Saint Philomena (304)

One of the glories of the last century was the discovery in 1802 of the relics of a young girl, a martyr, who had been buried centuries before in the tomb of Saint Priscilla. Her name, inscribed upon her tomb, was Philomena, which means beloved. Her relics worked so many miracles that the cult of her as a saint grew enormously. Her most ardent devotee has been Saint John Marie Vianney, the parish priest of Ars, who died in 1859. Saint Philomena was martyred by the cruel Emperor Diocletian who wanted her to marry him. Saint Philomena, the Catholic virgin, refused. And her blood was shed, after many tortures. Her feast is celebrated on August 10 at Mugnano in Italy, where her body rests.

Saint Philomena

Saint Philomena