Bicentennial Celebration of St. Philomena
A nine-day novena to St. Philomena begins today and ends with her feast day on August 11.
Image courtesy of the Official Website of Sanctuary of St. Philomena
Who is St. Philomena? Here's a brief background.
On May 25, 1802, excavators in the ancient Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome came upon a well-preserved shelf tomb sealed with terr-cotta slabs in the manner usually reserved for nobility or great martyrs. The tomb was marked with three tiles, inscribed with the following confusing words: LUMENA / PAXTE / CUMFI. However, if one places the first tile last and separates the words properly, the very intelligible sentence emerges: Pax tecum, Filumena, which is "Peace be with you, Philomena." Also inscribed on the tiles were symbols: a lily, arrows, an anchor and a lance, which would appear to indicate virginity and martyrdom. Inside the coffin there were discovered the remains of a girl of about twelve or thirteen years of age, along with a vial or ampulla of her dried blood. More on her life here.
From August 7 to September 25, 2005, the holy relics of St. Philomena will be exposed on the main altar for veneration. Pilgrims from around the world will participate in the Bicentenary celebration.
More on Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the translation of the holy relics of Saint Philomena from Rome to Mugnano Del Cardinale.
Image courtesy of the Official Website of Sanctuary of St. Philomena
Who is St. Philomena? Here's a brief background.
On May 25, 1802, excavators in the ancient Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome came upon a well-preserved shelf tomb sealed with terr-cotta slabs in the manner usually reserved for nobility or great martyrs. The tomb was marked with three tiles, inscribed with the following confusing words: LUMENA / PAXTE / CUMFI. However, if one places the first tile last and separates the words properly, the very intelligible sentence emerges: Pax tecum, Filumena, which is "Peace be with you, Philomena." Also inscribed on the tiles were symbols: a lily, arrows, an anchor and a lance, which would appear to indicate virginity and martyrdom. Inside the coffin there were discovered the remains of a girl of about twelve or thirteen years of age, along with a vial or ampulla of her dried blood. More on her life here.
From August 7 to September 25, 2005, the holy relics of St. Philomena will be exposed on the main altar for veneration. Pilgrims from around the world will participate in the Bicentenary celebration.
More on Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the translation of the holy relics of Saint Philomena from Rome to Mugnano Del Cardinale.
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