As a young woman she was given in marriage to a young pagan man, Valerian, whom she converted to the Faith, along with his brother, Tibertius. The three of them became active evangelisers in Rome, winning converts and building up the life of the Church. This was during a time of persecution. Eventually, Valerian and Tibertius were arrested and, when they refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, were executed. Cecilia was imprisoned and sentenced to death by suffocation. They locked her in hot baths and when, after three days, she was still alive, she was put to death by the sword. She is the Patroness of Sacred Music, on account of her saying that, when she was marrying Valerian, she heard 'the music of Heaven' in her heart.
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