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