The executioner struck her three times but was unable to decapitate her so he left her bleeding and she lived for three days. Crowds came to her and collected her blood while she preached to them or prayed. On the third day she died and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. St. read more
Consequently, until better evidence is produced, we must conclude that St. Cecilia was not known or venerated in Rome until about the time when Pope Gelasius (496) introduced her name into his Sacramentary. The site describes other legendary miracles surrounding Cecilia. read more
Miracles were not required for declaring a person a saint in the early years of Chrisitianity. Cecilia would have been declared a saint by popular acclamation to a bishop based on the lives and merits of the candidate. read more