Saint Philomena was a Greek princess who was martyred at a young age. Saint Philomena found herself the desire of Emperor Diocletian, who was going to war with St. Philomena’s father. When the virgin. Philomena, believed to be roughly 13 at the time, refused the proposal, she was subject to cruel torments like scourging, drowning and shooting. However, in each attempt on her life, Philomena was protected by angels who rescued her. Eventually, Emperor Diocletian had the virgin martyr decapitated. Her tomb was discovered in the catacomb of St Priscilla in the 19th century. Images on the funerary tiles on her tomb were an anchor, a palm, a javelin, arrows and a lily. Three tiles enclosing the tomb bore an inscription, Pax Tecum Filumena (i.e. “Peace be unto you, Philomena”), That led to the confirmation of her remains. 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. The feast day of St Philomena was not included in the Martirologio or Roman Calendar. Veneration was approved for certain places related to the Saint. John Vianney attributed to her intercession the extraordinary cures that others attributed to himself in his place in Ars. Many other saints revealed also the devotion they declared to St Philomena.
Saint's Prayers
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
