Nothing is refused

TO PHILOMENA, NOTHING IS REFUSED.

While to other saints is granted the power of helping us in one or another necessity, Saint Philomena has been granted the power of helping us in every necessity, both spiritual and temporal. Let us turn to her with great confidence, love, and faith. She is the 'beloved daughter' of Jesus and Mary to whom NOTHING is refused.

CREDITS

All articles and prayers posted in this blog are all obtained from different websites dedicated to Saint Philomena.

http://www.philomena.org/ULRA/index1.html

Devotional Items

OIL

This devotion happened very simply . On the octave (which is 8 days after the arrival of the sacred body on the 10th August) 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 immediately received sight, to the astonishment of all present.

CORD

This pious practice, born spontaneously among the Saint’s devotees, was approved by the Congregation of Rites on September 15, 1883. Later, on April 4, 1884, 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 for those who carry 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.

Rules For The Cord

The Cord approved by the Sacred Congregation in honor of St. Philomena ought to be made of linen, wool, or cotton of a white and red color, with two knots at one end to honor her double title of virgin and martyr.

It is worn under the dress as a girdle. No ceremony is required in conferring it, but it should be blessed beforehand and passed or sent by one person to another. When worn out, the new Cord also must be blessed. Children, however young, may receive the Cord.

In putting on the Cord, everyone ought to propose to himself constantly to honor St. Philomena, in order to merit her protection against all evils of soul and body, and also to obtain, through her intercession, perfect chastity, the spirit of faith so necessary in the unhappy times in which we live, and the grace of doing violence to oneself so as to lead a Christian life.

Those who wear the Cord are counseled to say every day the following prayer:

O Saint Philomena, virgin and martyr, pray for us that, through thy powerful
intercession, we may obtain the purity of mind and heart which leads to the
perfect love of God.Amen

ROSARY

This devotion, owed to the Holy Curé of Ars, consists in reciting:

the Creed,

three Our Fathers (the white beads) in honour of the Blessed Trinity, and

thirteen Hail O Holy Saint.... or 13 Hail Mary’s with Saint Philomena, pray for us, (red beads). The thirteen prayers remind us of the age of our Little Saint.

Prayers to St. Philomena

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.

This Rosary is one of the simplest ways of praying to the Saint.
First the Apostle's 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: Hail, O holy Saint Philomena, my dear patroness. As my advocate with thy 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.
This prayer may be substituted for 13 Hail Mary’s each followed by: Saint Philomena, pray for us.

Litany to Saint Philomena

Lord have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us, Christ graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.

God the Father of Heaven,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,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, model of Virginity,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, temple of the most perfect humility,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, inflamed with zeal for the Glory of God,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, victim of the love of Jesus,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, example of strength and perseverance,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, invincible champion of chastity,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, mirror of the most heroic virtues,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, firm and intrepid in the face of torments,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, scourged like your Divine Spouse,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, pierced by a shower of arrows,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, consoled in chains, by the Mother of God,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, miraculously healed in prison,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, comforted by angels in your torments,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who preferred torments and death to the splendours of a throne,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who converted the witnesses of your martyrdom,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who wore out the fury of your executioners,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, protectress of the innocent,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, patroness of youth,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, refuge of the unfortunate,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, health of the sick and the weak,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, new light of the church militant,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who confounds the impiety of the world,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who stimulates the faith and courage of the faithful,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, whose name is glorious in Heaven and feared in Hell,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, made illustrious by the most striking miracles,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, all powerful with God,pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who reigns in glory,pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, Saint Philomena,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

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

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 favourable 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

Images of the Baby Saint

Great Devotees of the Baby Saint

Leo XII Declared Saint Philomena, The Great Thaumaturgist of the 18th century.

Leo XII, over and over again, expressed the highest admiration for the
extraordinary power confered by the Almighty on this hitherto unknown child
Saint, and listened with delight to the accounts given him of the wonders she
worked. So authentic did he account the information he received and so
irrefutable the facts related to him that, notwithstanding the extreme care
which the Church usually takes in such matters, he had no hesitation in allowing
alters to be dedicated and chapels to be erected in her honor.

Gregory XVI. Named her Patroness of the Living Rosary and conceded to her the Universal cult.

Gregory XVI was himself a witness of the great miracle of Mugnano, the cure of
Pauline Marie Jaricot. He visited her in Rome before her departure for Mugnano
and verified for himself the desperate condition in which she lay.

