In conclusion, popular devotion to St. Philomena, virgin and martyr, is presently alive and well amidst the People of God, enjoying positive ecclesial status and generously increasing veneration. The wisdom of past popes and saints recognized that the "history" of Philomena's powerful supernatural intercession for the Church was more important than the "history" of her earthly life. Such is the manifestation of the mysterious ways of God's salvific design. The Church today has received from Pope John Paul II the missio for the new evangelization in this third millennium of Christianity. (79) With the recent canonization of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, thaumaturgus of the twentieth century, how efficacious it would be for the People of God and the successful implementation of the new evangelization to have recourse, through a renewed public liturgical veneration, to St. Philomena, whom Pope Gregory XVI rightly designated as the "Thaumaturgus of the nineteenth century." (80) May the young virgin martyr, powerful with God, become, once again, a favored patroness of sanctity and purity, particularly for the youth of today. Mark Miravalle, S.T.D. Professor of Theology and Mariology Franciscan University of Steubenville October 7, 2002 Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary © Copyright Mark I. Miravalle, 2002 (Reprinted with the kind permission of the author) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Footnotes 1 Roman Martyrology, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, October 2, 2001. 2 Cf. for example, the universal Archconfraternity granted to St. Philomena by St. Pius X, Apostolic Brief Pias Fidelium (May 21, 1912), AAS 4, 1912, p. 398. 3Fr. Francisco de Lucia, Relazione storica della traslazione del corpo di santa Filomena, vergine e martire, da Roma a Mugnano del Cardinale, Naples, 1824, p. 53. 4 Graves hewn out of rock commonly found in the catacombs. 5 De Lucia, Relazione, op. cit. 6 Ibid. 7 Msgr. Hyacinth Ponzetti, Archivi della Lipsanoteca di Roma, Registro II, June 8, 1805, p. 271. 8 Ponzetti, Archivi, p. 271. 9 Ibid. 10 De Lucia, Relazione, 53ff. 11 Cf. Documentation from the Parish Shrine of Mugnano, commencing with de Lucia, Relazione, Vol. I, p. 1, and continuing with the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church Rector, Msgr. Gennaro Ippolito, Memorie e culto di santo Filomena Vergine e martire, Mormile, Naples, 1870, Ch. 25; also pp. 23-24, 256, 277,42-48; cf. also Archives of the Parish of Ars and ecclesiastical records relative to the Process of Beatification and Canonization of John Vianney and attribution of miracles to St. Philomena, Process of the Ordinary and Apostolic Processes, e.g., Procès de l'Ordinaire, Aug. 12, 1864, pp. 1325, 334, 179, 751, 1160, 1460, Procès apostolique ne pereant, October 10, 1876, p. 288, 768. 12 Procès de l'Ordinaire, II, p. 1447; Procès apostolique, p. 1215-1216. 13 Ippolito, Memorie, Vol. I, pt. 1. 14 Ibid. Cf. also, Msgr. Francois Trochu, Sainte Philomène, Vierge et Martyre, La "petite Sainte" du Curé , Librairie Catholique Emmanuel Vitte, Lyon-Paris, 1924, p. 121. 15 Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, September 6, 1834. 16 Presentation of the dossier of Bishop Casilici to the Sacred Congregation of Rites, June 17, 1835, presided over by Cardinal Galiffi, vice-Prefect of the Congregation. 17Ibid., cf. also Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 122. 18 Ippolito, Memorie, pp. 243, 55; cf. also Msgr. Deschamps du Manoir, Mugnano et sainte Philomène, p. 40; M. J. Maurin, Vie nouvelle de P. M. Jaricot, Librairie du Sacré-Cur, Lyon. 19 Ibid. 20 Cf. Trochu, Sainte Philomène, pp. 127-128. 21 Solemn Decree of Gregory XVI (January 30, 1837), in Papal Approval of the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (September 6, 1834); cf. Ippolito, Memorie, p.122-123; Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 129. 22Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (January 15, 1857); Cf. Atwater, ed., Butler's Lives of the Saints, Allen, TX, Thomas More, p. 300. 