It is important to note that the 1961 instruction was a liturgical directive and not an ecclesial declaration that St. Philomena was no longer a saint; nor did it prohibit popular devotion to St. Philomena, which has received repeated approbation by the papal Magisterium. The liturgical directive was not accompanied with any suspension or prohibition of the universal status of the Archconfraternity of St. Philomena granted by St. Pius X. Public devotion to St. Philomena continued with the full approval of the Holy See and of the Ordinary of the Diocese of Nola where the Mugnano Sanctuary is located and continues to function, as well as other devotional centers throughout the world.
Popular devotion to St. Philomena continued in the Church after the 1961
instruction, resting upon the solid precedence and foundation of numerous papal approbations. (62)
Revised Roman Martyrology
More recently, the revised publication of the Roman Martyrology by the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2001 became the occasion for renewed discussion of the ecclesial status of St. Philomena. The omission of St. Philomena in the revised Roman Martyrology was once again interpreted by various media sources as implying that St. Philomena was no longer a saint recognized by the Church. Several points must be kept in mind regarding St. Philomena and her omission from the revised Roman Martyrology:
1. St. Philomena, as previously stated, was never included into the former
Roman martyrologies, even while the papal Magisterium granted the
public liturgical veneration, plenary indulgences, and universal
approbation to the archconfraternity ecclesiastically erected in her
honor. (63)
2. The Roman Martyrology does not constitute a comprehensive
compilation of every saint and martyr recognized by the Church, and
was never introduced by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments as such.
3. The continuation of popular devotion at the Mugnano Shrine with the
direct approval of the bishop ordinary of the Diocese of Nola,
juxtaposed with the still flourishing worldwide devotion in honor of
St. Philomena as manifested in the universal archconfraternity
continues with complete ecclesiastical approval, and has moreover experienced significant worldwide renewal in the past decade. (64)
Any conclusion, therefore, which seeks to negate popular devotion to St.
Philomena on the basis of her omission in the revised Roman Martyrology would be theologically erroneous and contrary to existing ecclesiastically sanctioned devotional practice to the martyr saint.
Present Ecclesial Status
An authentic evaluation of the present ecclesial status of devotion to St.
Philomena would be founded upon the following conclusions as previously discussed:
1. The remains of Filumena were designated as belonging to a Christian virgin and martyr by Msgr. Ponzetti, Custodian of the Sacred Relics for the Holy See on May 25, 1802. (65)
2. The public cultus of St. Philomena, virgin and martyr, was approved in a pontifical decree of Pope Gregory XVI on January 30, 1837, with the approval of the office, mass of common of a virgin and martyr and fourth lesson proper in honor of St. Philomena on August 11. (66)
3. Nineteen acts of the Holy See during the pontificates of five popes were issued in positive promotion of popular devotion to St. Philomena, in the forms of liturgical cultus, archconfraternities, plenary and partial indulgences. (67)
