It is said that Saint Philomena revealed her story to three people who did not know one another and who resided in different parts of the world. These private revelations unveiled the story of Saint Philomena’s life in great detail and were amazingly identical accounts.
“Filomena” [Ital.] “Philomène” [Fr.] “Philomena” [Eng.]
One of the most well-known recipients of this revelation was the Foundress of the Oblates of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother Maria Luisa di Gesù, a Dominican Tertiary.
On August 3, 1833, after having received the Eucharist, the nun Maria was praying before Saint Philomena’s statue and at that moment felt a strong desire to know the true date of the Saint’s martyrdom. August 10 was the day St. Philomena’s relics had arrived in Mugnano, Italy. This date was significant to the people of Mugnano, but not to those who lived elsewhere. As Maria contemplated this, she closed her eyes and suddenly a gracious and gentle voice came from the direction of the statue, saying:
“Dear Sister, August the tenth was the day of my rest, my triumph, my birth into Heaven, my entering into the possession of such eternal goods as the human mind cannot possibly imagine. That is why my Heavenly Spouse disposed, by His most high decrees that my coming to Mugnano should be on the day which had seen my coming to Heaven! He prepared so many circumstances which should make my arrival at Mugnano glorious and triumphant; giving joy to all the people, even though the priest who brought me had absolutely decided that my translation should take place on the fifth of the month very quietly in his own house. My omnipotent Spouse impeded him with so many obstacles that the priest, although he did all he could to carry out his plan, could not do so. And so, it came about that the said translation was made on the tenth, the day of my feast in Heaven.”
Mother Maria was overwhelmed by this and thought she had fallen as prey to this illusion. She took refuge in the Sacrament of Penance, confessing the whole event to her spiritual director. He was not so hasty in disposing of the matter. He proceeded to write to Don Francesco de Lucia Link Out in Mugnano and inquired about the truth of whether or not he originally intended to have the translation on August 5. Don Francesco’s reply confirmed that he indeed encountered many obstacles which detained him from carrying out his plan to arrive in Mugnano on the fifth.
At that, Mother Luisa’s director granted her obedience to ask St. Philomena other details of her life and martyrdom. Again, Mother Luisa went to the Saint and begged her not to take any notice of her unworthiness, but to consider that it was a matter of holy obedience, and to reveal more about her life. After that time, there came a day when Maria was alone in her cell and felt her eyes being closed. She heard the gracious voice of St. Philomena. The following account of the life of Saint Philomena is taken from the official account of Fr. Di Lucia’s Relazione Istorici di Santa Filomena and subsequent annals from locutions received by Sr. Luisa di Gesu in August of 1833. These revelations received approval by the Holy Office, (presently the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) on December 21, 1833.
“My dear Sister, I am the daughter of a Prince who governed a small state in Greece. My mother is also of royal blood. My parents were without children. They were idolaters. They continually offered sacrifices and prayers to their false gods.
A doctor from Rome named Publius lived in the palace in the service of my father. This doctor professed Christianity. Seeing the affliction of my parents, by the impulse of the Holy Ghost, he spoke to them of Christianity, and promised to pray for them if they consented to receive Baptism. The grace which accompanied his words enlightened their understanding and triumphed over their will. They became Christians and obtained the long-desired happiness that Publius had assured them as the reward of their conversion. At the moment of my birth, they gave me the name of “Lumena,” an allusion to the light of Faith of which I had been, as it were, the fruit. The day of my Baptism they called me “Filumena,” or “Daughter of Light,” because on that day I was born to the Faith. The affection which my parents bore me was so great that they had me always with them. It was on this account that they took me to Rome on a journey that my father was obliged to make on the occasion of an unjust war with which he was threatened by the haughty Diocletian. I was then thirteen years old. On our arrival in the capital of the world, we proceeded to the palace of the Emperor and were admitted for an audience. As soon as Diocletian saw me, his eyes were fixed upon me. He appeared to be pre-possessed in this manner during the entire time that my father was stating with animated feelings everything that could serve for his defense.
As soon as Father had ceased to speak, the Emperor desired him to be disturbed no longer, to banish all fear, to think only of living in happiness. These are the emperor’s words, ‘I shall place at your disposal all the force of the Empire. I ask only one thing, which is the hand of your daughter.’ My father, dazzled with an honor he was far from expecting, willingly acceded on the spot to the proposal of the Emperor.
