August 11th - 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. Jean
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 wi****ng 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, Italy
The 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 pur****ted 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!
See longer version found at:
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/a001St.Philomena8-10.htm
Saint Quote:
He does much in the sight of God who does his best, be it ever so little.
-Saint Peter of Alcantara
Bible Quote:
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides
that
which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. As we said before, so
now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you
have received, let him be anathema. (Galatians 1:8-9)
<><><><>
Litany to Saint Philomena
Composed by Saint John Vianney
For private recital only.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
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 the cradle,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, model of Virgins,
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 thy Divine Spouse,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, pierced by a shower of arrows,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, consoled by the Mother of God when in chains,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, cured miraculously in prison,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, comforted by Angels in thy torments,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who preferred torments and death to the splendors of a
throne,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who converted the witnesses of thy Martyrdom,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, who wore out the fury of thy executioners,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, protectress of the innocent,
pray for us.
Saint Philomena, patron 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 glorified 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, Great 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 Thine eyes by reason of her eminent
purity and the practice of all the virtues, pardon us our sins and grant
us
all the graces we need [name any special grace you may require]. Amen.
|