23 Approved in the Rescript from the Sacred Congregation of Rites (January 30, 1837); cf. also Trochu, op. cit., p. 318-319. Pope Leo XIII granted papal approbation to the Cord of St. Philomena with several plenary indulgences in association with its wearing, 29 and accorded the title and 24Cf. for example: Leo XII, Decree of Sacred Congregation of Rites (March 15, 1826); Gregory XVI, Sacred Congregation of Rites (Sept. 6, 1834; Jan. 30, 1837; March 16, 1839); Bl. Pius IX (Jan. 11, 1855; Jan. 15, 1857; March 18, 1859), Pont. Brief (Dec. 9, 1859); Leo XIII, Pont. Brief (Dec. 15, 1883), (Sept. 24, 1889); Pias Fidelium; cf. also Ippolito, Memorie, pp. 113-117; 165-167. 25 Decree of Sacred Congregation of Rites (March 16, 1839; Jan. 1, 1841). 26 Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, Papal Confirmation of Promotor of the Faith Brief Etsi decimo as submitted by Rev. Andrea Fratini (January 31, 1855). 27 On November 7, 1849, Bl. Pius IX pilgrimaged to Mugnano escorted by Ferdinand II, the King of Naples, in public petition to St. Philomena for his safe return to the Vatican, cf. Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 134; Ippolito, Memorie, p. 116. 28 Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, Pont. Brief (July 3, 1863). 29 Leo XIII, Papal Approbation of Cord of St. Philomena and Indulgences (December 15, 1883). 30 Leo XIII, Papal Approbation of the Archconfraternity of St. Philomena for France (Sept. 24, 1889). 31 Pias Fidelium. 32Cf. Archives of the Parish of Ars and ecclesiastical records relative to the Process of Beatification and Canonization of John Vianney and attribution of miracles to St. Philomena, Process of the Ordinary and Apostolic processes, e.g., Procès de l'Ordinaire, pp. 334, 179, 751, 1160, 1325, 1460, 1447; Procès apostolique, pp. 288, 768, 1215-1216; Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 197. 33 Procès de l'Ordinaire, II, p. 1426; 1374. 34 Procès de l'Ordinaire, p. 253-254; Procès apostolique, p. 234. 35 Procès de l'Ordinaire, II, p. 1447; Procès apostolique, pp. 1215-1216. 36 Ippolito, Memorie, pp. 243, 55; cf. also du Manoir, Mugnano et sainte Philomène, p. 40; Maurin, Vie nouvelle. 37 Le Serviteur de Dieu, Pierre-Julien Eymard, Vatican, 1903, p. 24. 38 Cf. Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 216 39 Ibid., p. 217. 40 Geoffroy de Grandmaison, La bienheureuse Mère Barat, Gabalda, 1909, p. 198. 41 Fr. Gabriel Bouffier, S.J., La Vènèrable Servante de Dieu, Anna-Maria Taigi, Paris, pp. 125-126. 42 Cf. Ippolito, Memorie, p. 116; Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 137. 43 For example, St. John Vianney, Ven. Pauline Jaricot, and Bl. Anna Maria Taigi 44 As found in Miscellanea di Storia Ecclesiastica, Vol. 2, 1904, pp. 365-386; and thematically continued in Nuovo Bullettino di arch. Crist., Vol. 12, 1906, pp. 253-300. 45 Ibid. 46 J.B. De Rossi, Inscriptiones christianae, Rome. 47 Bonavenia, S.J., Controversia sul celeberrimo epitaffio di Santa Filomena V. e M., Roma, Filiziani, (1906); and continued in La questione puramente archeologica (1907); cf. also the refutation of Marucchi's theory by Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 256 ff. 48 Cf. Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 286, fn. 1. 49 Cf. also the summation of several archeological contributions which offer refutations of the Marucchi theory in Trochu, Sainte Philomène, pp. 255-315. 50 Trochu, Sainte Philomène, pp. 283-284. 51 Cf. Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 285. 52 Manuel d'archéologie chrétienne, Paris, Letouzey, 1907, t. I, p. 220; N.B. This moral argument continues to possess its own merit, despite the author's eventual change in position. 53 Ibid. 54 Roman brick tiles approximately two feet in length. 55 Fr. Ferrua, S.J., Archeological Study of the Bipedals of St. Philomena, Rome, November 29, 1963, Archives of Mugnano Sanctuary. For more recent archeological studies countering the Marucchi theory, cf. Prandi, Mustilli, and Guarducci, Graffiti di S. Pietro, I, p. 501; George Mauter Markhof, Das unbequeme Wunder, kirchenstreit um Fhilomena, Vienna, 1981. 56 Rev. Louis Petit, Messager de sainte Philomène, July 1907, pp. 356-363; Trochu, Sainte Philomène, pp. 141-142. 57 Ponzetti, Archivi, R. II, p. 271. 