St. Philomena’s was a young consecrated virgin whose story remained unknown until her remains were discovered in 1802 in the catacombs of St. Priscilla in Rome.  Three tiles enclosing her tomb bore an inscription, Pax Tecum Filumena (i.e. “Peace be unto you, Philomena”). Along with this inscription were the symbols of a lily, two anchors, and three arrows, indications of both virginity and martyrdom.

In 1805, her relics were transferred from Rome to a chapel in the village of Mugnano de Cardinale, Italy and soon after various “favors, graces and even miracles” started occurring, including “cures of cancer and healing of wounds”. Venerable Pauline-Marie Jaricot, foundress of the Association of the Living Rosary, was miraculously cured of a severe heart ailment in 1835 at St. Philomena’s shrine in Mungano. Soon afterwards, in 1837 Pope Gregory XVI, authorized public veneration of St. Philomena and canonized her. She became the only person the Church recognized as a saint solely on the basis of her intercessory miracles and she is often times called the Wonder Worker.

Pauline Jaricot was so impressed with her cure that she brought a relic of St. Philomena to her friend the famous Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney. He enshrined it in an altar in his church, which led to numerous miracles, conversions, and cures for those invoking St. Philomena’s assistance. He himself was blessed with mystical gifts, most famously, with the ability to read souls, much like another famous confessor, St. Padre Pio. Jean-Marie Vianney nonetheless gave the credit for many miracles attributed to him to St. Philomena and handed out many Cords of St Philomena to help others become devoted to her. Other Saints who were devoted to her included St. Peter Julian Eymard, St. Damien de Vesteur, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini and St. John Nepomucene Neumann.

In 1833, a Neapolitan nun reported that Philomena had appeared in a vision to her, and the Saint had revealed that she was a Greek princess, martyred at 13 years of age by Diocletian, who was Roman Emperor from 284 to 305. According to Sister Maria Luisa di Gesù, Saint Philomena told her she was the daughter of a king in Greece who, with his wife, had converted to Christianity. At the age of about 13, she took a vow of consecrated virginity. When the Emperor Diocletian threatened to make war on her father, her father went with his family to Rome to ask for peace. The Emperor “fell in love” with the young St. Philomena and, when she refused to be his wife, subjected her to a series of torments: scourging, from whose effects two angels cured her; drowning with an anchor attached to her (two angels cut the rope and raised her to the river bank); being shot with arrows, (on the first occasion her wounds were healed; on the second, the arrows turned aside; and on the third, they returned and killed six of the archers, after which, several of the others became Christians). Finally the Emperor had her decapitated. The story goes that the decapitation occurred on a Friday at three in the afternoon, as with the death of Jesus. Two other people, unknown to each other and living far apart, had what was apparently the same revelation made to them about Philomena’s life.

In the Neapolitan nun’s account, Saint Philomena also revealed that her birthday was January 10, that her martyrdom occurred on August 10 (the date also of the arrival of her relics in Mugnano del Cardinale), but the church celebrates her feast on Aug 11. The name “Filumena” means “daughter of light” and it is usually taken to be derived from a Greek word meaning “beloved”.

Learn more about this young Saint by watching this short video

Mary lived in the town of Magdala. This small town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee was a place where Jesus spent much of his time preaching. This is probably where Mary first came to know Jesus. Some people believe and St. Gregory the Great claimed, that she was the woman who entered Simon the Pharisee’s house. She’s the woman that wept and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with her hair and then poured perfume on His feet. The Gospels tell us that Jesus released seven demons from Mary. We are not sure what the evils were, but over the centuries people have guessed that she was an immoral woman. The Vatican has said this is not so, and many scholars believe that the reference means she was cured of illness by Jesus. Some people were surprised that Jesus let such a sinner touch him. Our Lord who could see into Mary’s heart said, “Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved much.” Then to Mary He said kindly, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” St. Mary Magdalene was a sinner, yet Jesus forgave her. He could see that she loved much. From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly served Jesus and His apostles.

Mary stayed with the Blessed Mother, some other women, and St. John at the foot of the Cross until Jesus died. She would not leave her Friend in the terrible last moments of His earthly life. After Jesus’ body had been placed in the tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning, because there had been no time when He was buried. She was shocked when she saw that the tomb was empty. Not finding the Sacred Body, she stood outside the tomb and began to weep. Suddenly she saw someone she thought was the gardener. She asked him if he knew where the body of her beloved Master had been taken. Touched by her deep sorrow, the man spoke in a voice filled with love that she knew so well: “Mary!” It was Jesus, standing right there in front of her. He was risen from the dead. And He had chosen to  reveal himself first to her. The Gospels tell us that Mary was sent by Jesus himself to announce the Good News of the resurrection to Peter and the apostles.

We do not know where Mary went after Jesus ascended into heaven. Some say that she went with St. John to Ephesus. Others say she went to southern France where she lived alone in a cave and prayed. No matter where she ended up, Mary is still a model for us today as one of Jesus’ first and most loyal disciples. St Mary is called the “apostle to the  apostles”.

This is a great overview of Mary’s life and gives you more details about the end of her life.

Saint Florian!

St. Florian was born around 250 A.D. and was secretly a Christian in a time when the Roman emperors were   trying to eliminate Christianity throughout their realm. He was also a commander in the Roman army serving   under the Emperor Diocletian in present-day Austria. Among his duties was the organization of firefighting brigades. Saint Florian is once said to have saved a town from burning by saying a prayer and then throwing a single bucket or pitcher of water on the blaze. Despite being a firefighter, Florian and his guards were     ordered to burn Christian churches, books, and homes of Christians. Florian refused, and a high-ranking    official, Aquilius, was dispatched to investigate. When Aquilius investigated his refusal to execute Christians, Florian stated, “Tell the Emperor that I am a Christian and will suffer the same fate as the Christians.”    Aquilius then offered him a raise and promotion if he would change his mind, which Florian refused, outraging Aquilius. Florian was initially whipped, as pressure to renounce his faith and offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. He told Aquilius that he had “suffered many wounds for the Emperor” and therefore, why should he “fear a few scratches for his own beliefs?” His courage scared Aquilius, who feared that Florian would lead others to rebel and convert to Christianity.

Word reached the Emperor that he was not enforcing the ban against Christianity in his territory, and under  investigation he was found to be a Christian. The popular method of disposing of Christians in that day was to burn them to death, and it was suggested that Florian suffer the same fate. He, however, stated his intention to “climb to Heaven on the flames” of the funeral pyre being prepared for him. The soldiers decided at that point to dispose of him another way so he was tortured, then a large stone was tied around his neck and he was thrown into the Ennis River to drown. He was martyred around the year 304 A.D.

A faithful lady recovered and buried his body, which was later moved to the Augustinian Abbey of St. Florian, near current-day Linz, Austria. In 1138 some of St. Florian’s relics were given to King Casimir of Poland and the Bishop of Cracow. Since his relics arrived in Poland, he has been regarded as the patron saint of that country. Numerous miraculous occurrences have been reported both in the presence of his relics, and at the confluence of the Enns and Danube Rivers, where his martyrdom occurred.

Because of his association with fire, St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters and chimney sweeps and has been invoked for protection from both fire and water. St. Florian…pray for us!

We celebrate Pentecost on May 20th. Here is a short little video about the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. May we call on the Holy Spirit every day so that we have the courage and wisdom to say YES LORD!