Christ the King! St. Cecilia!

In honor of the feast of St. Cecilia, paraphrased in part from EWTN (emphasis mine):


"The psalms, and many sacred canticles in many other parts of the holy scripture, and the universal practice both of the ancient Jewish and of the Christian church, recommend the religious custom of employing music in sounding forth the divine praises. By this homage of praise we join the heavenly spirits in their uninterrupted songs of adoration, love, and praise. And by such music we express the spiritual joy of our hearts in this heavenly function, and excite ourselves therein to holy jubilation and devotion. Divine love and praise are the work of the heart, without which all words or exterior signs are hypocrisy and mockery. Yet as we are bound to consecrate to God our voices and all our organs and faculties, and all creatures which we use, so we ought to employ them all in magnifying his sanctity, greatness, and glory, and sometimes to accompany our interior affections of devotion with the most expressive exterior signs. St. Chrysostom elegantly extols the good effects of sacred music, and shows how strongly the fire of divine love is kindled in the soul by devout psalmody. St. Austin teaches that 'it is useful in moving piously the mind and kindling the affections of divine love.'"


Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King (the name of my home parish!) and the Feast of St. Cecilia (one of my patrons!). St. Cecilia is the first Saint to whom I ever felt drawn as a very young girl. It is so exciting to have the opportunity to celebrate her feast in the Basilica in Rome named for her, where she is buried! Crazy this life of mine.


If you get the chance, read through the readings for Christ the King. Read and reflect on them even if you already heard them at Mass... They are so great!