On her return to Rome Miss Jaricot was received by the
Sovereign Pontiff with the warmest affection. He did not conceal his
amazement exclaiming: "Is this indeed, our daughter or is it a vision from the
other world?"

Thought profoundly touched by what he himself declared to
be a "miracle of the first class" he in nowise relaxed the rigorous laws of the
Roman tribunals. On the contrary he commanded the Sacred Congregation of
Rites to proceed at once to a thorough investigation of the cause. The
difficulties that had arisen were carefully analyzed, the doubts that had been
raised were sifted to the utmost. All the facts from the discovery of the
relics in 1802 to the latest miracles worked by the Saint were subjected to the
minutest scrutiny, and this by the most experienced and keenest experts in
Rome. After a protracted examination the Sacred Congregation gave a full
and favorable decision in favour of the cult of the Saint. Yet the Holy
Father, notwithstanding his own personal love for St. Philomena, spent two more
years in prayer and deliberation before making his final renouncement.

At last to the great delight of the Saint's devoted
clients, among whom were numbered several distinguished Bishops, Archbishops and
Cardinals, the Solemn Approval of the Church was made public. This was so
complete and conferred so much glory on the Saint that it most amply compensated
for the delay which had occurred.

The Pope was not content that Saint Philomena should be
resided to the honors of the altar, and that her feast be established and her
office given to the Church, he went much further and declared her to be "the
Great Wonder-Worker of the XIX century" thus giving the Church's solemn sanction
to those marvelous prodigies alleged to have been worked by the Saint, and
effectually silencing the self-constituted critics who had taken on themselves
to ridicule her cult in face of overwhelming evidence.

Not long after the same Holy Father gave the Saint the
new title of Patroness of the Living Rosary.

As a last act of devotion and with the object of
manifesting his personal affection for the Holy Virgin, the Pontiff sent a
magnificent gold and silver lamp to her Sanctuary in Mugnano.

Pius IX. Miraculously cured by the Saint. When he became Pope, he made a pilgrimage to her sanctuary on November 7, 1849.

Pius IX was, perhaps, of all the Popes, the one who showed
most special devotion to the Saint. When Archbishop of Spoleto he was
already her devout client and earnestly spread her devotion. Later on,
when Archbishop of Imola he fell dangerously ill and the greatest fears were
entertained for his life. Near his bedside stood a beautiful image of his
dear Saint who was heard to rap distinctly as she sometimes does, when about to
perform some great miracle. Immediately favorable symptoms were noticed in
the patient and these speedily developed into rapid convalescence. Years
rolled by and the Archbishop became the immortal Pontiff of the Infallibility
and the Immaculate Conception.

Far from forgetting his dear patroness when raised to the
throne of St. Peter, this great Pope availed himself of his supreme power to
shed still greater lustre on the name of St. Philomena.

To the intense joy of the inhabitants of Mugnano, he went
on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of his Benefactress where he was solemnly received
by the Bishop of Nola, the King, Queen and all the members of the Royal Family
of Naples. He said mass on the alter of the Saint and afterwards publicly
venerated her relics. He also declared her to be secondary Patroness of
the Kingdom of Naples. In the year 1849 he named St. Philomena Patroness
of the Children of Mary.

He granted her, later on, a proper office, which is such
an extraordinary privilege that rarely or never has it been granted to any other
Saint under similar circumstances.

When dying the aged Pontiff sent a most beautiful
offering to Mugnano, the last touching tribute of his love and gratitude.

Leo XIII While Cardinal, made two pilgrimages to the Sanctuary.

Leo XIII before becoming Pope made two pilgrimages to Mugnano. Later on
when Vicar of Christ he sent a valuable cross to the Sanctuary. He
approved the Confraternity of the Saint and raised it to the rank of an Arch
confraternity, enriching it with important indulgences.

St. Pius X Elevated the Pious Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena on May 21, 1912, into a Universal Pious Archconfraternity.

St. Pius X was no less devout to the Little Saint, to whom he sent by special
envoy a magnificent gold ring and other costly presents. He was always
pleased to hear of the wonders she worked.
The Servant of God, Sister Maria
Luisa of Jesus. A fervent devotee of the Saint. She founded in Naples the
religious order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint Philomena.

The Holy Curé of Ars. A great devotee of Saint Philomena, he diffused devotion to her throughout France.

