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ST. PHILOMENA’S WARD

About the patron

St. Philomena, was a Greek princess, born into a Christian family in the 3rd century. She was martyred at a young age, by Diocletian, the Roman Emperor for refusing, to marry him.

She was subjected to cruel torments and was eventually decapitated. Her tomb was discovered in the catacomb of Priscilla in the 19th century. Three tiles enclosing the tomb had the inscription, Pax Tecum Filumena ("Peace be unto you, Philomena"). The remains were later moved to Mugnano del Cardinale, in 1805 and were placed in the Church of Our Lady of Grace. Several miracles were credited to the saint's intercession and St. Philomena has been venerated by many great saints and popes throughout history, including Pope St. Pius X, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. John Vianney, and Venerable Pauline Jaricot.

Pope Leo XII gave permission for the erection of churches in her honor. Pope Gregory XVI authorized her public veneration and gave her the title of Patroness of the Living Rosary, and declared her to be the “Great Wonder-Worker of the nineteenth century”. In 1849, Pope Pius IX named her Patroness of the Children of Mary. Pope Leo XIII approved the Confraternity of Saint Philomena and raised it to an Archconfraternity. Pope Saint Pius X raised the Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena to a Universal Archconfraternity and named St. John Vianney its Patron. Saint Philomena is the patron saint of infants, babies, and youth.

The feast day of Saint Philomena is celebrated on 11th August.

Prayer

We beseech Thee, Oh Lord, to grant us the pardon of our sins by the intercession of Saint, virgin and martyr, who was always pleasing in Thy sight by her eminent chastity and by the profession of every virtue. Amen.

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