About St. Philomena
St. Philomena was a Greek princess who was martyred at a young age. Born into a Christian family in the 3rd century, St. Philomena found herself the desire of Emperor Diocletian, who was going to war with St. Philomena’s father. When the virgin St. Philomena, believed to be roughly 13 at the time, refused, she was subject to cruel torments like scourging, drowning and shooting. However, in each attempt on her life, St. Philomena was protected by angels who rescued her. Eventually, Emperor Diocletian had the virgin martyr decapitated. Her tomb was discovered in a catacomb the 19th century. Images on the funerary tiles on her tomb were an anchor, a palm, a javelin, arrows and a lily.
In artwork, St. Philomena is often shown as a young woman, and for that reason she is the patron saint to other young women, virgins or babies. She is frequently shown with a hand to her chest, which may be representative of her wounds that were miraculously healed or simply as a gesture of the saint in prayer. She also is shown with the images from her tomb, particularly the anchor, the lily or the palm.
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Once a popular and widely celebrated saint, devotion to St. Philomena has faded in the years following the removal of her feast day from the Roman Calendar in 1961. And yet, her intercession continues to permeate through the world, coming to the aid of those who seek her help and protection. Nicknamed “the Wonder-Worker” because of the many healings and miracles attributed to her intercession, St. Philomena has been venerated by many great saints and popes throughout history, including Pope St. Pius X, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. John Vianney, and St. Pio of Pietrelcina.
Born to pagan parents, St. Philomena’s family ruled the Greek island of Corfu. Her parents had been unable to conceive a child, and after many prayers to the gods, realized that their prayers were going unanswered because the gods they had been praying to were false and did not exist. They converted to Christianity and bore a daughter. They named her Philomena, meaning “lover of light.” St. Philomena was raised in the Christian faith and developed a strong love for Christ.
At the age of thirteen, St. Philomena traveled with her parents to Rome. The Roman emperor Diocletian had threatened St. Philomena’s father with a war, and he had to meet with the emperor to attempt to make peace. When her family was admitted to an audience with Emperor Diocletian, the emperor’s eyes fell upon St. Philomena at once. He was taken by her beauty and insisted that she should marry him. St. Philomena refused, though, stating that she had promised herself to God alone and would marry no man. Overcome with anger at being rejected, the emperor had St. Philomena thrown into a dungeon.
Emperor Diocletian made several other attempts to entice St. Philomena to marry him – and every time she stated she would not marry him because she had consecrated herself to God alone. The emperor had her tortured severely, almost to the point of death. She was bound to a pillar and scourged mercilessly. After the torture was finished, the emperor had her brought back to the prison to die. However, she was given strength by God and continued to live.
In another attempt to kill her, Emperor Diocletian had his men take St. Philomena to the river and tie a large anchor around her neck. He was sure she would not survive this attempt at drowning, and that this would terrify her into agreeing to marry him. He was wrong. St. Philomena again rejected his offer of marriage, and so was thrown in the river to drown. Yet, she survived. Frustrated, the emperor had his men throw her in the river again. And once more, she survived. Wholly angered at his inability to convince her to marry him, as well as his inability to kill her, Emperor Diocletian ordered his men to shoot her with arrows until she was dead. However, still St. Philomena survived.
The people of Rome who witnessed these events were amazed at the faith of St. Philomena in the face of peril and possible death. She was just a young girl, and yet, her faith was strong enough to carry her through the pain of the torture – and even to save her life from the many attempts at killing her! Seeing this caused many Romans to begin believing in the power of the One, True God, and they converted to Christianity because of St. Philomena’s example.
Emperor Diocletian became even more enraged at finding out that the people of Rome were turning from the false gods and converting to Christianity. Determined to put a stop to his embarrassment in being unable to both convince St. Philomena to marry him and to kill her for rejecting him, Emperor Diocletian ordered that St. Philomena should be beheaded. St. Philomena was martyred for her faith and singular devotion to Christ in 304.
The tomb of St. Philomena was inscribed with the words “Peace be to you, Philomena,” as well as the symbols of 2 anchors, 3 arrows, and a palm. These symbols were a sign to other Christians that she was a virgin and martyr. However, her story was lost to history until an archaeological dig in the early 19th century in the catacombs of Priscilla in Rome led to the discovery of her tomb. Encased in terra cotta slabs, the archaeologists knew that the person who had been buried there was of particular importance, for this type of burial was reserved for nobility and great martyrs.
When her tomb was opened, the archaeologists discovered the body of a fourteen year old girl, as well as a vial of her blood. On August 10, 1805, her remains were transferred to Mugnano, a town near Naples, in Italy. This is where they rest today. During the transfer process, though, miraculous events began to take place. Some of these included the healing of a woman’s blind son, a cancerous growth disappearing from a woman’s hand, and a woman with a life-threatening heart condition suddenly regaining her health. Seemingly overnight, the world began to hear of the miracles attributed to the intercession of St. Philomena and her popularity grew.
Pope Leo XII, calling her the “Great Saint” granted permission for altars and chapels to be built in honor of St. Philomena. Later, Pope Gregory XVI authorized the public veneration of St. Philomena after approving the veracity of a miracle attributed to her intercession. Pope St. Pius X had great devotion to St. Philomena, and encouraged an increase in devotion throughout the Church to this great saint. Many saints and other members of the faithful were also known for their love for St. Philomena and their belief in her ability to intercede for them in their times of need.
