Happy Feast Day! August 11 is the feast day of Saint Philomena, a young virgin martyr whose story continues to inspire and move the hearts of the faithful around the world.
Though little is known historically, her life was revealed through private revelation and confirmed by the fruits of devotion to her. In the early 1800s, her remains were discovered in the catacombs of Saint Priscilla in Rome. On the tiles of her tomb were symbols that indicated her martyrdom and virginity—an anchor, a palm, and a lily.
What truly sparked the Church’s devotion was what followed. Miracles. Many of them. Saint John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, famously attributed nearly all of his miracles to Saint Philomena’s intercession. He called her the “wonder-worker of the 19th century.”
In our home, she’s been just that. I shared a story in an earlier blog post about how I asked her intercession when our family was in a financial struggle. We needed $500 to cover an unexpected bill. I began a novena to her. A few days later, someone entered my name into a raffle at work without me knowing. I won—exactly $500. Coincidence? I don’t believe in those when it comes to saints. That was Philomena.
How to Grow in Devotion to Her
One of the beautiful things about Saint Philomena is how simple yet powerful her devotion can be. Here are a few traditional ways:
- The Chaplet of Saint Philomena: A powerful way to call on her intercession. It’s simple to learn and can be prayed in just a few minutes.
- The Cord of Saint Philomena: Worn as a sacramental, it reminds us of her purity and strength in resisting temptation. It’s also a sign of trust in her powerful help.
- Oil of Saint Philomena: Blessed oil used in faith for physical and spiritual healing through her intercession.
Each year from August 2–10, we pray a family novena to her leading up to her feast day. On August 11, we take a trip to her shrine as a family. We’ve done this for over 15 years now. Her presence has been a thread of grace through our family’s story.
Invite Her into Your Life
If you’ve never prayed to Saint Philomena, start now. She’s especially powerful for young people, for those struggling with purity, for those in need of a miracle, or anyone feeling lost in this noisy world.
Start small. Pray her novena. Get her chaplet. Wear her cord. Tell her what you need and then trust.
She’s a mighty little saint who shows up.