Ven. Pauline Jaricot. Foundress of the Living Rosary and Propagation of the Faith, she was miraculously cured by Saint Philomena on August 10, 1835, and put her forward as the Supporter of Missionary Priests.

Blessed Bartholomew Longo. A devotee of the Little Saint, he placed under her patronage, Opere Pompeane.

St. Peter Juilian Eymard, St. Peter Chanel, St. Anthony Mary Claret, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Euphrasia Pelletier, St Francis Xavier Cabrini, St. John Nepomucene Neumann, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi.

**obtained from The Official Website of the Sanctuary of St. Philomena

The Cure' of Ars and Saint Philomena

The little town of Ars, France, has become famous through the holy life and labors of Saint John Vianney, its beloved Cure'. And he, perhaps more than any other single individual, has brought to the world's attention the power of his own favorite among the saints - Saint Philomena. He was wont to call upon her for every kind of favor, and made her, so to speak, his "miracle-proxy". He used to take refuge under Saint Philomena's cloak, "and throw the blame on her", as someone has said for the extraordinary miracles he himself worked. Saint Philomena solved his financial worries; she converted sinners; she healed malignant diseases; she worked numberless prodigies in answer to his simple prayers. Many are recorded in the biography of the saint, but the unrecorded ones alone would fill a volume.

It is said that the Cure' did everything for her and Saint Philomena did
everything for him.

A person once approached the Cure' and said: "Is it true, Monsieur le Cure', that Saint Philomena obeys you?" To which the holy priest replied, "And why not, since every day God Himself obeys me at the altar?" A perfect understanding existed between the Cure' and his dear little saint, so that he constantly felt the closeness of her presence. He addressed her by the most familiar and tender names, and spared no efforts to induce others to invoke her intercession in their needs of body and soul. Often he would say in his soft penetrating voice which drew all hearts to him: "My children, Saint Philomena has great power with God, and she has, moreover, a kind heart; let us pray to her with confidence. Her virginity and generosity in embracing her heroic martyrdom have rendered her so agreeable to God that He will never refuse her anything that she asks for us." It is said that the Cure' did everything for her and Saint Philomena did everything for him.

The Cure' first came to know of the wonderful power of Saint Philomena through a friend of his, Pauline Jaricot, the foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary, who in 1835 had been miraculously cured of a hopeless malady through the intercession of Saint Philomena. Miss Jaricot offered him a part of the precious relics of the saint which she had obtained from the shrine at Mugnano, and the Cure' received them with intense joy. At once he set to work to have a chapel erected in his church at Ars to enshrine them. The spot soon became the scene of innumerable cures, conversions and miracles.

Filled with intense love for the little saint, he chose her as his special heavenly patroness, and dedicated himself to her by vow. In season and out of season he spoke of her, and recommended novenas to her for the countless intentions of every kind which people referred to him. He earnestly admonished the sick to pray to Saint Philomena. He would bless them and join them in the novena he had instructed them to make, but always impressed on them that all cures were due to the little saint, and that, after God, it was to her that all gratitude was owing.

Filled with intense love for the little saint, he chose her as his special
heavenly patroness, and dedicated himself to her by vow.

Thousands of people came to the chapel of Ars on pilgrimage, for the purpose of invoking the aid of Saint Philomena in their necessities and trials. Tangible evidence, of the favors obtained, the miracles worked, the conversions wrought, the prayers answered, was to be seen in the votive offerings of every type which the grateful recipients of the favors placed at Saint Philomena's shrine.

Due to the fervor of the Cure's devotion to Saint Philomena, and the numerous cures and favors obtained through her intercession, all France soon rang with her name. Every diocese had altars and chapels or churches dedicated to her. But devotion to her was not confined to France. Kings, queens, cardinals, bishops, priests, and a vast multitude of religious and faithful throughout the world acclaim her as their heavenly patroness.

Devotion of the popes

A most significant feature of Saint Philomena's renown is the remarkable devotion that the Popes have shown to the little Wonder Worker. Since the finding of her relics, Pope after Pope has shown her public honor and fostered a personal devotion to her. It is indeed remarkable that the highest eulogies of the saint have come from the Sovereign Pontiffs. Pope Leo XII (1823-1829), who preceded Pope Gregory XVI in the Pontifical Chair, expressed the greatest admiration for this unknown child-saint, and gladly gave his permission for the erection of altars and churches in her honor.

Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846), who authorized her public veneration, showed his esteem and devotion to the saint by giving her the title of Patroness of the Living Rosary, and donating a magnificent gold and silver lamp to her sanctuary.

Of all the Popes, however, Pope Pius IX cultivated the most special devotion to the virgin-martyr. As Archbishop of Spoleto, he was one of her devout clients and did much to spread her veneration. Later in life, when Archbishop of Imola, he fell very ill and his cure was attributed to Saint Philomena's intercession. When raised to the throne of St. Peter, this Pope availed himself of his power to bestow still greater luster on the saint at Mugnano, where he offered Holy Mass on the altar of the saint, and afterwards publicly venerated her relics. In 1849, he named her Patroness of the Children of Mary.

Leo XIII imitated his predecessor in the honor shown Saint Philomena during his pontificate. Before his election to the papacy he made two pilgrimages to her shrine. After he became the Vicar of Christ, he gave a valuable cross to the sanctuary. He approved the Confraternity of Saint Philomena, and enriched it with indulgences. Furthermore, he raised it to an Archconfraternity.

No less devoted to the little saint was our beloved St. Pius X. Costly gifts, among them the magnificent gold ring already mentioned, were given by him to her shrine. He often spoke warmly of her and manifested his devotion to her in various ways. Pope Saint Pius X raised the Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena to a Universal Archconfraternity and named St. John Vianney its Patron. This Pope and great Saint of Holy Mother the Church solemnly declared:

"...to discredit the present decisions and declarations
concerning Saint Philomena as not being permanent, stable, valid and effective,
necessary of obedience, and in full-effect for all eternity, proceeds from an
element that is null and void and without merit or authority." (1912)

Discovery of her relics

St. Philomena's relics were unearthed at the beginning of the 19th century. On May 24, 1802, during the excavations which are continually being made in the Roman Catacombs, an earthen tomb was brought to light. Three tiles, set together, closed the entrance, and on them was an inscription which seemed to be:

LUMENA PAXTE CUM FI

The letters were in red paint and surrounded with Christian symbols. After a little study it was evident that these tiles had been disarranged, either because they were put in place in too great haste, or because someone not familiar with Latin had laid them in the wrong order. For, properly arranged, they read:

PAXTE CUM FI LUMENA

(Pax tecum Filumena!)

PEACE BE TO YOU PHILOMENA!

When, on the following day, the stone slabs were removed, there was found within the burial place a thin, half-broken vase, whose inner wall was covered with congealed blood. It was blood which had been collected at the death of the martyr, according to the custom of the Christians during the persecutions, and placed with the remains as a testimonial to her death by martyrdom. This blood was loosened from the broken pieces of the vase to which it adhered, and was carefully placed in a crystal urn. Those present, among whom were men of great learning, were amazed to see that these little particles of blood, as soon as they fell into the urn, glittered like burnished gold or silver, or shone like diamonds and precious jewels, or, again, were resplendent in all colors of the rainbow. This extraordinary phenomenon continues to the present day.Cut on the tomb of the saint were the emblems of a lily and a palm, to indicate her virginity and her martyrdom. There were also an anchor, a scourge, and three arrows, two pointing in opposite directions, and one with a curved line upon it, signifying fire, and intended to symbolize the different torments which the martyr endured in testimony of her faith in and love of Jesus Christ.

TRANSLATION OF HER HOLY REMAINS

After the relics of the saint had been exhumed, they were left at Rome until 1805. At that time Canon Francis de Lucia of Mugnano, a small town near Naples, visited the Eternal City. He was filled with the ardent desire of procuring the relics of some martyred saint for his private chapel. Since the Bishop of Potenza, whom he had accompanied to Rome, supported his petition, Canon Francis de Lucia was allowed to visit the Treasury of Relics, a large hall where the exhumed remains of several saints were preserved. On pausing before the relics of Saint Philomena, he was suddenly filled with an unaccountable spiritual joy, and at once begged for them. It was with some difficulty that the relics were finally consigned to him, since it was contrary to custom to bestow such treasures on a simple priest. Through the negotiations of a friend, the body of another saint was at first given to him, which he accepted with reluctance.In the meantime, Canon de Lucia became very ill. He prayed to Saint Philomena and was instantly cured. This renewed his attempts to procure her relics, and shortly after, the insurmountable difficulties to his possessing them were overcome, whereupon he had them taken to Naples. The travelers lodged in the house of a good friend in that city. There the relics were encased in a statue of the saint, especially made for the purpose, and this in turn was placed in a wooden casket. Soon many miracles took place. Lady Angela Rose, the mistress of the house, had suffered twelve years from an incurable disease; she begged the saint's intercession and was instantly healed. Others, too, obtained wonderful cures.

