Philomena’s wealthy parents had decided to visit the Emperor in Rome, and 13-year-old Philomena went with them. But in Rome, trouble arose. The Emperor, who was not a Christian, decided he wished to marry the beautiful Philomena, although he already had a wife. But Philomena had promised Our Lord she would never marry.The Emperor was very angry, and he threw Philomena into prison to change her mind. There Our Lady appeared to her, giving her the grace to be brave in suffering and never to consent to the sinful marriage. The angry Emperor had her beaten—but angels healed her wounds. Then she was thrown into the Tiber River with an anchor around her neck—but angels rescued her. Finally, the Emperor ordered a lance to be driven through the back of Philomena’s head: her faithful soul went straight to Heaven. The Christians buried her body in the catacombs.Centuries later, in 1802, workmen digging beneath the streets of Rome discovered Philomena’s tomb. Her relics were moved to Mugnano, Italy, and many miracles began occurring there—blind, deaf and crippled people were cured. When a very sick woman named Pauline Jaricot was cured after prayers to Philomena, the Holy Father had a study made. Then in 1837 he added her name to the list of saints. Over the years many people have received favors and miracles from St. Philomena—the little saint known as “the wonderworker” and “Philomena, powerful with God.”
