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Oil Dedicated to St Philomena (Wonderworker)

St Philomena (Wonderworker) from A Blessed Call To Love, Ireland.

Saint Philomena was a young Christian martyr who lived during the early fourth century. Not much is known about her life, but her story has captivated the hearts of many believers throughout the ages.

Philomena was born in Corfu, Greece, to a noble family. Her parents were Christians who raised her in the faith, and she showed great piety from a young age. When she was about thirteen years old, her family traveled to Rome, where the Emperor Diocletian was persecuting Christians.

While in Rome, Philomena was captured and brought before the emperor. Despite his attempts to force her to renounce her faith, she remained steadfast, even under torture. She was thrown into prison, where she spent several months in prayer and fasting.

During her imprisonment, Philomena had a vision of an angel who told her that she would be released soon, but that she would suffer a greater trial before being united with Christ. True to the angel’s words, she was eventually released from prison and taken to the arena to be martyred.

There, she was tied to a pillar and subjected to a variety of tortures, including scourging and being shot with arrows. But each time she was wounded, an angel would come and heal her. Finally, she was beheaded, and her body was buried in the catacombs of Rome.

Philomena’s tomb was forgotten for many years, until it was rediscovered in the early nineteenth century. Miracles began to be attributed to her intercession, and she became a popular saint throughout Europe and the Americas.

Today, Saint Philomena still venerated by many Catholics and Orthodox Christians. She considered a patroness of youth, purity, and the renewal of the Church. Her feast day celebrated on August 11th.