S aint Cecilia belonged to one of the leading families of ancient Rome. Following the customs of the time, her family arranged for her to marry a pagan nobleman named Valerian, even though she had already dedicated her life to God. On their wedding night, Cecilia told Valerian about her vow of virginity and explained that an angel watched over her and protected her purity. She added that Valerian would see this angel himself if he traveled to the third milestone on the Via Appia and received baptism from Pope Urban I. Valerian followed her instructions, was baptized, and later helped bring his brother to the Christian faith as well.

During that period, it was forbidden to bury the bodies of Christians, yet Valerian and his brother began secretly burying the remains of believers they foun

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