Italy Page 30
Saint Cecilia's Basilica

On our last full day in Rome, we visited the Basilica of Saint Cecilia. Since she is my patron saint, this was an especially moving experience for me. The church is incredibly beautiful, and, like all things in Rome, is steeped in rich history. The church and its two convents are located in the Trastevere district of Rome, which is the oldest part of Rome on the west bank of the Tiber. The basilica was built over the home of Saint Cecilia, a young upper-class woman who converted to Christianity and became a brave champion of that cause, avidly spreading the word of Jesus and the Trinity. The Roman authorities were unable to silence her and she was martyred in the third century (~230 AD). Her body was discovered incorrupt in 1595, complete with deep axe cuts in her neck. There is a statue situated under the altar where Saint Cecilia is buried. It was sculpted by Stephen Maderno and depicts her exactly as she was found. Excavations of Cecilia's Roman house are located beneath the church, as well as her crypt. Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of singers, musicians, authors, and students.