TheFacts of St. Philomena

In spite of much research, little is known of the life of Saint Philomena before the discovery of her celebrated tomb in the Catacombs of Pricilla at Rome. The only information we have about the life of the Saint is derived from the revelation that she herself made to the Servant of God, Sister Maria Luisa of Jesus, her fervent devotee, on August 3, 1833. Speaking to the holy sister while she was in prayer before a statue of her, the Saint recounted in detail all her life.
On this page, we lay out for you the known facts about our dear Saint including some historical perspectives.

May 24, 1802 – A TOMB IS DISCOVERED.

To begin telling the story, let us paint a brief picture of the times. Revolution, war, famine, atheism, persecution had trodden Europe hard during the eighteenth century, and the icy Jansenist heresy had touched and withered the spiritual vigor of Catholics. The only spirit that flourished in such circumstances, it seemed, was the spirit of self-sufficiency. Men were well content to believe in nothing but their own abilities. They talked about the rights of man, meaning the right of any man to think as they did.

In these fierce days of persecution the primitive Christians were obliged to perform the sacred rites of their holy religion in the subterranean caverns (cryptœ) which extend on every side of the Eternal City, but clustered most thickly at the south-east corner, near the Appain way and the Ardeatine Way. These caverns, long believed to have been originally mere sand-pits, arenaria, out of which sand was dug for building purposes, are now proved beyond all doubt to have been constructed at great expense by noble and wealthy Christian families as places of burial. The Catacombs, as they are called, during three consecutive centuries were the places where the faithful had their temples and altars; where they met to pray in common and where the Pontiffs celebrated “The Gathering,” or the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They were in constant use also up to the cessation of persecution, and even to 410 A.D as the last resting-place of the saints and martyrs. In the terrible irruptions of the Goths and Lombards, many of these cemeteries, especially of the Via Salaria, were sacrilegiously plundered of their sacred treasures, and in part destroyed. When happier times ensued – at the commencement of the eighth century and culminating with Pope St. Paschal – all the relics of the Popes and principal martyrs and confessors which had hitherto lain in the Catacombs were removed for greater safety to the churches of Rome. As time went on the Catacombs were abandoned and in great part closed, and the knowledge of them was lost altogether, until they were accidentally re-discovered by some laborer in the year 1578. Even then they seem to have been left unguarded, and permission was given to the faithful to take away whatever relics they chose. But by a special providence of God the sacred tomb of St. Philomena was left unnoticed and undisturbed until it pleased Him in these later days to reveal her glory to the entire world.

However, the story begins quite plainly, though and perhaps a little pathetically. On May 24th, 1802, workers had just returned to the excavations begun earlier in a tufa pit in an underground cemetery dedicated to the family of Priscilla (the ancient Catacomb of Saint Priscilla), underneath the soil on the road that goes out of the Porta Salaria from Rome to Ancona.

Laboring in the darkness, a fossor reached the center of the catacomb not far from the Greek Chapel, and very close to the largest luminaries where he was clearing loose sand which had fallen from one of the galleries on the upper level from a loculus when his pick struck a cemented surface.

Upon closer examination the concrete surface appeared to be some tiles which would normally enclose a loculus and, as previously instructed by Msgr. Ponzetti, Custodian of the Holy Relics, immediately ceased the excavation.

May 25, 1802 – THE TOMB IS REVEALED

Fr. Filippo Ludovici, Vatican overseer of the excavation was informed, and on the following day, May 25, 1802, Fr. Ludovici, accompanied by several observers, descended into the catacomb, and witnessed the full uncovering of the loculus, whereby with the removal of sand, three brick funeral tiles (the tiles were given to the Sanctuary on August 14, 1827 by Pope Leo XII) were revealed which bore an epitaph painted in red lead. Each tile measured approximately 50 cm long and having a total length of 1.74 cm (5 feet 9 inches).


The painted inscription on the three funeral tiles appeared as follows: tile one - LUMENA; tile two – PAXTE; tile three – CUM FI. The loculus was documented by Msgr. Ponzetti, Custodian of the Holy Relics, as bearing “FILUMENA,” an interpretation of the epitaph consistent with both the ancient custom of beginning inscriptions from the second tile and the logical etymological context. The result is a full reading of the epitaph as “PAX TECUM FILUMENA.”

This funereal inscription presents the distinctive characteristics of apostolic times, rarely found in other cemeteries more recent than the Priscilla.

