Very little is known about this young saint’s life. Born on January 10th and it is believed that she was a Greek Princess. All we know about Philomena is from the visions of Sr. Maria Luisa Di Gesu.
At the age of 13, Philomena took a vow of consecrated chastity. Soon after her father took her to Rome where Emperor Diocletian fell in love with her. When she refused his hand in marriage it resulted in her torture. The story goes that she was scourged, drowned with an anchor and shot with arrows but each time she was saved by the angels. Finally the Emperor had her decapitated resulting in her martyrdom.
The Devotion to the young saint grew greatly in number after her body was exhumed and miracles started being attributed to her. Even St. John Vianney had a devotion to Philomena.
She is celebrated on her feast day of August 11th and is the patron saint of Infants, Babies and the youth.
A Prayer to St. Philomena:
We beseech Thee, O Lord,
to grant us the pardon of our sins
by the intercession of Saint Philomena,
virgin and martyr, who was always pleasing
in Thy sight by her eminent chastity
and by the profession of every virtue.
Amen.
