CECILIA, Saint, Christian virgin and martyr; her day in the Roman calendar is 22 November. Her story as recounted in the
November. Urban erected a church in her house which was called by her name. The church of Saint Cecilia is still one of the most notable churches of Rome, having been again and again repaired or reconstructed. In this account of Saint Cecilia nothing is said of the musical accomplishments of the virgin, but legend makes much of them; hence, Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musi cians, and musical societies are very commonly called by her name: Dryden's fine ode, 'Alex ander's Feast: a Song for Saint Cecilia's Day> is an imperishable monument of the Cecilian legend in English literature. Consult Guer anger, 'Sainte Cecile et la societe romaine' (Paris 1873). Another Saint Cecilia was born in Africa and suffered martyrdom by starvation under Diocletian. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates her festival on 11 February.