When we returned to our own dwelling, Father and Mother did all they could to induce me to yield to Diocletian’s wishes and theirs. I cried, ‘Do you wish, that for the love of a man, I should break the promise I have made to Jesus Christ? My virginity belongs to him. I can no longer dispose of it.’
‘But you were young then, too young,’ answered my father, ‘to have formed such an engagement.’ He joined the most terrible threats to the command that he gave me to accept the hand of Diocletian. The grace of my God rendered me invincible, and my father, not being able to make the Emperor relent, in order to disengage himself from the promise he had given, was obliged by Diocletian to bring me to the Imperial Chamber.
I had to withstand for some time beforehand a new attack from my father’s anger. My mother, uniting her efforts to his, endeavored to conquer my resolution. Caresses, threats, everything was employed touce me to compliance. At last, I saw both of my parents fall at my knees and say to me with tears in their eyes, ‘My child have pity on your father, your mother, your country, our country, our subjects.’
‘No! No,’ I answered them. ‘My virginity, which I have vowed to God, comes before everything, before you, before my country. My kingdom is heaven.’
My words plunged them into despair, and they brought me before the Emperor, who on his part did all in his power to win me. But his promises, his allurements, his threats, were equally useless. He then flew into a violent fit of anger and, influenced by the Devil, had me cast into one of the prisons of the palace, where he had me loaded with chains. Thinking that pain and shame would weaken the courage with which my Divine Spouse inspired me, he came to see me every day. After several days, the Emperor issued an order for my chains to be loosed, that I might take a small portion of bread and water. He renewed his attacks, some of which would have been fatal to purity had it not been for the grace of God.
The defeats which he always experienced were for me the preludes to new tortures. Prayer supported me. I did not cease to recommend myself to Jesus and his most pure Mother. My captivity had lasted thirty-seven days, when, in the midst of a heavenly light, I saw Mary holding the Divine Son in her arms.
‘My daughter,’ she said to me, ‘three days more of prison and after forty days you shall leave this state of pain.’
Such happy news made my heart beat with joy, but as the Queen of Angels had added that I should quit my prison, to sustain, in frightful torments a combat far more terrible than those preceding, I fell instantly from joy to the most cruel anguish; I thought it would kill me.
‘Have courage, my child,’ Mary then said to me; ‘are you unaware of the love of predilection that I bear for you? The name, which you received in baptism, is the pledge of it for the resemblance which it has to that of my Son and to mine. You are called Lumena, as your Spouse is called Light, Star, Sun, as I myself am called Aurora, Star, the Moon in the fullness of its brightness, and Sun. Fear not, I will aid you. Now nature, whose weakness humbles you, asserts its law. In the moment of combat, grace will come to lend you its force, and your Angel, who was also mine, Gabriel, whose name expresses strength, will come to your aid. I will recommend you especially to his care, as the well beloved among my children.’
Honoring Saint Philomena we proclaim the power of God in the strength of His Martyrs, and His Infinite Goodness in the favors He concedes to the prayers of His Saints. This was the theology of the Holy CurÉ of Ars, and this will be ours also.
These words of the Queen of virgins gave me courage again, and the vision disappeared, leaving my prison filled with a celestial perfume. I experienced a joy out of this world. Something indefinable.
What the Queen of Angels had prepared me for was soon experienced. Diocletian, despairing of bending me, decided on public chastisement to offend my virtue. He condemned me to be stripped and scourged like the Spouse I preferred to him. These are his horrifying words.
‘Since she is not ashamed to prefer to an Emperor like me, a malefactor condemned to an infamous death by his own people, she deserves that my justice shall treat her as he was treated.’
The prison guards hesitated to unclothe me entirely, but they did tie me to a column in the presence of the great men of the court. They lashed me with violence until I was bathed in blood. My whole body felt like one open wound, but I did not faint.
The tyrant had me dragged back to the dungeon, expecting me to die. I hoped to join my heavenly Spouse. Two angels, shining with light, appeared to me in the darkness. They poured a soothing balm on my wounds, bestowing on me a vigor I did not have before the torture.
