Patron saint of infants, babies, and youth.
Feast Day – August 11
St. Philomena was the daughter of a Greek king who was a Christian convert. When she was 13 years old, she made a vow of perpetual virginity and to be a bride of Christ. After their visit to Emperor Diocletian, the emperor fell in love with Philomena. Diocletian asked for her hand in marriage as a sort of peace treaty but because Philomena had vowed her virginity to God, she refused to marry the emperor. As a result she was put to jail. St Philomena was scourged, drowned with anchor attached to her, and shot with arrows. But every time she was struck, her angels protected and healed her. Having witnessed all these miracles, the emperor’s soldiers were converted to Christianity and began to testify the power of God. These infuriated the emperor and finally he ordered her beheading.
According to the story, she died on a Friday at three in the afternoon. Two anchors, three arrows, a palm symbol of martyrdom, and a flower were found on the tiles in her tomb, as symbols of her martyrdom. St. Philomena is the patron saint of infants, babies, and youth.
