Friends are angels

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Friends are angels

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Rich

2018-08-11 06:42:56 UTC

Friends are angels
And jewels
Valuable
Precious
Special
A gem
Cherish them

==============
August 11: Saint Philomena
(died 304)

Saint Philomena child Martyr of the Church, and patron saint of
babies, infants, and youth. Little is known about the life of Saint
Philomena, and that which is known was made known through private
revelation to holy men and women. The Church, however, has recognized
her sanctity and authorized devotion to this pious girl, and many
saints and martyrs have been especially devoted to her throughout
Church history. Saint John Vianney himself called Philomena the New
Light of the Church Militant, and had a strong and well-known devotion
to her. Others with known devotion to her include Saint Anthony Mary
Claret, Saint Euphrasia Pelletier, Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, Saint
John Nepomucene Neumann, Saint Madeline Sophie Barat, Saint Peter
Chanel, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, and
Venerable Pauline Jaricot.

Saint Philomena's history has been revealed by the Saint herself to
three persons. These revelations were made known in answer to the
prayers of these three individuals, who had asked the Saint to let
them know who she was, and how she met her martyrdom. From their
mystical encounters with Saint Philomena, we have learned that she was
the daughter of a king of a small state in Greece. Her parents,
practicing pagans, desperately wished to conceive a child, but were
unable to do so. Following many sacrifices and prayers to the pagan
gods, their doctor-- a Christian man--persuaded them to embrace
Christianity, promising their prayers would be answered. This they
did, and following their baptisms, conceived and bore a daughter who
they named “Philomena”--daughter of light.

Philomena was chaste and pious from birth, making her First Communion
at five, and consecrating herself in virginity to the Lord at eleven.
A beautiful girl, she was a model of Christian virtue, inspiring all
she encountered with her love and charity. When Philomena had reached
her 13th year, the Roman Emperor Diocletian threatened to declare an
unjust war on the Grecian state in which she lived. Hoping to make
peace, her father went to Rome to see the Emperor, and as he could not
bear his daughter out of his sight, he took her and the Queen with
him.

Diocletian was quite transfixed with young Philomena upon her arrival
in Rome, and promised her father to suspend all warlike activities, if
he were to give Philomena to him for marriage. Her parents accepted
this offer, but Philomena refused on the account of the vow of
chastity she had taken the year before. She was, she asserted, already
married to the Lord, her Divine Spouse being Jesus.

Diocletian ordered her before him, and questioned her, trying to
persuade her to renounce her faith and her vow, if for no other reason
than to save her parents and her homeland. She was, however, resolute
in her convictions, and refused his every promise, threat, and
entreaty. Eventually, overcome by anger, Diocletian ordered her to be
bound hand and foot with heavy chains and thrown into the dungeon
under the Imperial Palace, hoping by this means to compel her to marry
him. He visited her every day, in attempts to persuade her, but every
day she refused. Over time, her food rations were decreased, the
weight of her chains increased, and her already horrible conditions
made worse. All the same, she clung to her beliefs and her faith for
37 days. During these days, she spent her time in prayer, and on the
37th day, Our Blessed Mother appeared to Saint Philomena, cradling the
infant Jesus in her arms. Mary promised the young saint that she would
only be imprisoned for 3 more days, an on the 40th day, would be freed
from her sorrow.

Philomena was overjoyed at hearing this, but became frightened when
Our Blessed Mother informed her that when she left the prison, she
would undergo cruel torture for the love of Jesus Christ. Mary offered
her strength and comfort, saying gently: "Besides your Angel Guardian,
you will have at your side the Archangel Gabriel, whose name signifies
'The Strength of the Lord.' When I was on earth, he was my protector.
I will now send him to her who is my beloved daughter."

Three days later, foretold, Philomena's tortures began. Diocletian had
her tied to a pillar and cruelly scourged, and then returned to prison
to die of the inflicted wounds. However, God sent two angels who
ministered to her, completely restoring her health by the following
day. Astonished, Diocletian attempted to again persuade her to marry
him, but she resisted. More infuriated than before, he an iron anchor
to be tied round her neck, and commanded that she should be thrown
into the River Tiber, to be drowned and lost to sight. Once again,
angels were sent to assist her, who, cutting the cord, carried her
back to the bank without a drop of water having touched her clothes,
much to the astonishment and admiration of the bystanders, several of
whom were converted on seeing this miracle.

Diocletian commanded she be dragged through the streets of Rome,
convicted as a sorceress, and shot to death with arrows. However, the
arrows refused to fly from the bows of the archers. After several more
attempts, he ordered her quickly beheaded. Saint Philomena was
martyred in this way. Numerous miracles--then and more recently--are
attributed to her holy intercession.

In 1802, her remains were found in the catacombs of Saint Priscilla on
the Via Salaria in Rome. Covered by stones, the symbols carved
indicated that the body was that of a young martyr named Philomena. An
inscription near her tomb read "Peace be with thee, Philomena", along
with drawings of 2 anchors, 3 arrows and a palm. Near her bones was
discovered a small glass vial, containing the remains of blood.
Because it was a popular custom of the early martyrs to leave symbols
and signs such as these, it was easily determined that Philomena was a
virgin and a martyr. The bones were exhumed at that time, catalogued,
and subsequently forgotten as so little was known about the saint in
question.

In 1805, the relics were rediscovered in the Vatican Treasury of
Relics by Canon Francis de Lucia of Mugnano, Italy. When he reached
the relics of Saint Philomena he was suddenly struck with a spiritual
joy, and requested that he be allowed to enshrine them in a chapel in
Mugnano. After some disagreements, settled by the bodily cure of Canon
Francis following prayers to Philomena, he was allowed to translate
the relics to Mugnano. Shortly thereafter, miracles began to be
reported at the shrine including cures of cancer, healing of wounds,
and the Miracle of Mugnano in which Venerable Pauline Jaricot was
cured of a severe heart ailment overnight. At that time, Philomena
became the only person recognized as a Saint (proclaimed by Pope
Gregory XVI) solely on the basis of miraculous intercession as nothing
historical was known of her except her name and the evidence of her
martyrdom.

Since that time, the information about her life and martyrdom has been
mystically revealed. One of the most well-known recipients of these
revelations was the Foundress of the Oblates of Our Lady of Sorrows,
Mother Maria Luisa di Gesù, a Dominican Tertiary.
by Jacob

“Nothing is denied to Saint Philomena.”
– Our Blessed Mother, during an apparition to Mother Mary Louisa of Jesus

Bible Quote:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee
from you. [James 4:7] RSVCE

<><><><>
Novena - Prayer to St. Philomena

Illustrious Virgin and Martyr, Saint Philomena, behold me prostrate at
the foot of the throne, where it is has pleased the Most Holy Trinity
to place you. Full of confidence in your protection. I beseech you to
intercede for me with God. Ah! From the height of your heavenly
throne, deign to look upon your humble servant. Spouse of Jesus
Christ, in my trouble console me: strengthen me in temptations;
protect me from the dangers that surround me on all sides: obtain for
me...
(make request)

and especially and above all, assist me at the hour of my
death. Amen.

Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us, so that through
your powerful intercession we may obtain that purity of mind
and heart which leads to the perfect love of God. Amen.

Colonel Edmund J. Burke

2018-08-12 16:41:28 UTC