Novena to St. Philomena
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ANOTHER NOVENA TO SAINT PHILOMENA. 1
The Life and Miracles of Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, 1865Source and notes
Source
| Printed in | The Life and Miracles of Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr |
|---|---|
| Imprint | New York, P. O’Shea, 1865 |
| Pages | pp. 116–124 |
| Scan | leaf 134, leaf 135, leaf 136, leaf 137, leaf 138, leaf 139, leaf 140, leaf 141, leaf 142 of the Internet Archive copy |
| Transcription | Transcribed from the exact 1865 scan, retaining historical wording; no new translation. |
| Rights | Public domain in the United States. |
- Prayers for
- trust in God
St. Philomena
Day 1
FIRST DAY.
Consider that Saint Philomena was a virgin and always pure, in the midst of the world, in spite of persecution even to death. What a model! Can I contemplate it without feeling humbled? and knowing the cause of my confusion, what should be the remedy?
Practice.—1st. Hear the holy mass in her honor, and visit one of her statues or images, if such can be done conveniently. 2d. Humble yourself several times, for whatever, in the course of your life, may have tarnished the purity of your soul.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 2
SECOND DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena was constantly pure and innocent, because she knew how to mortify her inclinations, and to observe in all her deportment the modesty of Jesus Christ, to keep away from a perverse world, and from dangerous occasions. Do you imitate her in this holy vigilance?
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Avoid what has injured you; practise what you have neglected, and what will preserve you always pure and agreeable in the eyes of the Lord.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 3
THIRD DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena preserved and increased her love of perfect purity by means of prayer, the abundant source of spiritual life; by the sacraments, wherein the soul is purified in the blood of Jesus Christ, and is nourished with his sacred body, the divine germ of Christian virginity; by the recollection that her members belonged to Jesus Christ, and that her body was the temple of the Holy Ghost. Have not you the same means? What use do you make of them?
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d.
Recite all your prayers with increased fervor; say to yourself, from time to time: I belong to Jesus Christ, I am the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 4
FOURTH DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena was a martyr, that she had to suffer—to suffer a great deal, even death itself; and that she displayed in her torments, invincible patience. Do you suffer with the like patience? You have, perhaps, but seldom to suffer; and are never in danger of death from suffering. Whence comes so much weakness? What means will you take to acquire patience?
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Suffer patiently the few afflictions, contradictions, and trials, with which the Lord may please to visit you on this day.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 5
FIFTH DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena suffered martyrdom for Jesus Christ: endeavors were made to deprive her of faith, to make her violate her baptismal vows, to induce her to follow the example of idolaters or apostates. And do not the devil, the world, the flesh, and your own heart endeavor to lead you into the like sins?
Do not imprudent fears make you fail in your duties, and violate your sacred engagements? What shameful pusillanimity! Let us resume, at length, courage to perform our duty to God.
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Obtain some victory over mere human respect: say to yourself, It is better to please God than men.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 6
SIXTH DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena had to put in practice this word of our Saviour: “He who does not hate his very life for sake of me, cannot be my disciple.” She hesitated not to sacrifice all, her very life, for the love of Christ. In occasions far less difficult, do we show ourselves worthy of Jesus Christ? If there be a competition between God and man, between grace and nature, between the love of God and human affections, to which do we give the preference? Oh, let us never more degenerate from our dignity of children of God, and of disciples of Jesus Christ.
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Endeavor to please only God, or creatures for God alone. Remove far from you every inordinate affection.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 7
SEVENTH DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena in her martyrdom had to suffer raillery, sarcasm, outrages, and such like painful treatment, from her persecutors, from her executioners, and from the greater part of the spectators of her cruel sufferings: she was not, however, the less generous, the less constant, or less joyful in the public confession of her faith. Should the world give you to drink of the cup of affliction, will you have the courage to drink of it with similar sentiments? But what signify contempt, disdain, and even persecutions the most unjust and bloody? Can he whom God esteems, can he ever be, or can he ever think himself dishonored? Fear not, O Christian heart; continue your journey, which will end in eternal glory.
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Do not let your heart be disturbed, if there be said to-day any sharp, rude, or offensive word, &c.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 8
EIGHTH DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena, by dying, for our Lord Jesus Christ, to all things here on earth, entered into the joy of eternal life. “Yes, I am certain,” she would say, in her heart, “that the Sovereign Judge will render unto me, for the perishable goods which I sacrifice to his love, the crown of justice he has promised me.” She dies, and forthwith this worthy spouse of Jesus Christ shines in the tabernacle of God, with those who accompany the Lamb. Are these the thoughts which I entertain when there is question of making any sacrifice for God? What impression do they make upon my heart? To what side do they make it incline? The saint says, To have all, let us lose all. What do I say?
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Impose upon yourself some voluntary sacrifice. Perform with promptitude, and with a good heart, all the duties belonging to your condition of life.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
Day 9
NINTH DAY.
Consider that St. Philomena, for having sacrificed every thing here on earth for Jesus Christ, receives from him, even in this world, more than a hundred-fold. How great is her renown, how powerful her intercession! how numerous the supplications made through her to the throne of mercy! What devout veneration is paid to her statues and pictures, and what zealous anxiety to obtain her relics! It is thus that God accomplishes his promises. Oh, that we would fulfil, with equal fidelity, the promises we have made to God! But by our infidelity to God, we deprive ourselves of much merit and of many favors, both for this life and for the next. Let us take courage. Let us be faithful to God, and thus be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Practice.—1st. As on the first day. 2d. Do to-day some work of mercy in honor of St. Philomena. Prepare yourself, by a good confession, to receive worthily our Lord Jesus Christ.
Closing prayers
A PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. PHILOMENA FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA.
Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, blessed Philomena, I heartily rejoice and give God thanks, that he has given you so much power, for the glory of his name, for the edification of his church, and to honor the merits of your life and of your death. I am happy to see you so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to the precepts and counsels of his gospel, and so highly rewarded both in heaven and on earth. Attracted by your example to the practice of sterling virtues, full of hopes at the view of the rewards bestowed upon your merits, I purpose to follow you in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s commandments. Assist me, O glorious saint, by your powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me, a perfect purity, a fortitude invincible in all sorts of attacks, a generosity which refuses not to God any thing whatsoever, and a love, stronger than death, for the faith of Jesus Christ, a ready and willing obedience to the holy Roman Catholic Church, and to our Sovereign Pontiff, the common father of all the faithful, the pastor of pastors and of their flocks, and vicegerent of Jesus Christ throughout the universe.
To these favors which I have now asked through your intercession, O blessed Philomena, I also ask other new graces, which I have the fullest confidence to obtain through your powerful intercession. (Here declare those graces to the saint with simplicity, confidence, and humility.) Surely God, who is so good, and for whom you have given up your life; God, who is so good, and who has bestowed so many gifts and favors, both upon you, and through you; this God, who is so good as to have died for me, and to give himself to me in the eucharistic form, surely he will not refuse to attend graciously to your prayers, to my entreaties, and even to that necessity, which he himself, in some sort, feels to do us good. Thus, I hope; I put all my confidence in God and in you. Amen.
O Jesus, grant me grace to love thee, and to make others love thee. O Mary, my tender mother, obtain for us a great love for Jesus Christ.
- This Novena is usually made from the 1st to the 10th of August, which is the day of the martyrdom and translation of the Saint; but it may be said at any other time. ↩