I don’t think I had ever heard of St. Philomena before the days of April 7, 2016. That is when our daughter London was admitted into the PICU and we frantically began searching for the right patron saint to pray for her intercession. We quickly came across St. Philomena, patron saint of infants, babies and youth and began to pray fervently. Family members across the country visited churches of St. Philomena in Peoria, Chicago and New Jersey to light candles. Near the very end of London’s life, I swear I felt a holy, calming presence that I resolved to be St. Philomena. However, after returning home without my baby, I felt abandoned by St. Philomena, or worse, duped by her mere existence.
Oftentimes I have been told to pay attention when you open a book of faith, that your focus will be directed intentionally. As I have been reading my grandmother’s Dictionary of Saints, I keep finding myself opening to the page of St. Philomena. Also, when scanning the “saints” section in my Hallow App my eyes seem to always locate the St. Philomena tab, or names associated with her such as John Vianney and Padre Pio. Therefore, I have been motivated to further investigate this topic.
If you begin researching St. Philomena online, you will find varying information. She is a topic of controversy and was removed from the calendar of the saints in 1961. Her story makes some bold claims including survival of three assassination attempts that were curtailed by angels before her ultimate beheading. The bare minimum that seems to be agreed upon is the following. In 1802, the bones of a teenage girl were found under tiles that read, “Peace be with you, Philomena,” along with a symbol of a palm and a vial of dried blood (both symbolizing martyrdom). Once her bones were exhumed miracles began happening and her final resting place is the Shrine at Our Lady of Grace Church in Mugnano, Italy.
The interesting thing is that although there have been countless miracles associated with Philomena as well as revelations detailing her life to multiple holy people, there really is no concrete evidence of her earthly life. Lack of proof is hard for people, myself included, which is why I have spent the day fact-checking Philomena and trying to find proof. The story goes that Mary said to John Vianney in a vision, “To Philomena, nothing is refused.” I’m not going to lie, this makes me rather salty, because 7 years ago, I would claim that I was refused. Although I now feel a sort of kinship with Philomena on premise of never getting to tell her story. This seems to parallel the lives of babies taken too soon who never had the opportunity to live out their earthly lives and therefore tell their story. Maybe THAT is what she needs to be the patron saint of.
After spending the day wondering about the authenticity of her various life details, I’m left to the conclusion that, maybe we were meant to wonder for a purpose. Maybe her mystery is what makes her so popular. If millions of people worldwide have prayed to Philomena and found refuge, then that’s proof enough for me. In fact, mystery is fitting for Philomena, as she is the protectress of the living rosary (which contains 20 mysteries). On that note, let me go find 19 other women and get my own living rosary group going!