When the Emperor was informed by the change that had come over me, he had me brought before him. He viewed me with a greedy desire and tried to persuade me that I owed my healing and regained vigor to Jupiter, another god that he, the Emperor, had sent to me. He attempted to impress me with his belief that Jupiter desired me to be Empress of Rome. Joining to these seductive words promises of great honor, including the most flattering words, Diocletian tried to caress me. Fiendishly, he attempted to complete the work of Hell which he had begun. The Divine Spirit to whom I am indebted for constancy in preserving my purity seemed to fill me with light and knowledge and to all the proofs which I gave of the solidity of our Faith, neither Diocletian nor his courtiers could find an answer.
Then, the frenzied Emperor dashed at me, commanding a guard to chain an anchor around my neck and bury me deep in the waters of the Tiber. The order was executed. I was cast into the water, but God sent me two angels who unfastened the anchor. It fell into the river mud, where it remains no doubt to the present time. The angels transported me gently in full view of the multitude upon the riverbank. I came back unharmed, not even wet, after being plunged with the heavy anchor.
When a cry of joy rose from the debauchers on the shore, and so many embraced Christianity by proclaiming their belief in my God, Diocletian attributed my preservation to secret magic. Then the Emperor had me dragged through the streets of Rome and shot with a shower of arrows. My blood flowed, but I did not faint. Diocletian thought that I was dying and commanded the guards to carry me back to the dungeon. Heaven honored me with a new favor there. I fell into a sweet sleep, and I found myself, on awaking, perfectly cured.
Diocletian learned about it. ‘Well, then,’ he cried in a fit of rage, ‘let her be pierced with sharp darts a second time and let her die in that torture.’ They hastened to obey him. Again, the archers bent their bows. They gathered all their strength, but the arrows refused to second their intentions. The Emperor was present. In a rage, he called me a magician and thinking that the action of fire could destroy the enchantment, ordered the darts to be made in a furnace and directed against my heart. He was obeyed, but these darts, after having passed through a part of the space which they were to cross to come to me, took a quite contrary direction and returned to strike those by whom they had been hurled. Six of the archers were killed by them. Several among them renounced paganism, and the people began to render public testimony to the power of God that protected me.
These murmurs and acclamations infuriated the tyrant. He determined to hasten my death by ordering my head to be cut off. My soul took flight towards my heavenly Spouse, who placed me, with the crown of virginity and the palm of martyrdom, in a distinguished place among the elect. The day that was so happy for me and saw me enter into glory was Friday, the third hour after mid-day, the same hour that saw my Divine Master expire.”
What is noteworthy from a historical perspective is not only that this revelation was confirmed by two other individuals unknown to each other (one a priest, the other a historian), but these other historical facts: 1) The Third Century Roman Emperor was known for executing Christians by the use of arrows, exemplified by St. Sebastian; 2) The Third Century Roman Emperor was also known for killing Christians by tying anchors around their necks and throwing them into the water; 3) The reference to “Lumena” — the name given to her at birth, “Light” — and then at Baptism, “Fi Lumena,” “Daughter of Light,” may explain the arrangement of the tiles found at the grave as “Lumena,” her first given name, was on the first tile.
The Pious “Vision” of the Servant of God Sister Mary Luise of Jesus on the Life of Saint Philomena. (Taken from the first edition of the book “Saint Philomena a Testimony to Christ” by Monsignor Giovanni Braschi, President of the Universal Archconfraternity and custodian of the sacred body may he rest in peace)
1.Introduction
When you love someone, you wish to know everything about them. They seek to know their origins, their family and social context, their life, and work, and also how they died. We often find little information about the early Martyrs except the knowledge that they gave themselves completely to the Faith, even sacrificing their lives for it. We can learn about their martyrdom based on the symbols found on their tombs, however this usually tells us little or nothing about their lives. On Saint Philomena’s tomb, there was found not only the image of a palm of Martyrdom, but also other symbols including the arrows , the anchor, and a flower, which is perhaps a lily.
Because of the little information provided, an image was constructed which in general includes the following aspects:
A – Prodigious birth. With regards to Philomena, her mother was sterile and so her birth came about because of God’s intervention, in the same way as in the lives of other Prophets and Saints.
B – Total commitment to the Faith, to consecrate oneself to Christ as his spouse. Philomena, we learn, adamantly refuses the proposal of the Emperor Diocletian (284-305) to become his wife because she had already chosen to be the bride of Christ ( a flower painted on her tomb, was interpreted to be a lily, the symbol of purity and martyrdom)
C – Martyrdom for Christ and how it was carried out. Based on the symbols of her tomb, her martyrdom is thought to have happened by decapitation after failed efforts of using arrows and drowning. The symbols found on a tomb are an extremely important source of information. According to Sister Mary Louise of Jesus in the vision she had of Saint Philomena in her sleep, the following is stated:
- The birth of Saint Philomena is a great gift of God for humanity.
