A Test: What Is This About?

Today we have a test: What is this painting about? (See below.)

That's St. Cecilia, painted by Raphael, the great Renaissance artist. It's an image of her "ecstasy." Perhaps you're familiar with her and with what is being depicted?

Actually, you really should be familiar with St. Cecilia, right? As for the ecstasy, well, maybe not so much.

We bring this to your attention with an additional question: Do we Catholic men give a second thought to our glorious saints as we attend to business?

We've mentioned many times the importance of recollection of Our Lord - and Our Lady - even during our busy work lives. And perhaps some of us have made some progress here, difficult at it can be at times.

But our glorious saints not only deserve some attention, but can be particularly inspiring to us. They can help us to perform our duties with more attention and devotion, depending on the saint, and our own particular work.

Indeed, last week we recalled the suggestion of having a patron saint or saints for our work. It bears repeating. 

Do you have a patron saint or saints for your work? Mine are St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Joan of Arc. And, oh, St. Cecilia.

Why these? Well, each connects with my particular work in specific ways.

St. Ignatius helps me to "run" my revenue producing business. Remember that he was a superb manager and administrator who guided his Jesuits in their missionary activities around the world. He set an example, in his relatively short life, that served his successors as the Jesuits grew to the mighty force for good that they once were. (Once? A subject for another time.) 

St. Joan: Could there be a better example of fortitude for us Catholic men. And this from a young woman who led male soldiers in their efforts throw off English rule of their homeland. If you want to be thoroughly familiar with her, read Mark Twain's book about her. Though not a Catholic, perhaps even an agnostic when it came to religion, he wrote of St. Joan and considered this his best work. I need her help especially when the challenges of my work call for a dose of fortitude - not an uncommon situation.

St. Cecilia: She is patroness of my creative work in music. This fairly recent endeavor now takes up a good chunk of my working hours. It's not a for-profit thing, but it picks up where I left off many years ago when I had to forsake my ambitions to be a working musician/song-writer in order to make money to support my family.

There are so many saints and so many ways each can help any of us in ways that connect with our particular work. If you don't know many saints, do take the time to learn about them, one by one. If you don't have a patron or patrons for your business/work, consider "appointing" one or more. 

As for Cecilia's ecstasy, I believe this painting refers to her wedding when, in the midst of the reveries common to a Roman wedding, she heard heavenly music. 

And thus Raphael captures her ecstasy: 

 

Her story, if you're not familiar with it, is engrossing, as is the case with our other virgin martyrs. While my own music may not be quite of the heavenly grade, I do try to compose and craft for the greater glory of God, through the intercession of St. Cecilia, traditionally the patron of musicians. 

Happy Easter!