TRANSFER OF HER RELICS TO MUGNANO

On the 10th of August, 1805, the relics of the saint were transferred to Mugnano, a hill town near Naples and the home of Canon de Lucia. Continuous miracles of every kind accompanied this transfer. The day before their arrival, at the prayers of the inhabitants, a plentiful rain refreshed the fields and meadows of Mugnano after a long season of drought. Lord Michael Ulpicella, a lawyer, who had not been able to leave his room for six weeks, had himself carried to the relics and returned home completely cured. A lady of rank had a cancerous ulcer on her hand which required an operation. A relic of the saint was brought to her. In the evening she placed it on the wound. The following morning, when the surgeon arrived to operate, he found to his surprise that the wound had disappeared.Saint Philomena's shrine at Mugnano became the scene of the most marvelous prodigies. Among these was the cure of Pauline Jaricot, which is known as the Great Miracle of Mugnano. It was this cure which, after a long and mature deliberation, led to the formal approval of the cult of Saint Philomena by Pope Gregory XVI, who declared it a first class miracle. The Pope, in his decree, called the saint "The Thaumaturga (Wonder Worker) of the Nineteenth Century". This title, as thousands attest, she deserves no less in our day, for her miracles are as numerous and as brilliant as ever.

The story of Saint Philomena

as revealed to Mother Mary Louisa of Jesus

My dear sister, I am the daughter of a prince who governed a small state in Greece. My mother was also of royal blood; and as they were without children, and they both still idolaters, in order to obtain some, they used continually to offer to their false gods sacrifices and prayers. A doctor from Rome, named Publius, now in Paradise, lived in the palace in the service of my father; he professed Christianity. Seeing the affliction of my parents, and moved at their blindness, and by the impulse of the Holy Ghost, he spoke to them of our faith, and even promised them posterity if they consented to receive baptism. The grace which accompanied his words enlightened their understanding, and triumphed over their will; they became Christians, and obtained the long desired happiness that Publius had promised them as the reward of their conversion.

At the moment of my birth they gave the name of Lumena, in allusion to the light of faith, of which I had been, as it were, the fruit; and the day of my baptism they called me Filumena, or daughter of light because on that day I was born to the faith. The affection which my parents bore me was so great that they would have me always with them. It was on this account that they carried me with them to Rome, on a journey that my father was obliged to make on the occasion of an unjust war with which he was threatened by the haughty Dioclesian. I was then thirteen years old. Being arrived in the capital of the world, we three proceeded to the palace of the emperor, and were admitted to an audience.

As soon as Dioclesian saw me his eyes were fixed upon me...

As soon as Dioclesian saw me his eyes were fixed upon me; he appeared to be prepossessed in this manner during the entire time that my father was stating with animated feelings everything that could serve for his defense. As soon as he had ceased to speak, the emperor desired him to be no longer disturbed but that, banishing all fear, he should think only of living in happiness. "I shall place at your disposal all the force of the empire, and shall ask in return only one thing, that is, the hand of your daughter.' My father, dazzled with an honor he was far from expecting, willingly acceded on the spot to the proposal of the emperor, and when we had returned to our own dwelling, my father and mother did all they could to induce me to yield to Dioclesian's wishes, and to theirs.

"What!" said I to them, "do you wish that for the love of a man I should break
the promise I made two years since to Jesus Christ?"

What! said I to them, do you wish that for the love of a man I should break the promise I made two years since to Jesus Christ? My virginity belongs to Him, I can no longer dispose of it. 'But you were then too young,' answered my father, 'to form such an engagement', and he joined the most terrible threats to the command that he gave me to accept the hand of Dioclesian. The grace of my God rendered me invincible, and my father, not being able to make the emperor allow of the reasons he alleged, in order to disengage himself from the promise he had given, was obliged, by his order, to bring me into his presence.