- Philomena had dedicated her life completely to Christ.
- She shed her blood for love of him.
The rest of the story is an edifying homage to the image of the Saint. An intelligent person can interpret the hidden message of legends without being shocked or offended. Thus, we must attend to the “pious revelation” given to Sister Maria Luisa
2. The pious vision of Sister Mary Louise of Jesus
We here narrate the story of the “vision” of Sister Mary Louis of Jesus (image 34) who reports what Saint Philomena told her in her sleep about her life and martyrdom:
<<My dear sister, I am the daughter of a Grecian King, and my mother was of royal blood too. However, they did not have children therefore they prayed much and offered gifts to their false gods. There lived with our family a Roman doctor, whose name was Publius, who is now Saint in Heaven, though not a martyr. Touched by their desperation and grieved by the infertility of my poor mother, inspired by the Holy Ghost, he spoke to them of our Faith, and assured them that they would have children if they received holy Baptism.
Fig.34 – The mystic Sister Mary Louise of Jesus was a great devotee of Saint Philomena. As requested by her spiritual director, she wrote the “Story of Philomena” who appeared to her in sleep. These are absorbing and dramatic pages full of heroism and spirituality, to which, however, no historical value can be attributed. The narration is, however, important. On the 21st of December, 1833, The Holy Office granted the imprimatur to the “ Revelations” , authorizing the work to be published.
His words were followed by the grace of God which enlightened their minds and melted their hearts. They embraced Christianity and soon after, my mother gave birth to me on the 10th of January. I was named Lumena, because I was conceived and born in the Light of Faith, to which my parents had become greatly devoted. At my Baptism I was named Philomena, which means daughter of light, which describes the grace which enlightened my soul. Grace was also showered on those who wrote my book in Mugnano –also my sepulchral monument – they were not aware that in reality they were guided by God’s Grace which inspired their minds like the ones who originally wrote on my tomb in Rome.
In fact, the author of the history of the translation of the body of Saint Philomena states to have written on the epitaph just what came to his mind in that moment, without having the opportunity to consult books or educated people of the time as all the editions of that work were unavailable in his home and country.
Now, let us go back to the story as the Saint told it to me:
“My parents always showed me great affection and tenderness, especially my father who could not be apart from me for even an hour, and for this reason he took me with him to Rome when I was just thirteen . He had to speak to the powerful and proud Emperor Diocletian about an unjust declaration of war. My poor father, aware of the insufficient size of his army, asked for a hearing with Diocletian to discuss peace between the reigns. I went with him and also my mother. During the meeting, while my father tried to make the emperor see how unjust the war declaration was, the emperor, Diocletian kept staring at me and then he said:<< “do not trouble yourself anymore; all your distress is over; you shall have the power of the whole empire to protect you, as long as you give your consent and let me have your daughter as my spouse”.
My poor parents agreed, and once home they tried to convince me about my greatness, my destiny to be one day a Roman Empress. I refused the offer at once, explaining that I was bound to Jesus Christ our Lord by a vow of chastity from the age of eleven. But my father reminded me that I was his daughter and so I did not have any control over my destiny. Therefore, with disdain he threatened me to accept the marriage proposal, but with great strength given to me by my spouse I refused emphatically.
My father was distressed by my resolve which the emperor believed to be a pretext for breaking the good faith agreement with him and thereby deceiving him. In order to secure the truth, he asked my father to bring Princess Philomena so that he might attempt to persuade me. My father came home to take me to the emperor; he tried to induce me to accept this marriage, first coaxing me and then threatening me, but when he realized that my decision was irreversible, he fell down on his knees, together with my mother, and pleaded: “Daughter, have mercy on your parents; have mercy on your country and Kingdom”; and I answered: “God and my virginity are more important to me. My Kingdom, and my Home is heaven!”.
