The Journey to St. Philomena: A Tale of Grace and Mystery
Our journey led us to Mugnano, Italy, to the shrine of St. Philomena—a saint whose celestial power transcends time and space.
In spring’s quiet bloom, we embarked on a path that wove through sacred landscapes, tracing the footprints of saints and sanctuaries. Our first stop was Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France, where we knelt before the tomb of Mary Magdalene—her life a luminous testament to penance and love. From there, we ascended to Magdalene’s Grotto, a sacred refuge perched in the hills, where her presence lingers like a whisper carried by the wind. Nine days later, we found ourselves in Mugnano, Italy, at the shrine of St. Philomena—a saint whose celestial influence transcends the boundaries of time and space.
It felt as though unseen hands were guiding us, drawing us into an unfolding narrative of grace. Upon returning home, our lives bore the fruits of this pilgrimage—a newfound fervor ignited within us, like embers stirred into flame by the Holy Spirit’s breath. Together, my wife and I embraced a life steeped in devotion. Daily Mass became our anchor, First Friday and First Saturday devotions our compass, and monthly confession our wellspring of renewal. Through these humble acts, our love for Our Lord and Our Lady deepened, their intercession drawing heaven closer to earth. The presence of Mary Magdalene and Philomena became a radiant thread binding our hearts to the divine.
The grace of these two saints did more than touch our hearts—it transformed them. They awakened in us a yearning for true repentance: a contrition that sought to cleanse the soul and a love that aspired to mirror their devotion to Christ. Their shrines in France and Italy were not merely destinations but portals into the sacred mysteries of their lives, and by extension, into the boundless grace they embody. With each step, we felt the whisper of a call—an invitation to embark on a deeper journey of faith.
Among these companions, Philomena shines with a singular brilliance. Her intercessory power is vast, attested by countless voices over the centuries. She is, as many proclaim, “after Mary,” the radiant advocate of the faithful before Christ. Her story—of a princess who surrendered earthly glory to remain true to her heavenly King—now intertwines with our own. Refusing a mortal crown, she preserved her purity and fidelity, and now reigns as a queen in the courts of heaven.
Philomena’s connection to Mystical France and the House of New Bethany is a thread woven with divine mystery. I see her as a celestial envoy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, intricately linked to the mission of that sacred kingdom. Her grace is woven into its very essence—a quiet yet profound presence. To her, we offer our hearts and, symbolically, our earthly kingdom, trusting she accepts this as a token of love and fidelity.
And I am certain she has accepted, for her response resonates in the quiet whispers of prayer and the miraculous graces that have poured forth since our visit to her shrine in Briggsville, Wisconsin. There, as in Mugnano, the very air seems alive with her presence, reminding us that this earthly plane is but a shadow of the heavenly one she now inhabits.
This journey of grace does not feel like an end but a beginning. Philomena herself seems to beckon us onward, inviting us to delve deeper into the mysteries of faith, repentance, and divine love. Alongside Magdalene’s light, her guidance draws us ever closer to a kingdom not of this world but eternal—where Christ reigns and His saints intercede.
And so, with hearts ablaze, we step forward, trusting in the gentle hands that lead us and the powerful intercession of these beloved saints who accompany us every step of the way.