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St. Philomena
1802
Little is known of her life, and the information available was received by
private revelation from her. Martyred at the age of 13 in the early days of the
Church.
In 1802 the remains of a young woman were found in the catacomb of Saint
Priscilla on the Via Salaria. It was covered by stones, the symbols on which
indicated that the body was a martyr named Saint Philomena. The bones were
exhumed, cataloged, and effectively forgotten since there was so little known
about the person.
In 1805 Canon Francis de Lucia of Mugnano, Italy was in the Treasury of the Rare
Collection of Christian Antiquity (Treasury of Relics) in the Vatican. When he
reached the relics of Saint Philomena he was suddenly struck with a spiritual
joy, and requested that he be allowed to enshrine them in a chapel in Mugnano.
After some disagreements, settled by the cure of Canon Francis following prayers
to Philomena, he was allowed to translate the relics to Mugnano. Miracles began
to be reported at the shrine including cures of cancer, healing of wounds, and
the Miracle of Mugnano in which Venerable Pauline Jaricot was cured of a severe
heart ailment overnight. Philomena became the only person recognized as a Saint
solely on the basis of miraculous intercession as nothing historical was known
of her except her name and the evidence of her martyrdom.
Pope Leo XII granted permission for the erection of altars and churches in her
honor. Pope Gregory XVI authorized her public veneration, and named her
patroness of the Living Rosary. The cure of Pope Pius IX, while archbishop of
Imola, was attributed to Philomena; in 1849, he named her patroness of the
Children of Mary. Pope Leo XIII approved the Confraternity of Saint Philomena,
and raised it to an Archconfraternity. Pope Pius X raised the Archconfraternity
to a Universal Archconfraternity, and named Saint John Vianney its patron. Saint
John Vianney himself called Philomena the New Light of the Church Militant, and
had a strong and well-known devotion to her. Others with known devotion to her
include Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Saint Euphrasia Pelletier, Saint Francis
Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, Saint Madeline Sophie Barat,
Saint Peter Chanel, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, and
Venerable Pauline Jaricot.
Additional Information:
In 1802, the bones of a female between the ages of 13 and 15 were
discovered in the catacomb of St. Priscilia. An inscription near her tomb read
"Peace be with thee, Philomena", along with drawings of 2 anchors, 3
arrows and a palm. Near her bones was discovered a small glass vial, containing
the remains of blood. Because it was a popular custom of the early martyrs to
leave symbols and signs such as these, it was easily determined that St.
Philomena was a virgin and a martyr. Her popularity soon became widespread, with
her most memorable devotees being St. John Vianney, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat,
St. Peter Eymard, and St. Peter Chanel. After being miraculously cured, Ven.
Pauline Jaricot insisted that Pope Gregory XVI begin an examination for the
beatification of St. Philomena, who was to become known as the "wonder
worker". After hundreds of other miraculous cures, she was beatified in
1837. St. Philomena, who the pope named as the Patroness of the Living Rosary
and the Patroness of the Children of Mary, is the only person recognized as a
saint solely on the basis of her powerful intercession, although pertinent
revelations regarding her life have been recorded. Her relics are now preserved
in Mugnano, Italy.
~Prayers, Novenas and Devotions~
The Chaplet Of Saint Philomena
The little Chaplet of St. Philomena consists of white beads, a
token of virginity, red beads, the sign of martyrdom, and a St. Philomena medal.
There are three white beads in honor of the Blessed Trinity, in whose honor the
holy virgin laid down her life. The red beads are thirteen in number and signify
the thirteen years St. Philomena lived on earth. This Chaplet is one of the
simplest ways of praying to the Saint. When saying it, we may very properly ask,
firstly for the grace of purity, in honor of the virginity of the Saint, who
sacrificed life and honor in defense of this angelic virtue. Secondly, we should
do well to ask for the strength and courage ever to do our duty, a virtue for
which she was so eminently distinguished and which she is so ready to obtain for
all her devoted clients.
This great grace alone helps a Christian to arrive at the highest sanctity, in
the most practical and easy way. (If you do not have a Chaplet, ordinary rosary
beads will suffice.
First: Say the Apostle Creed to ask for the gift of faith.
Then three Our Fathers are said, in honor of the Three Divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity, in thanksgiving for the graces bestowed on Saint Philomena and for all the favors that have been obtained through her intercession.
The following prayer is then repeated thirteen times to commemorate her thirteen years:
Hail, O holy Saint Philomena, whom I acknowledge, after Mary, as
my advocate with the Divine Spouse; intercede for me now and at the hour of my
death.
Saint Philomena, beloved daughter of Jesus and Mary, pray for us who have
recourse to thee.