58 Benedict XIV, De beatif., lib. IV, pars II, 27. 59 Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (Dec. 10, 1863). 60 Congregation of Rites, AAS 53, 1961, pp. 168ff. 61 Cf. for example, Atwater ed., Butler's Lives, p. 301-2. 62 The same theme of "continue as before" regarding popular devotions to St. Philomena after this 1961 liturgical directive was contained in an oral statement of Pope Paul VI as recorded by Bishop Fernandes of Mysore, India, and Ordinary of the Cathedral of St. Philomena in India. In a 1964 letter sent to the Mugnano Shrine by Bishop Fernandes, he testifies to the response given by Pope Paul VI, between the sessions of the Second Vatican Council, to the question: "What must I do for the people in my diocese who are greatly troubled by the decree of the Sacred Congregation regarding St. Philomena?" Paul VI responded "do not let it disturb you and do not disturb your people; let devotion to St. Philomena continue as before " ("proseguiva come prima"), Mugnano Archives, 1964. 63 Cf. Solemn Decree of Gregory XVI (January 30, 1837) in Papal Approval of the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (September 6, 1834); Leo XIII, Papal Approbation of Cord of St. Philomena and Indulgences (December 15, 1883); Pias Fidelium. 64 Fr. Giovanni Braschi, Rector of the Mugnano Shrine, has documented substantial and widespread increase in national and international pilgrimages to the shrine, the extent of which has necessitated major reconstruction at the shrine for the extended housing of pilgrims (completed Sept., 2002); archconfraternity chapters have multiplied internationally reaching all five continents, with accentuated increase coming from the British Isles (Ireland, Scotland, Great Britain), the Philippines, and the several locales within the United States; cf. Mugnano newsletters, e-mail dispatches, 2000-2002. 65 Ponzetti, Archivi, p. 271. 66 Solemn Decree of Gregory XVI (January 30, 1837) in Papal Approval of the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (September 6, 1834). 67 Cf. Solemn Decree of Gregory XVI (January 30, 1837) in Papal Approval of the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (September 6, 1834); Leo XIII, Papal Approbation of Cord of St. Philomena and Indulgences (December 15, 1883); Pias Fidelium. 68 Cf. Procès de l'Ordinaire, pp. 334, 179, 751, 1160, 1325, 1460, 1447; Procès apostolique, pp. 288, 768, 1215-1216; Trochu, Sainte Philomène, p. 197; Ippolito, Memorie, pp. 243, 55; cf. also du Manoir, p. 40; Maurin, Vie nouvelle; Pierre-Julien Eymard, p. 24; de Grandmaison, Mère Barat, p. 198; Bouffier, Anna- Maria Taigi, pp. 125-126. 69 De Rossi, Inscriptiones christianae; Bonavenia, Controversia, and La questione; cf. also the summation of several archeological contributions which offer refutations of the Marucchi theory in Trochu, Sainte Philomène, pp. 255-315; Bonavenia, Letter to Mgr. Joseph Cascioli; Ferrua, Archeological Study; cf. Prandi, Mustilli, and Guarducci, Graffiti, I, p. 501; Markhof, Das unbequeme Wunder. 70 Cf. footnote 64. 71 John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister (January 25, 1983); cf. also Canonization Process, Release of the Holy See Press Office, September 12, 1997. 72 Cf. T. Ortolan, DTC, 2.2: 1634-42; E. Dublanchy, DTC, 4.2:2186-87; Benedict XIV, De servorum Dei beatificatione et beatorum canonizatione, Vol. 4, (Prato 1839-42); Green, Canonization, NCE, Vol. 3, p. 61. 73 Pias Fidelium, (May 21, 1912), AAS 4, 1912, p. 398. 74 Divinus Perfectionis Magister, p. 3; cf. also Canonization Process, n. 5. 75 Total number of saints canonized by John Paul II as of October 7, 2002. 76 This total includes 103 Korean martyrs (1984); 117 martyrs of Vietnam (1988); and 120 Chinese martyrs (2000); cf. also S. Bunson, The Saints of John Paul II, Our Sunday Visitor, 1999. 77 Cf. H. Delehaye, Les Origines du culte des martyres, Brussels, 1933; F. Gagna, De processu canonizationis a primis ecclesiae saeculisusque ad Codicem iuris caonici, Rome, 1940; P. Molinari, Canonization of Saints, NCE, Vol. 3, p. 55. 78 Ibid. 79 John Paul II, Encyclical Novo Millennio Ineunte (January 6, 2001). 80 Cf. de Lucia, Relazione, Vol. I, pt. I. |