I had to withstand for some moments beforehand a new attack from my father's anger and affection. My mother, uniting her efforts to his, endeavored to conquer my resolution. Caresses, threats, everything was employed to reduce me to compliance. At last I saw both of them fall at my knees, and say to me with tears in their eyes, 'My child, have pity on thy father, thy mother, thy country, our subjects.' No, no, I answered them; God and that virginity which I have vowed to Him, before everything; before you, before my country! My kingdom is heaven. My words plunged them into despair, and they brought me before the emperor, who on his part, did all in his power to win me; but his promises, his allurements, his threats, were equally useless. He then got into a violent fit of anger, and influenced by the devil, he had me cast into one of the prisons of his palace, where I was forthwith loaded with chains.

Thinking that pain and shame would weaken the courage that my divine Spouse inspired me with, he came to see me every day; and then, after having my chains loosed, that I might take the small portion of bread and water which I received as food, he renewed his attacks, some of which, if not for the grace of God, would have been fatal to purity.

I ceased not to recommend myself to Jesus and His most pure Mother.

The defeats which he always experienced were for me the preludes to new tortures; but prayer supported me; I ceased not to recommend myself to Jesus and His most pure Mother. My captivity had lasted thirty seven days, when, in the midst of a heavenly light, I saw Mary holding her divine Son in her arms. 'My daughter,' said she to me, 'three days more of prison and, after forty days, thou shalt leave this state of pain.' Such happy news made my heart beat with joy, but as the Queen of angels had added that I should quit my prison, to sustain, in frightful torments a combat far more terrible than those preceding, I fell instantly from joy to the most cruel anguish; I thought it would kill me. 'Have courage, my child,' said Mary then to me; 'art thou unaware of the love of predilection that I bare to thee? The name which thou receivedst in baptism is the pledge of it, by the resemblance which it has to that of my Son and to mine. Thou art called Lumena, as thy Spouse is called Light, Star, Sun as I myself am called Aurora, Star, the Moon in the fullness of its brightness, and Sun. Fear not, I will aid thee. Now Nature whose weakness humbles thee, asserts its law; in the moment of combat, grace will come to lend thee its force, and thy angel, who was also mine, Gabriel, whose name expresses force, will come to thy succor; I will recommend thee especially to his care, as the well-beloved among my children.' These words of the Queen of virgins gave me again courage, and the vision disappeared, leaving my prison filled with a celestial perfume.

What she had announced to me was soon realized. Dioclesian, despairing of bending me, took the resolution of having me publicly tortured, and the first torment to which he condemned me was to be scourged. 'Since she is not ashamed,' said he, 'to prefer, to an emperor like me, a malefactor, condemned by his own nation to an infamous death, she deserves that my justice shall treat her as he was treated.' He then ordered my clothes to be taken off, and that I should be tied to a column; and, in the presence of a great number of gentlemen of his court, he had me beaten with such violence, that my body, bathed in blood, appeared but one single wound. The tyrant, perceiving that I was going to faint and die had me removed from his eyes, and dragged again to prison, where he believed I would breathe out my last sigh.

But he was disappointed, as I was also in the delightful hope of going quickly to rejoin my Spouse, for two angels, shining with light, appeared to me, and pouring a health-giving balm upon my wounds, rendered me more vigorous than I had been before the torture. The next morning the emperor was informed of it; he had me brought into his presence, viewed me with astonishment, and then sought to persuade me that I owed my cure to the Jupiter whom he adored. 'He desires positively,' said he, 'that you should be empress of Rome.' And, joining to these seductive words promises of the greatest honors, and the most flattering caresses, he endeavored to complete the work of hell which he had begun; but the divine Spirit, to whom I am indebted for my constancy, filled me at the moment with so much light and knowledge, that to all the proofs which I gave of the solidity of our faith, neither Dioclesian nor any of his courtiers could give any answer whatever. Then his frenzy came on anew, and he commanded me to be buried, with an anchor to my neck, in the waters of the Tiber. The order was executed, but God permitted that it should not succeed; for, at the moment in which I was precipitated into the river, two angels came again to my succor, and, after having cut the rope that bound me to the anchor, while the anchor fell to the bottom of the Tiber, where it has remained till the present time, they transported me gently, in the view of an immense multitude, upon the banks of the river.

This miracle worked happy effects upon a great number of spectators, and they
were converted to the faith...

