Novena for the intercession of St. Philomina

Day One

Illustrious Virgin and Martyr, St. Philomena,
behold me prostrate before
the throne whereupon it has pleased
the Most Holy Trinity to place you.
Full of confidence in
your protection, I entreat you
to intercede for me with God,
from the heights of Heaven
deign to cast a glance upon
your humble client!
Spouse of Christ,
sustain me in suffering,
fortify me in temptation,
protect me in the dangers surrounding me,
and obtain for me the graces
necessary to me.
Above all, assist me at
the hour of my death.
St. Philomena, powerful with God,
pray for us.
Amen.

Daily Prayer
O faithful Virgin and
glorious Martyr, St. Philomena,
who works so many miracles
on behalf of the poor and sorrowing,
have pity on me.
You know the multitude
and diversity of my needs.
Behold me at your feet,
full of misery, but full of hope.
I entreat your charity, O great saint!
Graciously hear me and
obtain from God a favorable answer
to the request which I now
humbly lay before you
(here mention your petitions)
I am firmly convinced that
through your merits,
through the scorn,
the sufferings and the
death you endured,
united to the merits of the
Passion and death of Jesus,
your Spouse, I shall obtain
what I ask of you,
and in the joy of my heart
I will bless God,
who is admirable in his Saints.
Amen.
Saint Philomena, Pray for us!

Day Two

O great St. Philomena,
glorious Virgin and Martyr,
wonder-worker of our age,
obtain for me purity of body and soul,
purity of heart and desire,
purity of thought and affection.
Through your patience
under multiplied sufferings,
obtain for me a submissive acceptance
of all the afflictions it may please
God to send me and as you did
miraculously escape unhurt
from the waters of the Tiber,
into which you were cast
by order of your persecutor,
so may I pass through the waters
of tribulation without detriment to my soul.
Amen.

Day Three

O pure Virgin and holy Martyr,
cast a look of pity from Heaven
on your devoted servant,
comfort me in affliction,
assist me in danger,
above all come to my aid
in the hour of death.
Watch over the interests of
the Church of God,
pray for its exaltation and prosperity,
the extension of the faith,
for the Pope,
for the clergy,
for the perseverance of the just,
the conversion of sinners,
and the relief of the souls in purgatory,
especially those dear to me.
O great saint, whose triumph
we celebrate on earth,
intercede for me,
that I may one day behold
the crown of glory
bestowed on you in Heaven,
and eternally praise Him
who so liberally rewards for
all eternity the sufferings endured
for His love during this short life.
Amen.

Day Four

O St. Philomena, Virgin and Martyr,
whom God glorifies by so many miracles,
whom the Vicar of Jesus Christ
has named the Protectress
of the living rosary and
the children of Mary,
manifest, more and more plainly
from the heights of Heaven,
that a voice holy as yours
cannot be denied and that
we have the right to
rely upon your aid.
Obtain for us the grace to be
faithful to Jesus Christ,
even to death.
You became known by your miracles.
May you intercede for me
before the throne of God.
Amen.

Day Five

O Virgin and Martyr, St. Philomena,
you made a vow of virginity
and you stood by it till death
offering your life to Jesus.
Your purity was your perfection.
I pray to you to help me
in my struggle to be chaste and pure.
This is a difficult thing to do now,
with the influence of the media
that tell us that sex,
even outside of marriage,
is good and recommendable.
May your example inspire me
and the young people especially
to regard their bodies as
temples of the Holy Spirit.
May I learn to clothe myself
modestly and simply so that
I may lead people to live this virtue.
Amen.

Day Six

O Virgin and Martyr, St. Philomena,
you were patient in your endurance
to all the sufferings and sacrifices.
You did so because you viewed
that all the glories of
this world are pure vanity.
You were not attached to
anything or anyone.
You have your eyes always
set on eternity.
Help us to live this virtue
of detachment so that we may
be ready to do anything
that Jesus asks of us.
Help us put distance to the
happiness and successes of this life
so that we may also learn
to look forward to
the happiness of heaven.
We ask you, dear saint,
to help us develop a heart
that is attached only to God.
Amen

Day Seven

O St. Philomena, you received
help from Jesus and special grace
of perseverance when you were
tortured and put to death.
That special grace was the
gift of courage.
Your bold declaration to die
for your faith is a proof that
God will not abandon his children.
At times, I doubt God’s place
in my own life;
in times of difficulties,
I easily complain of his absence.
Make me understand that
God takes care of me,
anticipates my needs and
protects me from danger.
Help me to trust God and
put myself entirely in his hands.
Amen

Day Eight

O dear St. Philomena,
you lived during the most
terrible time of the Church,
when Christians were hunted like animals.
But like the first Christians,
you found solace being
with your brothers and sisters
with whom you broke bread,
sharing in the Eucharist in the catacombs.
You received the Body and
Blood of Jesus with devotion,
knowing that He alone would be
able to help you weather the persecutions.
I implore you, my dear saint,
to help me love the Eucharist,
to receive Jesus daily
through the Holy Communion.
Bless also my brothers and sisters,
especially the sick, who are
unable to receive Jesus daily.
May Jesus’ presence
enable them to accept the
sufferings they are passing through.
Amen

Day Nine

O dear St. Philomena,
you encountered Christians who,
due to terrible tortures,
were unable to remain strong
and renounce their faith temporarily,
or who faced with physical pain,
surrendered holy books to
the Roman soldiers.
You welcomed these Christians and
understood their weaknesses.
You did not condemn them
nor stay away from them.
You continued to pray for
them and with them.
I pray, my dear saint,
that you will also help me
develop the spirit of understanding
that will prevent me
from condemning people.
Inspire me always to work
for unity and peace in our
communities especially in our parishes.
Amen.