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Singing with Saint Cecilia

by Sister Julie on November 22, 2011 J.M.J.A.T.

in catholic life and theology

Saint Cecilia by Ellen Chavez de Leitner

Today is the feast day of Saint Cecilia! Although we know little about Cecilia’s life, she remains an inspiration and ever-popular saint in our Catholic faith. She is known particularly for being a patron saint of music. Here’s why:

The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: “While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse.” It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.” (source)

Here at A Nun’s Life, we have a great fondness for Saint Cecilia. Many of our podcasts open with the song “Bits and Pieces” which features Saint Cecilia prominently. The song is written and song by the fabulous folk group, Wild Carrot. Here’s the first verse and chorus:

Bits and Pieces
(Pamela Temple; © 1998 Chocolate Dog Music (BMI))

I’ve got a box crammed with pictures of places I’ve been
and my backpack is worn at the seams.
I’ve got letters written in foreign tongues from friends who think
my tongue’s a foreign tongue too.
Stories, yeah, I’ve got some of those
Tell me how much time can you spare
I’ve seen profiles in purple suns and weavers in the mountains
I’ve held the hands of hardlived lives

And I’ve got Bits & Pieces, Bits & Pieces
I’ve gathered
I want them to sew themselves together
While I sleep
And I call on St. Cecelia
St. Cecelia
Send me, send me
a song …

So in honor of Saint Cecilia we invite you to share a verse or two of your favorite song which you sing in your heart out of love for God!

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Join the A Nun’s Life community for prayer tonight at 6 p.m. Central Time (your time zone). Just go to aNunsLife.org/live.

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Tagged as: bits and pieces, music, saint cecilia, saints and feasts, song, wild carrot

{ 5 comments }

KCMayrie November 22, 2011 at 11:52 am: “Sing Me A Love Song”

The tension is thick in the air
Making it hard to see
I fear what is to come
And what will become of me
I say a prayer help me not run away
Will you please hold me

And sing me a love song again
Say the words that heal my heart
sing me a love song and then
Let your words remind me who I am

You’ve never failed me before
Why do I feel betrayed
If I close my heart to you now
The darkness would have its way
I crave your voice help me not fall away
Will you please hold me

‘Cause you are all I need
And all that I want is you with me
You are all I need
And all that I want is you with me

- Barlow Girl
Barbara Cooper November 22, 2011 at 11:52 am: Oh, so many! It all depends on what’s happening. I’ve got songs for happy, songs for sad, songs for silly, songs for dog. I’ve got love songs and songs of lament.

Happy St Cecilia Day and
Happy Thanksgiving Day to our “southern neighbours”
marla November 22, 2011 at 4:06 pm: i’m with barbara—i cannot choose one favorite song. but….

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly

and

The wind is coming up strong and fast
And the moon is smiling on me
Miles from nowhere so small at last
In between the sky and the sea

I’m bound for the island
The tide is with me
I think I can make it before dawn
It’s night on the ocean
I’m going home
And it feels like I’ve never
I’ve never been gone

and

he was born in the summer of his 27th year
coming home to a place he’d never been before
he left everything behind him
you might say he was born again
you might say he’d found a key to every door

too many. now i will spend the evening singing, which is not a bad thing.
Julia November 22, 2011 at 4:34 pm: “Good Morning Starshine”

Good morning starshine
The earth says hello
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below

Good morning starshine
You lesd us along
My love and me as we sing
Our early morning singing song

Gliddy gloop gloopy
Nibby nobby nooby
La la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba
Nooby abba dabba
Le le lo lo
Dooby ooby walla
Dooby abba dabba
Early morning singing song
Joyceelaine November 23, 2011 at 3:31 pm: The first song that comes to mind for me is “Promise of A Lifetime” by Kutless:

I know youre always there
To hear my every prayer inside Im clinging to
The promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime

Will you help me fall apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow through the change
I still remember the pledge you made to me

and
“Better Is One Day”, also by Kutless:

My heart and flesh cry out
For You, the Living God
Your Spirit’s water to my soul
I’ve tasted, and I’ve seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You
To You