St. Philomena, The Daughter of Light

20 Tuesday Sep 2022

Posted by Brian in Parish Shrines, Saints

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catacombs, saints, St. John Baptist Vianney, St. John Neumann, St. Philomena

St. Philomena in Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church  Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. In May, 1802, the relics of St. Philomena were discovered in Italy.

Tomb of St. Philomena in the Sanctuary in Mugnano del Cardinale, Avellino, Italy.

The catacombs of Priscilla: the Greek Chapel near the body of Philomena. St. Philomena was a second century girl whose remains were discovered in an ancient catacomb in Rome.

The glass vase, containing a vile of her dried blood, which was found inside the tomb of Saint Philomena, also with bone relics. What would a DNA sample reveal today?

The three tiles on the tomb: LUMENA / PAX TE / CUM FI.

In Latin the tomb read, “Pax tecum, Filumena”, which translates “Peace be with you, Philomena”.

Several years later Philomenia’s remains were enshrined in a village in Mugano, Italy and there begins the interventions and unusual events surrounding this girl of fourteen or fifteen. So great were here intersessions and miracles, that many religious and lay people began following her spirit. One such admirer who experienced “a burning in my heart” for Philomena, was St. John Baptist Vianney (Cure d’Ars) as explained here.

Painting of Philomena at Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church  in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).

She was made a saint in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI. She is the only person recognized as a saint based solely on her intersessions, since little is know of her otherwise. On the spirituality side, Philomena revealed her story to Mother Maria Luisa di Gesu, Foundress of the Oblates of Our Lady of Sorrows on August 3, 1833. Here is what St. Philomena said to Mother Maria Luisa di Gesu of her background.

“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 Luisa di Gesu

Exterior of St. Philomena Church in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The church was dedicated on May 27, 1900 in honor of the Saint.

St. John Neumann while bishop of Philadelphia, was a true promoter of St. Philomena. He said of Philomena, “to whom God denies nothing for whoever invokes her.”

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini carried a small statue of Philomena on her numerous journeys. The Blessed Pius IX (1792-1878) also had a deep and sincere devotion to St. Philomena.

The side shrine of St. Philomena, with a first class relic below, brought from the Shrine in Mugnano del Cardinale, near Naples, Italy.
All of Philomena’s miracles are explained here.

Philomena up close.

St. Padre Pio called Philomena the “Princess of Heaven”. Padre Pio used to reply to those who doubted the existence of the Saint: “for the love of God! It might well be that her name is not Philomena, but this Saint has performed many miracles and it is not the name that did them.”

Closeup of the first class relic at St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“My children, St. Philomena has great power with God. Her virginity and generosity in embracing heroic martyrdom has rendered her so agreeable to God that He will never refuse anything that she asks for us.” by St. John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars.

St. John Neumann: From Manhattan to Buffalo NY to Philadelphia PA

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by Brian in Saints, Shrines of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann

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Buffalo NY, John the Evangelist Church, National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, Philadelphia, Saint, St. John Neumann, St. Peter the Apostle Church, Williamsville NY

Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral 1811, Manhattan, NYC

St. John Neumann was ordained in June 1836 at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

Father Neumann celebrated his First Mass on Sunday, June 26. He wrote home, “Now, my dearest Jesus, I have obtained that for which my soul yearned. What I have always believed so far away, You have now given me.”

The Neumann Chapel, Buffalo NY.

Just 16 days after his arrival in Manhattan, John was ordained a priest and sent to rural Buffalo.

Father John established himself in a small log parish house. He hardly ever lit a fire and often lived on only bread and water.

Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Williamsville NY. (today)

While in Williamsville New York, Father Neumann started the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, which is in existence today (above). He also taught school four hours a day and used his knowledge of botany to make medicines from local herbs.

Village of Williamsville NY (Buffalo) today, where John Neumann was a priest.

He was assigned to the Buffalo, New York region which was a boomtown in the mid and late 1830s with commerce on the Erie Canal and stagecoach routes.