The following prayer is said at the end of the Chaplet:
Hail, O illustrious Saint Philomena, who didst so courageously shed thy blood for Christ. I bless the Lord for all the graces He bestowed upon thee during thy life, and especially at thy death. I praise and glorify Him for the honor and power with which He has crowned thee, and I beg thee to obtain for me from God the graces I ask through thy intercession. Amen.
In praying the Chaplet or "Little Crown" as it
is called, it is suggested that one ask for the grace of purity in honor of her
virginity, who suffered death rather than tarnish this virtue; and secondly, for
courage and fortitude to be faithful to the duties of a Christian as she was.
Novena Prayer To Saint Philomena
We beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant us the pardon of our sins by the
intercession of Saint Philomena, virgin and martyr, who was always pleasing in
Thy sight by her eminent chastity and by the profession of every virtue. Amen.
Illustrious virgin and martyr, Saint Philomena, behold me prostrate before the throne whereupon it has pleased the Most Holy Trinity to place thee. Full of confidence in thy protection, I entreat thee to intercede for me with God, from the heights of Heaven deign to cast a glance upon thy humble client! Spouse of Christ, sustain me in suffering, fortify me in temptation, protect me in the dangers surrounding me, obtain for me the graces necessary to me, and in particular (Here specify your petition). Above all, assist me at the hour of my death. Saint Philomena, powerful with God, pray for us. Amen.
O God, Most Holy Trinity, we thank Thee for the graces
Thou didst bestow upon the Blessed Virgin Mary, and upon Thy handmaid Philomena,
through whose intercession we implore Thy Mercy. Amen
Novena Prayer To Saint Philomena
O FAITHFUL VIRGIN, and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who
works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me.
Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet,
full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity, O Great Saint!
Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I
now humbly lay before thee... (Here specify your petition). I am firmly
convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and death
of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee, and in the joy of my
heart I will bless God, Who is admirable in His Saints. Amen.
The Cord Of Saint Philomena
This pious practice, born spontaneously amongst the Saint's devotees, was approved by the Congregation of Rites on September 15, 1833. Later, on April 4, 1884, Pope Leo XIII enriched it with precious indulgences. It consists in carrying, tied around the body, a cord of wool, linen or cotton, colored white and red to indicate the virginity and martyrdom of Saint Philomena. The devotion is very widely practiced, especially outside Italy, to obtain spiritual and corporal graces.
It has been made obligatory, to receive the abundant graces, for those who wear the cord to recite each day the following prayer.
Oh Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us so that
through your powerful intercession we may obtain that purity of spirit and heart
that leads to the perfect love of God. Amen.
The Oil Of Saint Philomena
This devotion began through the miracle of sight received by a child.
On the octave of the translation of the Reliquary of Saint
Philomena to Mugnano, a woman from Avella, full of faith in God, dipped a finger
into the oil of the lamp which burned in front of the altar of the Saint, and
anointed the eyelids of her blind child with it. The child was immediately able
to see, to the astonishment of all present
Chaplet In Honor Of Saint Philomena
This devotion, owed to the Holy Cure' of Ars, consists in reciting:
| The Rosary in
Honor of Saint Philomena The rosary also known as chaplet or Little Crown of St. Philomena is made up of red beads to signify Her martyrdom and white beads a token of Her Virginity and Purity.
have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins, pray for us. Saint Philomena, pray for us. Saint Philomena, filled with the most abundant graces from your very birth, pray for us.
Saint Philomena, faithful imitator of Mary, |
Litany to Saint
Philomena (Continued)
Saint Philomena, scourged like your Divine Spouse, Saint Philomena, pierced by a shower of arrows, Let us pray We implore Thee, O Lord, by the intercession of Saint Philomena, Virgin
and Martyr, who was ever most pleasing to Thy eyes for her eminent purity
and the practice of every virtue, pardon us our sins and grant us all the
graces we need ( name any special grace you may require). Through
Christ our Lord. Amen |
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| Novena
Prayer To Saint Philomena O faithful virgin and glorious martyr, St Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowful, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity o great Saint. Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before you (here specify your petition). I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and Death of Jesus thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His saints. Amen |
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This
Rosary is one of the simplest ways of praying to the Saint. First
the creed is recited on the Crucifix or medal of Saint Philomena
to ask for the gift of Faith. Three Our Fathers on each of the
white beads to thank the Blessed Trinity for the gifts given to
the Holy Virgin, for in whose honour, laid down Her life. The red
beads are thirteen in number and signify the 13 years our Martyr
lived on earth and this prayer is recited on each bead:
Saint
Philomena, who reigns in glory,