three days suffered most excruciating torments,
St. Cecilia, consolation of the afflicted,
St. Cecilia, protectress of all who invokes you,
St. Cecilia, patroness of holy canticles,
St. Cecilia, special patroness and advocate of all singers, musicians, authors, and students, Pray for us.

We salute you, O Virgin, who gave your blood for the defence and faith of Jesus Christ!

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

God glorified St. Cecilia, And He crowned her virtues.

Let us pray: O Eternal God, who gave us in the person of St. Cecilia, a powerful protectress and patron of music, grant that after having faithfully passed our days like herself, in innocence and holiness, we may one day attain the land of beatitude, wherein concert with her, we may praise you and bless you forevermore in eternity. Amen.

St. Cecilia, we ask for your intercession because you generously offered your life for the love of Jesus, who you were devoted to with your heart and soul. Graciously hear our prayers! Amen.

Saint Cecilia, pray for us!

(If possible, kindly accompany this novena with the Holy Rosary at any hour of the day, either 5 or 10 or 15 or 20 decades…)

May the Divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Blessing+
Through the intercession of Saint Cecilia (Virgin & Martyr), may the Lord bless + us, keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Great job praying Day 5! Click here for Day 6 Prayers

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