Novena to Saint Philomena (3 August-11 August)
Novena in Honor of St. Philomena
The Beloved Daughter of Light
The traditional novena for Saint John Vianney’s ‘dear little Saint’ begins today and concludes with her feast day on August 11:
O Glorious virgin and martyr, beloved child of God, blessed Philomena! I rejoice in thy glory, and give God thanks that He has bestowed on thee such power, for the glory of His name, for the edification of His Church, and to honour thy merits in life, and thy sufferings and martyrdom in death. Looking up to thee in heaven, I rejoice to see thee so exalted, so powerful, so pure, so generous. I congratulate thee on being so faithful to the precepts and counsels of Jesus Christ while on earth, and on being so munificently rewarded by Him in heaven. Moved by thine example to the practice of solid virtue, filled with hope at the view of the rewards bestowed upon thee, I resolve to imitate thee in the avoidance of all evil, and in the fulfilment of God’s holy will. Assist me, O glorious little saint, by thy powerful intercession, and obtain especially for me perfect purity–invincible fortitude in all trials, temptations, and sufferings–generosity which refuses nothing to God–and love stronger than death for the one true Faith–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.
Beside these favours which I have now asked through thy powerful intercession, O blessed Philomena! I also ask an additional grace and favour, which I have the fullest confidence of obtaining through thy powerful intercession.
(Here mention your request with simplicity, confidence, and humility)
Surely God, Who is so good, and for Whom thou hast given up thy life–God Who is so good, and Who has bestowed so many gifts and favours upon and through thee–God Who is so good as to have died for me, and to give Himself to me in Holy Communion–God Who is so good as to have revealed the burning love of His sacred Heart for me, surely He will not refuse to hearken graciously to thy prayers, to my supplications, and even to His own desire to help the afflicted. For this do I hope, while I put all my confidence in God and in thee, O blessed Philomena! Amen.