However, in 1961, a decree was issued by Rome stating that due to a lack of historical evidence to support the traditional story of St. Philomena’s life, her feast day was to be removed from the Roman Calendar. In doing so, many Catholics mistakenly took this to mean that St. Philomena was somehow no longer a saint, and devotion to her faded. However, this was not the case. The removal of her feast day was only to signify that the Church takes matters of canonization and devotion seriously, and without the required documentation and proof, they would no longer celebrate her with a formal feast day marked in the calendar of the Church. This action did not state that St. Philomena’s existence or sanctity were in question, nor did it discourage devotion to her. In fact, seeking her intercession is regaining popularity among Catholics who are rediscovering the wondrous miracles and works attributed to St. Philomena today. As more and more miracles are discovered, written about, and publicized, Catholics of today are joining with those of the past in honoring and venerating this brave young woman who sacrificed her life out of love for Jesus Christ.
Patronage of St. Philomena
St. Philomena in Art
Prayers of St. Philomena
Let Saint Philomena be your partner in prayer as you say one of the prayers below or as part of your rosary devotion. Find Saint Philomena Rosary Beads here.
Prayer to Saint Philomena
O most pure Virgin, glorious Martyr, Saint Philomena, whom God in His eternal power has revealed to the world in these unhappy days in order to revive the faith, sustain the hope and enkindle the charity of Christian souls, behold me prostrate at thy feet. Deign, O Virgin, full of goodness and kindness, to receive my humble prayers and to obtain for me that purity for which thou didst sacrifice the most alluring pleasures of the world, that strength of soul which made thee resist the most terrible attacks and that ardent love for our Lord Jesus Christ, which the most frightful torments could not extinguish in thee. So, that wearing thy holy cord and imitating thee in this life, I may one day be crowned with thee in heaven. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Philomena
Prayer to St. Philomena
Humbly kneeling before thy throne, O great and glorious Virgin, St. Philomena, I beseech thee to look favorably on the petitions I present to thee. My Patroness, St. Philomena, pray for me!
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Glory be …
Overwhelmed with sorrow and distress, I have need of thee, great Saint. Heed my supplications and help me in my present tribulation. O glorious Saint, pray for me and help me!
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Glory be …
Inconsolable in my grief and weighed down with so many trials, I turn trustingly to thee. O valiant Saint, beseech God to have compassion on me. My powerful advocate, pray for me and help me!
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Glory be …
Courageous Martyr, well do I know that my grievous sins deserve God’s severe punishment. Good St. Philomena, beseech God to pardon me all my sins and to teach me the ways of His holy love. Illustrious Saint, be loved child of Jesus and Mary, pray for me and help me!
Glory be …
Gracious Saint, look graciously upon this house and bless the members of our family who devoutly honor thee. Wipe away our tears and smile benignly upon us, imparting the blessings of peace, hope, love, and good health to all of us. O Wonder-working Saint, pray for us and help us!
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Glory be …
O Child of Wisdom, well thou knowest the graces of which I stand in need, so be with me at every moment of my life, but be with me especially at the hour of my death. Establish my soul in peace, protect me from danger, and permit me to enjoy thy sweet companionship here as well as in eternity. Amen
All-powerful Saint, hear and help me!
Through the merits of thy cruel martyrdom, Saint Philomena, hear and help me. (3 times)
Litany of St. Philomena
(Composed by St. John Vianney)
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on 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.
Response after each phrase – Pray for Us
Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins,
St. Philomena,
St. Philomena, filled with the most abundant graces from your very birth,
St. Philomena, faithful imitator of Mary,
St. Philomena, model of Virgins,
St. Philomena, temple of the most perfect humility,
St. Philomena, inflamed with zeal for the Glory of God,
St. Philomena, victim of the love of Jesus,
St. Philomena, example of strength and perseverance,
St. Philomena, invincible champion of chastity,
St. Philomena, mirror of the most heroic virtues,
St. Philomena, firm and intrepid in the face of torments,
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St. Philomena, scourged like your Divine Spouse,
St. Philomena, pierced by a shower of arrows,
St. Philomena, consoled by the Mother of God, when in chains,
St. Philomena, cured miraculously in prison,
St. Philomena, comforted by angels in your torments,
St. Philomena, who preferred torments and death to the splendours of a throne,
St. Philomena, who converted the witnesses of your martyrdom,
St. Philomena, who wore out the fury of your executioners,
St. Philomena, protectress of the innocent,
St. Philomena, patron of youth,
St. Philomena, refuge of the unfortunate,
St. Philomena, health of the sick and the weak.
St. Philomena, new light of the church militant,
St. Philomena, who confounds the impiety of the world,
St. Philomena, who stimulates the faith and courage of the faithful,
St. Philomena, whose name is glorified in Heaven and feared in Hell,
St. Philomena, made illustrious by the most striking miracles,
St. Philomena, all powerful with God,
St Philomena, who reigns in Glory.
Lamb of God, Who takes 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 St. 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 Thy 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 (and name any special grace you may require). Amen.
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