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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 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 s trong
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.
Addition Info:
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.
Novena to
St. Philomena
( Say once a day for 9 days, especially beginning on
September 1 and ending on September 9, the Feast of St.
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.
( Mention your intentions here )
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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