聖則濟利亞(貞女、殉道)
相傳聖則濟利亞於二世紀末,生於羅馬望族。聖人自幼矢志為主守貞。她雖被迫出嫁,但她的虔誠,感動了丈夫皈依基督,並與她一起守貞。她的丈夫又感動了弟弟也皈依基督,且兄弟兩人,同時殉道,為主作證。
聖則濟利亞的家漸成信徒聚會的地方。她後來被捕,囚在浴室以蒸氣焗死,但無恙,最後被判斬首致命,葬在聖加理多公墓。聖人遺命把住宅送給教會作為聖堂。
第五世紀在羅馬已建造了一座聖則濟利亞大殿。聖則濟利亞的敬禮,因她的《殉道錄》而廣傳各地。書中敘述她如何保持童貞,為基督捨身成仁,而成為基督徒婦女完美的楷模。
十六世紀後,教會奉聖女為音樂主保,因為相傳她在殉道時,奔向淨配基督,高唱:「求主讓我心,純潔不受損,保全我貞潔,潔白獻主前。」
集禱經
天主,你使我們每年歡欣慶祝聖則濟利亞的紀念日;求你使我們效法她的榜樣,宣揚你聖子在眾人身上的奇妙化工。因你的聖子、我們的主耶穌基督,他和你及聖神,是唯一天主,永生永王。亞孟。
Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. It is supposed that she was a noble lady of Rome who, with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and a Roman soldier Maximus suffered martyrdom in about 230, under the emperor Alexander Severus.
Collect
O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of your handmaid Saint Cecilia, grant, we pray, that what has been devoutly handed down concerning her may offer us examples to imitate and proclaim the wonders worked in his servants by Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
資料來源 References