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SACRAMENTALS AND DEVOTIONS IN HONOR OF SAINT PHILOMENA
The devotion of the Cord of Saint Philomena is the spontaneous result of the piety of the faithful towards the Wonder-Worker. Its use was approved in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII, who in 1884 enriched it with precious indulgences.
In consideration of the countless graces obtained through the intercession of the Saint, the desire arose to place oneself under her powerful patronage. Everyone wanted to wear, in her honor, the blessed Cord to be protected in all the necessities of life. The wonderful fruits of this devotion made it popular, spreading it throughout the world.
The Holy Curé of Ars, who had so often experienced the supernatural powers of the Saint, loved to see the faithful gird themselves with the precious Cord and recommended this pious practice to everyone.
This beautiful devotion is a powerful aid not only for obtaining healings of the body, but above all for combating the spirit of impurity.
In this regard, I point out how the cinctures of certain religious and those of the sacred vestments of the Mass are symbols of chastity. And so, Saint Philomena will keep chaste and pure, amid so many dangers, those who will honor, with this holy livery, her virginal purity.
Not a few, imbued with the new rationalism of our days, find it difficult to understand how a simple cord of thread can have the virtue of healing infirmities of body and spirit. But these lack religious instruction, and do not understand that a Blessing from the Holy Church can transmit extraordinary virtues even to the simplest elements. The hand of the blessing Priest communicates to substances salutary virtues for body and spirit, by virtue of the merits of the Redemption of Jesus Christ. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his Exercises, insists greatly on the need to care for all observances approved by the Church, even if they originate from popular devotions. Therefore, if the Church approves the devotion of blessed Cords in honor of the Saints, we can be sure, in practicing it, that we are in thetrue Faith and performing a meritorious action.
The Cord of Saint Philomena is made with threads of cotton or wool in white and red colors. At one of the two ends it bears two knots to recall theVirginity and Martyrdom of the Saint. It is worn under clothing like a belt.
The Cord of Saint Philomena is both a Symbol and a Prayer. A Symbol, because with it we intend to bind ourselves to the Saint with sincere devotion; a Prayer, because, in girding it, we pray to Saint Philomena to constantly provide us with her protection.
a - The purpose of this devotion is therefore to obtain, through the intercession of Saint Philomena, the effective means to:
• preserve chastity, each according to their own state;
• fight the ever-growing unbelief, and strengthen oneself in spirit and in Faith;
• profess a constant and very special love for the Holy Wonderworker, in order to be worthy of her favors in the illnesses of the soul and of the body.
b - The practice of the Cordone is realized in:
• to wear the Blessed Cord with devotion as a distinctive sign of the commitment undertaken, under the patronage of Saint Philomena and in her honor, to preserve holy purity and to defend the Faith;
• to devote oneself to prayer, in imitation of Saint Philomena, model of chastity and Faith, to preserve both, for the merit of her constancy in enduring martyrdom;
• to carefully avoid all occasions dangerous to chastity, strictly avoiding books and shows capable of staining purity, and of clouding the holy light of Faith;
• solemnize the feasts of Saint Philomena, approaching the Holy Sacraments on these days, namely: January 10, anniversary of her birth; May 25, anniversary of the discovery of her precious Body; August 10, anniversary of her glorious death, and of the translation of the Body to Mugnano del Cardinale; August 13, Principal Feast of Saint Philomena, according to the decree of the Supreme Pontiff;
• to do the “Month of Saint Philomena,” from July 1st to August 10th, in memory of the 40 days that the Martyr spent in prison, according to the revelations made to Sister Maria Luisa of Jesus;
• to have the image of Saint Philomena in one’s home, to pay her a tribute of honor every day and, if possible, to say the evening prayer together in front of this image.
Any priest, authorized by the Rector of the Sanctuary, has the faculty to bless the Cord of Saint Philomena, using the formula from the Roman Ritual.
People who wear the Cord of Saint Philomena recite the following prayer every day:
O Saint Philomena Virgin and Martyr, pray for us so that through your powerful intercession we may obtain that purity of spirit and heart which leads to the perfect love of God. Amen.
How did this sacramental arise?
The answer is very simple: during the octave of the translation of the Relics of Saint Philomena to Mugnano del Cardinale, a woman from Avella dipped a finger in the oil of the lamp burning before the altar of the Saint and anointed the eyelids of her blind daughter, who immediately regained her sight to the amazement of those present.
From that moment, the Oil of the lamp of Saint Philomena has been used as a sacramental, for bodily and spiritual benefit. The healings obtained through the use of this sacramental occur continuously. The blessed Oil of Saint Philomena is offered every year during the celebration of the Feast of the Patronage of Saint Philomena, on the first Sunday after January 10, to devotees coming from many regions of Italy and from abroad.
The blessed oil is used to feed the votive lamp that burns, day and night, in front of the relics of the Saint. The celebration is presided over by the Bishop, the Rector of the Sanctuary, and many priests participate.
The blessed oil of the Saint is placed in small red bottles bearing the official mark of the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena in Mugnano del Cardinale (Avellino) and is distributed throughout the world to devotees who request it.
Only the oil blessed in the Sanctuary of Mugnano during the celebration of the “Feast of the Patronage” of the Saint (the first Sunday after January 10th) is the official sacramental.
In this regard, it should be noted that the statement made by Father Paul O’ Sullivan in his book “Saint Philomena - The Wonder Worker” on page 96, where it is written: “The oil taken from any lamp burning before the statue of Saint Philomena may be used,” is not correct.
In fact, it should be made clear that any other oil from a lamp burning before a statue of the Saint existing in any devotional center in the world is not considered an official sacramental.
The purpose of this directive from the Sanctuary is to maintain the spiritual union of the devotees with the Sanctuary where the sacred relics of Saint Philomena rest.
The blessed Oil can be obtained by making a specific request to the Sanctuary or to the centers authorized by the Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena.
The Cord of Saint PhilomenaThe Blessed Oil of Saint Philomena
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