However, my father had to accept the emperor’s demand. The emperor initially treated me with respect and affection and offered promises, but to no avail. Then he began to threaten me, but again without obtaining anything. Then in a moment of fury and anger he ordered that I be locked in the jail in the cellar of the palace. Here I was chained – by my hands and feet – to persuade me to marry him. This marriage was desperately desired by him through the influence of the infernal enemy who governed the cruel and lustful heart of the emperor. Every twenty-four hours he would come and torment me with his requests. He would bring me bread and water, at times he would perform immodest acts in an attempt to inflame me with lustful thoughts, but my Divine Spouse would be my strength.
I continually entrusted myself to Jesus and his Holy Mother. After thirty seven days, the Queen of Heaven surrounded by dazzling light, and holding her son in her arms appeared to me and said: “My child you will bear this imprisonment only another three days, and after forty days you will be free from this horrible place”. At these words my heart became full of joy, but then she said: “you will be exposed to terrible tortures for my Son”. At this news I trembled, I envisioned myself being tortured to death, but the Queen of Heaven exhorted me by saying: “My beloved child, your name is Lumena like my name and that of my son, your spouse, Who bears the name of light, star and sun; my name also is Aurora, Star, Moon and Sun: I will stand by you .
This is a difficult time where human weakness humbles you: but then you will receive strength from Grace, which will support you. And you will have besides your guardian Angel, also the Archangel Gabriel, whose name signifies strength. He was my guardian on earth, and I will send him to support you, my dearest child.” After hearing those words, I regained my courage, the vision disappeared, leaving in the prison permeated with a perfume which greatly consoled me.
Finally, defeated by his failed attempts to persuade me to betray my vow of virginity, Diocletian had me tied naked to a pillar in front of knights and soldiers whom he ordered to torture me. He said: “As she obstinately refuses an Emperor, in place of a criminal condemned by his own people, she deserves to be treated like him, according to my justice”.
When the tyrant saw me standing firmly by my faith, despite the fact that my body covered in blood and open wounds and presumed that only a few hours were left before I died, he ordered I be taken back to the prison to die. I was dragged back there again. As I was waiting for the moment when I would rest with my spouse, two Angels full of light appeared and with heavenly balm, cured my wounds.
The following morning, the emperor was stunned to see me more beautiful and healthier than ever in his presence. Hence, he wanted me to believe that this had taken place because of Jupiter’s will, who wished to see me above all as a Roman Empress. Despite his sweetness and his caresses, which were no doubt guided by the Evil spirit, I reassured him of my faith, illuminated by the Holy Ghost, who accompanied me in my battle. Then he became as furious as a lion and ordered an anchor to be tied around my neck and that I be thrown into the waters of the Tiber River, and left there to die, so that my body and my memory would be lost forever. At that moment Jesus showed his supremacy by sending two beautiful Angels, to cut the rope, and the anchor fell to the bottom of the river, where it remains today covered mud. I was carried on the Angels’ wings to the shore, looking glorious and healthy, without having been touched by water. Many of the people who witnessed what had happened came to embrace the Faith in Christ.
Desperately the tyrant declared that this was all through magic and had me dragged along the streets of Rome and then commanded that my body be pierced with arrows. When he saw me wounded by the arrows, covered in blood, nearly dying, he threw me back in prison, to die without comfort. But God granted me a peaceful sleep and when I awoke, I found myself healthier and more beautiful and ever. When the emperor heard about this, he unleashed his cruel anger and ordered that the same torture be repeated, using the sharpest arrows available, until I died. Once again, God the Almighty showed his Almighty power as the arrows refused to leave their bows, meanwhile the tyrant denounced me, accusing me of being a witch.
He ordered that the arrows be heated in a fiery furnace, believing that fire would destroy what he perceived as my “magic.” But once again my Divine Spouse delivered me from this tribulation, as the arrows, when they were fired, redirected themselves against the archers and six of them were killed. Witnessing this miracle, more people embraced the Christian Faith.
Finally, fearing the worst, Diocletian ordered that I be beheaded. My soul rose triumphant and glorious toward Heaven to receive from my Spouse the crown of Martyrdom, for which I suffered so many torments. This day which was so fortunate for me was the 10th of August. It was for this reason, expressing the glorious approval of heaven, that the Almighty arranged for my body to be transferred to Mugnano on the 10th of August. (fig 35).
This very detailed narration of this heavenly revelation has great importance even though there are no historical records to support these facts. It is worthy to be handed on and shared, which is what we also hope to do in writing this book.
Fig 35– The martyrdom of Saint Philomena according to Sister Mary Louise of Jesus vision. Her “Revelations” contain real and enthralling spirituality.