The name of “Filumena” is officially granted to the sacred remains examined on May 25, 1802, as recorded in the document issued by Ponzetti as Custodian of the Sacred Relics which released the remains of this Christian martyr to the Diocese of Nola on June 8, 1805:

8 Iunii 1805
Dono dedi Ven. Ecclesiae Archipresbyterali terrae Mugnano Dioecesis Nolanae corpus Sanctae Christi Martyris

FILUMENAE
Nominis proprii sic picti in tribus Tabulis laterariis cinabro

LUMENA PAXTE CUM FI
in pulverem et in fragmina redactum per me infrascriptum Custodem extractum cum vasculo vitreo fracto ex Coemeterio Priscillae Via Salaria Nova die 25 maii 1802, quod collocavi in capsula lignea charta colorata cooperta et consignavi Illmo Dominico Caesari pro Illmo et Rmo D. Bartholomaeo de Caesare Epo Potentino.

HYACINTHUS PONZETTI, Custos.
In addition to the inscription, so eloquent in its simplicity, the sepulchral tiles exhibited certain symbols, including tokens of martyrdom. There were an anchor, and arrow pointing upwards, a palm, under the palm another anchor, a javelin pointing upwards, another arrow pointing downwards, and a lily.

Students of Christian symbols generally agree on the interpretation of these figures on the tiles. The emblems breathe the language of faith and hope.

In the anchor there is a resemblance to the cross, the sign of faith in Christ. In both Greek and Roman antiquity there is mention of the sacred anchor. The anchor also connotes hope, refuge, and preservation of life. In the legend of the martyred Philomena there is a passage about the Roman emperor’s wrath when than anchor he had fastened to the girl’s neck wedged in the mud of the Tiber River. Other saints, including Pope Clement, suffered martyrdom by having an anchor tied to the neck and being dropped into the sea. Emperor Trajan as well as Diocletian decreed this form of brutality.

The two arrows pointing in opposite directions signify torment similar to that which Diocletian exercised on St. Sebastian.

On the removal of the tiles in the cavity behind, were disclosed the remains of an interment, which competent authority pronounced to be those of a young girl from thirteen to fifteen years of age. The head was small and very much fractured, but the principal bones were entire. Surgeons ascertained the type of wounds inflicted. Physicians examined the skeleton – its small unbroken bones fractured skull, eye sockets. The maiden had been lanced.

At the end of the loculus was a small glass vial or vase with half-broken sides of which were encrusted within with a dust of blackish color indicating blood clinging to glass fragments, and with the lower portion of the vial still intact and firmly embedded in the cement . It was undoubtedly blood which had been collected at the death of the martyr, according to the custom of the Christian during the persecutions, and placed with the remains as a testimonial to her death by martyrdom. As early as 1668 the Congregation of Indulgences and Relics had decided that the genuineness of a true relic of a martyr hinged somewhat on the finding of the vial or vase filled with the martyr’s blood. The same congregation renewed the decision in 1863.

This blood was loosened from the broken pieces of the vial to which it adhered, and was carefully placed in a crystal urn. Those present, among whom were men of great learning of the Court of Inquiry, were startled by a strange chemical reaction as they these little particles of blood, as soon as they fell into the sun, glittered like burnished gold or silver, or shone like diamonds and precious jewels, or, again, were resplendent in all colors of the rainbow. The chemical change of the blood convinced the Church dignitaries that a new star had arisen among the blessed. Cardinal Ruffo Scilla, who renewed the seals on the new reliquary after the blood of the Saint, had been safeguarded in the crystal vial, and deposed in the authentication: “And we have seen her blood changed into several brilliant little precious stones of various colors; also into gold and silver.”

This extraordinary phenomenon continues to the present day.

The precious remains were reverently place in a wooden case, lined with silk and stuffed with fine cotton and transferred to the Custodia Generale, or treasury of sacred relics, where they remained there for three years.

AUGUST 10 1805 – TRANSFER OF THE RELICS TO THE SANCTUARY

The remains of Filumena departed from Rome on July 1, 1805 and arrived at Mugnano on August 10, 1805 where they have remained since the transferal.

In 1805, England was at war with France, because France had been intriguing with Ireland and Scotland, had attempted to invade England and had designs on the Indian Empire. Napoleon, who had been the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army which invaded and conquered Italy, was now Emperor of the French.