This miracle worked happy effects upon a great number of spectators, and they were converted to the faith; but Dioclesian, attributing it to secret magic, had me dragged through the streets of Rome, and then ordered that I should be shot in a shower of arrows. I was stuck all over with them; my blood flowed on all sides; when he commanded me, exhausted and dying, to be carried back to my dungeon. Heaven honored me with a new favor there. I fell into a sweet sleep, and I found myself, on awaking, perfectly cured. Dioclesian learns it. 'Well, then,' he cried, in a fit of rage, let her be pierced with sharp darts a second time, and let her die in that torture.' They hastened to obey him. The archers bent their bows, they gathered all their strength; but the arrows refused to second their intentions. The emperor was present; he became enraged at the sight; he called me a magician, and, thinking that the action of fire could destroy the enchantment, he ordered the darts to be made red in a furnace, and directed a second time against me. It was done, indeed; but those darts, after having gone over a part of the space which they were to cross to come to me, took quite a contrary direction, and returned to strike those by whom they had been hurled. Six of the archers were killed by them, and several among them renounced paganism, and the people began to render public testimony to the power of the God that had protected me.

These murmurs and acclamations made the tyrant fear some more painful accident; he therefore hastened to terminate my days, by ordering my head to be cut off. Thus did my soul take flight toward my heavenly Spouse, who placed me, with the crown of virginity and the palm of martyrdom, in a distinguished rank among the elect, who partake of the enjoyment of his divine presence. The day that was so happy for me, and saw me enter into glory, was a Friday, and the hour of my death was the third after mid-day, (that is to say, the same hour that saw my divine master expire)."

*While the Holy See does not guarantee the authenticity of this purported revelation, the Holy Office gave its sanction for dissemination on December 21, 1883.

St. Philomena: virgin, martyr, and wonder worker

The very name of Philomena contains the words: filia luminis, daughter of light. She is the enlightener of a dark and corrupt age confounding the sneers of materialism. She is the Patroness of the Children of Mary. Her mission today is to draw us to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through imitation of her heroic virtues of purity, obedience and humility. Saint Philomena is an anchor of HOPE in this dark age of despair. The rude latter days are here. They are clearly and universally marked by occultism, modernism, materialism, spiritism, despair and a general falling away from the Faith. Never have the powers of darkness been so strong, since the beginning of Christianity, as they are today. Saint Philomena is the New Light of the Church Militant! This title was bestowed upon her by St. John Marie Vianney, heroic confessor and patron of all parish priests.

Little, indeed, is known historically of Saint Philomena. Her real history commences when her blessed remains were found after having rested in the obscurity of the Catacombs of St. Priscilla for some seventeen hundred years. But God is wonderful in His saints, and Saint Philomena strikingly exemplifies this oft-repeated truth. After allowing her name and memory to be buried with her earthly remains for centuries, He suddenly brought the attention of mankind to this little maiden-martyr, and now works astounding prodigies in her name, as if wishing to show that He wills in this way to recompense the long time. He allowed her to remain in obscurity. Saint Philomena's relics were unearthed at the beginning of the 19th century - on May 24, 1802. Cut on the tomb of the saint were the emblems of a lily and a palm, to indicate her virginity and her martyrdom. There were also an anchor, a scourge, and three arrows, two pointing in opposite directions, and one with a curved line upon it, signifying fire, and intended to symbolize the different torments which the martyr endured in testimony of her faith in and love of Jesus Christ.Saint Philomena was formally "raised to the Altar" by Pope Gregory XVI in an infallible statement made publicly in the name of Holy Mother the Church for the edification of all the faithful and for the glory of God in time and eternity. The Pope was himself a witness to the miraculous cure of Pauline Jaricot, foundress of the Living Rosary, at Saint Philomena's shrine in Mugnano, ItalyThe story of St. Philomena's life is based on private revelations made by the saint in 1863 to three different persons, in answer to the prayers of many of Saint Philomena's clients to let them know who she was and how she met martyrdom. Those favored persons were a young artist of good morals and a pious life, a zealous priest, and a devout nun of Naples, the Ven. Mother Mary Louisa of Jesus. While the Holy See does not guarantee the authenticity of the purported revelations, the Holy Office gave its sanction to their dissemination on December 21, 1883.Our beautiful Saint Philomena went forth from her mother's arms to die for Christ; the lictors ax cropped the budding lily, and pious hands gathered it up and laid her in the tomb. This true heroine trampled all the vanity of the world under her feet and chose to endure multiplied torments rather than renounce her vow to Our Crucified Saviour. What a model of constancy and of every virtue! Let the youthful take heart and go to her when tried. Let us all with unbounded confidence implore her intercession!