Saint Philomena Today

Saint Philomena is an earlier Martyr of the church than first thought. We now know for definite through scientific investigation that her tomb was from the year 202 AD. This makes her a more important Martyr and Saint of the Church. Her tomb was discovered on 25th May 1802 in the catacombs of St Priscilla in Rome.

The tomb had 3 slabs covering it - with markings - stating that the person inside was a Virgin Martyr who was persecuted by arrows, arrows with fire on it and scouring. It was also written on the tomb in Latin - Peace be with you Filumena. From the Sacred Relics within the tomb it was evident that it was a female around the age of 13 who had been beheaded. There was also a vial which has now been undoubtedly proven to have blood in it along with small fragments of bone which is in line with the violent death she suffered. We also know from the new findings that this tomb was sealed only once which immediately stops any previous arguments that the tomb stones where reused. This tomb was discovered in the oldest part of these catacombs which was reserved for royalty and very important Martyrs.

The Relics of Saint Philomena remained in Rome for a further 3 years until a simple priest Don Francesco de Lucia who was accompanying his Bishop to Rome felt drawn to ask for the relics of a Martyr for his Church. After a short while he was permitted to have them. He left from Rome with the Relics of the Virgin Martyr Filumena. He tried to keep the relics under the seat in the coach he was traveling in but after 3 vigorous lashes against his legs he discovered that this soon to be little Saint had a very strong will and she did not want to remain under the seat and so she was given the best seat in the carriage!

There were many events which happened in the 40 days it took for them to return to Mugnano del Cardinale. When they arrived on the 10th August there was a great feast in the town to welcome their new Martyr and a side Altar was made in the church of Our Lady of Grace and from the very second she arrived miracles began to happen. Don Francesco documented each one.

The word spread throughout Europe of this wonderworking little Martyr and a French woman was drawn to her – Pauline Jaricot who had worked to help missionary priests and was know through this by Pope Gregory XVI . Who witnessed the great miracle of her recovery of Pauline Jaricot from a fatal illness and he proclaimed this to be a miracle of the first class and so this Martyr Filumena became Saint Philomena. She is the only saint in the history of the church to be given this title purely on the basis of her powerful intercession.

This followed on by the blessings of many Popes giving her titles of: The wonder worker, the patroness of the living Rosary, the patroness of the Children of Mary and her devotion was given the title of Archconfraternity attaching many indulgences to it. Many soon to be Saints became devoted to her, the most famous of which was the Cure of Ars – St John Marie Vianney, Patron of Parish priests – said that she was powerful with God and that all of the miracles happening in his parish was through her intercession.

The devotion to Saint Philomena was explosive and world wide and now again after a lull of about 30 years the same explosion is happening in a time when we need her help more than ever.