Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 5


O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)

Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

Fifth Day

1. Consider that St Philomena suffered martyrdom for Jesus Christ…..They wanted to wrest her Faith from her….they wanted to make her violate her Baptismal vows, to persuade her to follow the example of idolaters and apostates. And what does the devil, the world, the flesh and your own heart want from you on so many occasions but the same sort of unfaithfulness? All forms of it are an offence against God. Are these not vain fears, indeed, which make you lacking sometimes in your duties, or which cause you to betray your faith?…..O my God, what shameful slackness! ….Take courage at last!

2. To overcome human respect say to yourself from time to time: It is better to please God than men.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

 

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.

Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.

That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in its fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.

O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

St Philomena, pray for us.

Novena Intentions


I lit a candle at the Shrine of the Pietà for the intentions of all those praying the Novena to Saint Philomena.

To pray the Novena prayers for today: click HERE. 

Never go a day without contemplating the cost of your salvation, for Christ chose to shed every drop of His Blood for your sake. 

On this the Feast of the Transfiguration, let us hear the words of the Heavenly Father: “This is my Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; hear Him.” This is the radical fulfillment of the Old Covenant, in Christ Himself, the Beloved Son of the Father. It is through our unity with Christ, that we too can be called beloved sons of God, through the adoption by grace. Hear the words of Christ, and follow His commands, with love.

By Perugino

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 4


O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)

Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

Fourth Day



1. Consider that St Philomena was a martyr….that she had to suffer….to suffer much…to suffer even unto death, and that she showed an invincible patience in these torments…Are suffering and patience invariably found together in you? You have to suffer rarely…..to suffer a little….never to suffer to the extent of dying from it. Now whence is the reason for so much weakness on your part? Do you not want to remedy that weakness? What sort of remedy will you choose?

 

2. Suffer patiently those few sorrows, oppositions and pains which the Lord may be pleased to send you this day.

 

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.
Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.

Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.

That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in it’s fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.

O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

St Philomena, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 3

STPHILOMENA

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)


Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

Third Day


1. Consider that St Philomena preserved and increased the love which she had for chastity by means of prayer, which is the abundant source of spiritual life….by means of the Sacraments wherein the soul is washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ, and is nourished with His Sacred Body, divine germ of Christian chastity….by remembering that her members were the members of the Body of Jesus Christ, and that her body was the temple of the Holy Ghost……Is it not true that you have these same means at your disposal? What use do you make of them?

2. Redouble the fervour of all your prayers……Say to yourself from time to time: My members are those of Jesus Christ…..the temple of the Holy Ghost.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

Let us pray.

O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics 

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.

That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in its fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.

O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us Pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

St Philomena, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 2

Saint_Philomena_Living_Rosary_00001

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)


Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

Second Day


1. Consider that St Philomena was and did not cease to be a virgin…. Because she knew how to control the corrupt desires of the flesh…. How to preserve, in the use of her senses, the modesty of Jesus Christ, holding aloof from a deceitful world and from dangerous occasions. Do you imitate her in all that? What are the sources of your weaknesses….of your anxieties…of your falls? Try to eliminate these sources.

2. Fly from everything that has injured you. Practice what you have had the misfortune to neglect with regard to purity.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

Let us pray.

O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics 

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.

That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in its fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.

O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.
St Philomena, pray for us.