That summer, the Bishop-elect of Petenza went to Rome to be consecrated, and also to congratulate the Pope, Pius VII, on his return from France, on behalf of the King of Naples, the Spanish Don Carlos. He took with him as his chaplain, a holy missionary priest who was serving the parish of Mugnano north of Naples, and this priest’s name was Don Francesco De Lucia. Don Francesco, a cultured and pious priest, was born at Mugnano del Cardinale on September 19, 1772. He completed his studies in the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Lucera. Ordained priest on September 19, 1796, he opened in Naples a school of philosophy and literature. He quickly gained the esteem and affection of distinguished Neapolitan people in education circles. Amongst these there was the Venerable Jesuit Servant of God, Guiseppe Maria Pignatelli.

Don Francesco had a heavy heart. His parish was infected with revolutionary ideas, resentment against the authority of the Church, unbelief, immorality. His secret hope was to get the Bishop to use his authority to get him the relics of a martyr – a saint who would come back with him and help him with his parish, which only a saint could convert. He knew exactly what he wanted – a virgin martyr whose name was known.

The Guardian of the Custodia Generale, which Don Francesco soon got permission to visit, was evidently taken by this devout and humble priest, and said he would help him to get what he wanted, and said he telling him to choose among the relics in the Custodia. About the middle of May, Don Francesco was taken to the Treasure House of Relics, which was under the care of a worthy guardian, Monsignor Don Giacinto Ponzetti. There were those of thirteen martyrs, but only the names of three were known – one was a child, one an adult and then there was ‘Filumena.’ He had wanted a virgin martyr from the first, but what was more, when he stood before the case containing Filumena’s relics, he felt filled with spiritual joy, the heaviness of heart gone as though she had instantly taken it from him. This was undoubtedly the helper he wanted! The Guardian promised to arrange for him to have her. Imagine his disappointment, then, when the official reply came that bodies of martyrs whose names were known were so few, that such as were found must be kept for special churches or dioceses.

His sadness returned, redoubled. Rome is not the best place in which to spend the summer – or at least it was not in those days, when the marshes of the Campagna had not been drained. And what with overwork and worry, and the heat, and the disappointment, Don Francesco lost his sleep, his appetite and his health. A friend offered him the relics of another and unnamed martyr to comfort him, but had got it into his head that it was Filumena or nobody who could and would convert his parish. And one night, when he found himself burning with fever and not a breath of cool air to bring him sleep, he promised desperately that if Filumena would make him sleep, he would take her for his patron and bring her to Mugnano by hook or crook. His fever left him; he fell into a refreshing sleep, and woke in the brilliant Roman morning in perfect health.

That decided it. Filumena wanted to come with him as much as he wanted to have her. This time he went to the newly consecrated Bishop, and asked him to use his influence. When the Bishop heard the story, he agreed that the little saint seemed to want to come to Mugnano, and he added his request to Don Francesco’s, with the result that the Bishop could not be refused. The Guardian gladly acted on the permission he received to hand over the relics, saying that he felt sure Filumena wished to go to Mugnano and work miracles there.

Joyfully, the good Bishop and Don Francesco took possession of the precious casket, and determined to bring Filumena to Naples with many prayers and every honor, the casket to be put in front of the Episcopal carriage.

The cortege was due in the little town on Sunday, 10th August, and on the vigil, bells were rung joyously to announce the morrow’s event. At dawn of day a messenger was sent by Don Francesco himself to proclaim that the sacred body was coming. Soon an unusual excitement reigned, and crowds might be seen proceeding from all directions to meet and welcome it. The day was to be noted as a memorable one in the archives of Mugnano. More than forty priests in their richest vestments, the members of the various confraternities and representatives from the neighboring parishes went in procession with banners displayed. The road was strewn with olive branches and exquisite flowers. And then the body of the saint was in sight all the bells were heard “sprinkling air with holy sounds”, choice music added its charms to the rejoicing; bombs and guns mingled their voice of thunder with the imposing concert; groups of young men and young girls united in singing hymns and canticles in their honor. After entering the town the cortege took fully two hours to reach the church of the Madonna del grazie. When it arrived the sacred body was deposited under a triumphal dias near the Gospel side of the high altar, and Solemn High Mass was sung.

Don Francesco Lucia, to give a solid and profound base to the devotion to the saint, founded the Association of the Children of Saint Philomena. He was the first rector of the sanctuary and most vigilant guardian of the holy remains of the saint. He dedicated his priestly life for the glory of God and for souls. After 41 years of untiring apostolate in the propagation of devotion to Saint Filumena in all the Kingdom of the Two Sicilys, acquiring the regard of cardinals and bishops, he rendered his great soul to God on April 9, 1847.

JANUARY 30, 1837 – POPE GREGORY XVI CONFIRMED THE FEAST OF SAINT PHILOMENA ESTABLISHED AS THE 11TH OF AUGUST

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