DISCOVERY OF HER RELICS
Little, indeed, is known historically of St. Philomena previous to her
glorious martyrdom. Her real history commences when her blessed remains were
found after having rested in obscurity of the Catacombs of St. Priscilla for
fifteen hundred years. But God is wonderful in His saints, and St. 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.
According to a widely accepted account 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:
According to a widely accepted account 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:
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 to familiar with Latin had to laid them in
wrong order. For properly arranged, they read:
Pax
tecum Filumena!
“Peace be with you, Philomena!”
“Peace be with you, Philomena!”
The following day, when the stone slabs were removed, there was found
within the burial place a thin, half-broken vase whose inner wall was covered
with what appeared to be congeable blood. It was undoubtedly 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 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 colors of the rainbow. This
extraordinary phenomenon continues at present day.
Another remarkable feature with regard to the blood is the fact that sometimes it takes the form of black earth. This appears to denote the unworthiness of those who are venerating it. One such instance was that of a priest who had lived unworthy of his sacred calling. When he kissed the reliquary, the blood became very dark. It took on its usual appearance at his departure.
Another remarkable feature with regard to the blood is the fact that sometimes it takes the form of black earth. This appears to denote the unworthiness of those who are venerating it. One such instance was that of a priest who had lived unworthy of his sacred calling. When he kissed the reliquary, the blood became very dark. It took on its usual appearance at his departure.
INSIGNA
ON THE TOMB OF THE SAINT
Cut on the tomb of the saint were emblems of a lily and
a palm to indicate her virginity and her martyrdom,
respectively. There were also an anchor, a scourge, and
three arrows, two pointing in opposite directions, and one
with a curved line upon it,
probably signifying fire and intended to symbolize the different torments that
the martyr endured in testimony of her faith in and love of Jesus Christ.
The story of St. Philomena's life is based on private revelations made by the saint in 1883 to three different persons, in answer to the prayer of many of St. Philomena's clients to let them know who she was and ho 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 Venerable 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. This means that the Church in no way condemns the story which may be accepted at its worth. But the supposed details are comparatively unimportant in the light of uncontested and positive miracles which prove that there is a saint who responds to the name of Philomena, and whose influence with Almighty God is very great. Hence, it seems more prudent to omit what may be uncertain and dwell at greater length on known facts.
The story of St. Philomena's life is based on private revelations made by the saint in 1883 to three different persons, in answer to the prayer of many of St. Philomena's clients to let them know who she was and ho 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 Venerable 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. This means that the Church in no way condemns the story which may be accepted at its worth. But the supposed details are comparatively unimportant in the light of uncontested and positive miracles which prove that there is a saint who responds to the name of Philomena, and whose influence with Almighty God is very great. Hence, it seems more prudent to omit what may be uncertain and dwell at greater length on known facts.
EXHUMATION
AND TRANSLATION OF HER HOLY REMAINS
After the relics of the saint had
been exhumed, they were left in Rome until 1805. At that time Don Francesco
di Lucia of Mugnano, a small town near Naples, visited the Eternal City. He was
filled with ardent desire of procuring the relics of some martyred saint for
his private chapel. Since Bishop of Potenza, whom he had accompanied to Rome,
supported his petition, Don Francesco di 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 the 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 negotiations of a friend, the body of the other
saint was at first given to him, which he accepted with reluctance. In the
meantime, Don Francesco became very ill. He prayed to St. Philomena and was
instantly cured. He 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, specially 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, 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, ITALY
On the 10th of August 1805, the
relics of the saint were transferred to Mugnano, a hill town near Naples and
the home of Don Francesco. Continual 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 in Mugnano became the scene of the most marvelous prodigies, one of which was the cure of Pauline-Marie Jaricot. Known as the “Great Miracle of Mugnano,” this cure after a long and mature deliberation, led to formal approval of the cult of St. 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 ever.
Saint Philomena’s shrine in Mugnano became the scene of the most marvelous prodigies, one of which was the cure of Pauline-Marie Jaricot. Known as the “Great Miracle of Mugnano,” this cure after a long and mature deliberation, led to formal approval of the cult of St. 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 ever.