|
We chose her because of her extraordinary faith to God that we want to imitate
in our lives. She is a powerful intercessor with God in almost impossible difficulties. She was also the favorite
patron saint of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini and John Vianney, the Cure d’Ars, after whom one of our seminaries
in Denver is named.
Her patroness includes the following:
babies, barrenness, bodily ills, children, children of Mary, desperate causes,
forgotten causes, impossible causes, infants, infertility, lost causes, Living Rosary, newborns, poor people, priests, sick
people, sickness, sterility, toddlers, young people, youth
More Information about St. Philomena:
St. Philomena's Life Story
http://www.philomena.org/ULRA/philomenastory.html
Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena
http://www.philomena.org/
The Official Site of the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena, Mugnano del Cardinale,
Italy
http://www.philomena.us/main.asp
Prayers, Novenas, and Devotions
http://www.saint-philomena.com/prayers.html
An audio file retelling the events surrounding the discovery of
St Philomena's relics
www.waysideaudio.com
FEAST DAYS
- Saint Philomena's Birthday - January 10th
- Patronage day - Sunday after January 10th
- Celebration of the finding of Saint Philomena's Holy Body - May 25th
- Celebration of the Translation of the Holy Body and martyrdom - August 10th
- Liturgical feast day - August 11th
- Celebration of the name of Saint Philomena - August 13th
- Solemn festivities in honor of Saint Philomena - Second Sunday of August
THE SYMBOLS OF HER MARTYRDOM
Saint Philomena's picture shows the symbols of her martyrdom.
The first of the figures would indicate the kind of martyrdom the saint
underwent (and which were all later substantiated reportedly by the saint herself) is an anchor; a symbol
not only of strength and hope, but also of the nature of the martyrdom she underwent. One perhaps such as that to which the
Roman emperor Trajan condemned St. Clement the second Pope, casting him into the sea with an anchor tied to his neck.
The second is an arrow, which, upon the tomb of other martyrs
always signified the torment of being shot with an arrow similar to that by which the emperor Diocletian tried to put to death
the generous Roman soldier, St. Sebastian.
The third is a palm, placed almost in the middle of the stone which is the
sign of a brilliant victory gained over the cruelty of the persecuting judges, and the fury of the executioners.
Underneath is represented a lash, used to scourge criminals,
and which was made of thongs of leather, loaded with lead. With an instrument such as this the body of Christ was scourged
as well as those of the innocent Christians who were often beaten unto death.
After this are two arrows, so arranged that the first points
upward and the other downward. The repetition of this may perhaps mark a repetition of the torments or some kind of miracle
Lastly, a lily appeared, the symbol of innocence and virginity,
which proclaims a two-fold triumph of St Philomena for the early Church who thus invited us to honor her under the traditional
and glorious titles of Martyr and Virgin.
|
