St. Philomena

Her discovery

In 1802 a tomb was found in the Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome inscribed Pax Tecum Filumena, "Peace be with you, Philomena," with symbols such as arrows, a palm and an anchor, which some associate with martyrdom. The remains were a young maiden's. The tradition that she was a virgin martyr comes from the reported private revelations of Mother Luisa di Gesù, a Dominican tertiary. There is no historical evidence for those claims, but devotion grew because of many miracles, especially after her remains were moved in 1805 to Mugnano, near Naples.

In 1837 Gregory XVI authorized a feast (August 11) and devotions, though she was never formally canonized nor placed on the universal calendar. He apparently made this exception because of the miracles attributed to her, especially the 1835 healing of Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. She became known as "the Wonder-Worker," and later popes encouraged devotion to her.

Her death according to tradition

Mother Luisa said Philomena was a Greek princess martyred by Diocletian in the early 300s for refusing to marry him; she survived several attempts on her life, including being thrown into the Tiber with an anchor, before being beheaded. The Church never approved these revelations, which cannot substitute for the historical evidence canonization requires.

Is she still a saint?

Because she is not in the Roman Martyrology and there is no early historical evidence, St. John XXIII had her feast removed from the Roman Missal in 1961. But he did not forbid devotion to her, including a votive Mass using the Common of a Virgin Martyr. Devotion remains strong, and saints such as Pius X, John Vianney and Padre Pio championed her intercession.

Patron

She is patron of infants, purity, youth and the sick, and of difficult or impossible cases.

Prayer: O St. Philomena, virgin and martyr, powerful with God, pray for us in all our needs. Help us to love Christ with the purity and courage that filled your heart. Amen.

Novena: We beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant us the pardon of our sins by the intercession of St. 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, St. 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 (specify your petition). Above all, assist me at the hour of my death. St. 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.

Her witness today

In a culture that treats the unborn as disposable and purity as outdated, Philomena's witness, as tradition presents it, rebukes the idea that human worth depends on age or strength. She is a patron for babies, expectant mothers and defenders of life, and helps us carry our crosses toward Easter (Matthew 16:24-26).