Creek in Williamsville NY that John Neumann would have surely saw.

The Sisters of Mercy were instrumental in working with Father Neumann while in the Williamsville New York region.

Glenn Falls Creek today, by Michael Frank Jr.

Father Neumann made rounds to attend to the sacramental life of about 400 families. A journal entry shows John’s concern for the German immigrants: “They have not received any schooling. They speak German poorly, and English just as poorly. The will soon have to work, and there will be no thought of religious instruction.” This thinking was the start of the Catholic Parochial school system.

Redemptorist seal at The National Shrine of St. John Neumann, located at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Father John joined the Redemptorist order and continued his missionary work until he was elected bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. Bishop Neumann was in attendance for Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Saint John Nepomucene Neumann.

Cross at St. John the Evangelist Church, Philadelphia,

Bishop Neumann took up residence at St. John the Evangelist parish in downtown Philadelphia.

Also in the 1850’s a young Katharine Drexel received First Holy Communion at St. Johns the Evangelist Church. She later became founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and a saint, St. Katharine Drexel!

Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia. The upper church is where St. John worshiped in Philadelphia.

Pulpit where St. John Neumann preached. Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia.

Lower church is the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann.

Under the altar are the remains of St. John Neumann in a glass reliquary.

St. John Neumann body incorrupt, (face with mask).

Bishop Neumann passed away in Philadelphia while doing errands on January 5, 1860. St. John collapsed and died due to a stroke, a few blocks from Logan Street, where he was building the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, the regional Church that stands today. He is a patron of immigrants and of sick children.

Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop is January 5.

A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.

– Saint John Neumann

St. John Neumann and the SJN National Shrine

05 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by Brian in Saints, Shrines of Philadelphia, St. John Neumann

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40 Hours Devotion, Buffalo NY, John the Evangelist Church, Philadelphia, Saint, St. John Neumann, St. Peter the Apostle Church

Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop January 5.

The National Shrine of St. John Neumann, in the spirit of the Redemptorist order, is located at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In the lower church, under the altar are the remains of St. John Neumann in a glass reliquary. The upper church is where St. John worshiped.

St. John was ordained in June 1836 at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

He was assigned to the Buffalo New York region which was a boomtown in the mid and late 1830s with commerce on the Erie Canal and stagecoach routes. Father Neumann made rounds of attend to the sacramental life of about 400 families. A journal entry shows John’s concern for the German immigrants: “They have not received any schooling. They speak German poorly, and English just as poorly. The will soon have to work, and there will be no thought of religious instruction.” This thinking was the start of the Catholic Parochial school system.

While in Williamsville New York, Father Neumann started the parish of SS’s Peter and Paul, a parish in existance today. He also taught school four hours a day and used his knowledge of botany to make medicines from local herbs.

The Sisters of Mercy were instrumental in working with Father Neumann while in the Williamsville New York region. Several of the quotes in this article are from the Sisters research. For more info on the buffalo NY connection see http://jruthgang.wordpress.com/article/st-john-neumann-in-western-new-york-35d4f9dma4dbf-194/

A huge accomplishment for Father Neumann is the starting of the 40 Hours Devotion, practiced worldwide in the Catholic faith.

John became the fourth bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. Bishop Neumann was in attendance for Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Bishop Neumann took up residence at St. John the Evangelist parish in downtown Philadelphia. Also in the 1850’s a young Katharine Drexel received First Holy Communion at St. Johns Church. She later became founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and a saint – St. Katharine Drexel.

“A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.” – Saint John Neumann

For more information, see:

http://www.stjohnneumann.org/index.html

http://catholicgene.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/st-john-neumann/

Shrine Tower

~ Saints, Shrines and Sacred Places

Tag Archives: St. John Neumann

St. Philomena, The Daughter of Light

St. John Neumann: From Manhattan to Buffalo NY to Philadelphia PA

St. John Neumann and the SJN National Shrine