#because he died willingly and had faith that the order could win without him

[mattchase82]

The Story of St. Philomena

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It is said that Saint Philomena revealed Her story to three people who did not know one another and who resided in different parts of the world. These private revelations unveiled the story of Saint Philomena’s life in great detail and were amazingly identical accounts.

"Filomena" [Ital.] "Philomène" [Fr.] "Philomena" [Eng.]

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One of the most well-known recipients of this revelation was the Foundress of the Oblates of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother Maria Luisa di Gesù, a Dominican Tertiary.

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On August 3, 1833, after having received the Eucharist, the nun Maria was praying before Saint Philomena’s statue and at that moment felt a strong desire to know the true date of the Saint’s martyrdom. August 10 was the day St. Philomena’s relics had arrived in Mugnano, Italy. This date was significant to the people of Mugnano, but not to those who lived elsewhere. As Maria contemplated this, she closed her eyes and suddenly a gracious and gentle voice came from the direction of the statue, saying:

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"Dear Sister, August the tenth was the day of my rest, my triumph, my birth into Heaven, my entering into the possession of such eternal goods as the human mind cannot possibly imagine. That is why my Heavenly Spouse disposed, by His most high decrees that my coming to Mugnano should be on the day which had seen my coming to Heaven! He prepared so many circumstances which should make my arrival at Mugnano glorious and triumphant; giving joy to all the people, even though the priest who brought me had absolutely decided that my translation should take place on the fifth of the month very quietly in his own house. My omnipotent Spouse impeded him with so many obstacles that the priest, although he did all he could to carry out his plan, could not do so. And so it came about that the said translation was made on the tenth, the day of my feast in Heaven."

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Mother Maria was overwhelmed by this and thought she had fallen as prey to this illusion. She took refuge in the Sacrament of Penance, confessing the whole event to her spiritual director. He was not so hasty in disposing of the matter. He proceeded to write to Don Francesco de Lucia Link Out in Mugnano and inquired about the truth of whether or not he originally intended to have the translation on August 5. Don Francesco’s reply confirmed that he indeed encountered many obstacles which detained him from carrying out his plan to arrive in Mugnano on the fifth.

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At that, Mother Luisa’ director granted her obedience to ask St. Philomena other details of her life and martyrdom. Again, Mother Luisa went to the Saint, and begged her not to take any notice of her unworthiness, but to consider that it was a matter of holy obedience, and to reveal more about her life. After that time, there came a day when Maria was alone in her cell and felt her eyes being closed. She heard the gracious voice of St. Philomena. The following account of the life of Saint Philomena is taken from the official account of Fr. Di Lucia’s Relazione Istorici di Santa Filomena and subsequent annals from locutions received by Sr. Luisa di Gesu in August of 1833. These revelations received approval by the Holy Office, (presently the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) on December 21, 1833.

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"My dear Sister, I am the daughter of a Prince who governed a small state in Greece. My mother is also of royal blood. My parents were without children. They were idolaters. They continually offered sacrifices and prayers to their false gods.

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A doctor from Rome named Publius lived in the palace in the service of my father. This doctor professed Christianity. Seeing the affliction of my parents, by the impulse of the Holy Ghost, he spoke to them of Christianity, and promised to pray for them if they consented to receive Baptism. The grace which accompanied his words enlightened their understanding and triumphed over their will. They became Christians and obtained the long desired happiness that Publius had assured them as the reward of their conversion. At the moment of my birth, they gave me the name of "Lumena," an allusion to the light of Faith of which I had been, as it were, the fruit. The day of my Baptism they called me "Filumena," or "Daughter of Light," because on that day I was born to the Faith. The affection which my parents bore me was so great that they had me always with them.

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It was on this account that they took me to Rome on a journey that my father was obliged to make on the occasion of an unjust war with which he was threatened by the haughty Diocletian. I was then thirteen years old. On our arrival in the capital of the world, we proceeded to the palace of the Emperor and were admitted for an audience. As soon as Diocletian saw me, his eyes were fixed upon me. He appeared to be pre-possessed in this manner during the entire time that my father was stating with animated feelings everything that could serve for his defense.

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As soon as Father had ceased to speak, the Emperor desired him to be disturbed no longer, to banish all fear, to think only of living in happiness. These are the Emperor’s words, ‘I shall place at your disposal all the force of the Empire. I ask only one thing, that is the hand of your daughter.’ My father, dazzled with an honor he was far from expecting, willingly acceded on the spot to the proposal of the Emperor.

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Saint Philomena Cloth Banner

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When we returned to our own dwelling, Father and Mother did all they could to induce me to yield to Diocletian’s wishes and theirs. I cried, ‘Do you wish, that for the love of a man, I should break the promise I have made to Jesus Christ? My virginity belongs to him. I can no longer dispose of it.’

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‘But you were young then, too young,’ answered my father, ‘to have formed such an engagement.’ He joined the most terrible threats to the command that he gave me to accept the hand of Diocletian. The grace of my God rendered me invincible, and my father, not being able to make the Emperor relent, in order to disengage himself from the promise he had given, was obliged by Diocletian to bring me to the Imperial Chamber.

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I had to withstand for some time beforehand a new attack from my father’s anger. My mother, uniting her efforts to his, endeavored to conquer my resolution. Caresses, threats, everything was employed touce me to compliance. At last, I saw both of my parents fall at my knees and say to me with tears in their eyes, ‘My child have pity on your father, your mother, your country, our country, our subjects.’

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‘No! No,’ I answered them. ‘My virginity, which I have vowed to God, comes before everything, before you, before my country. My kingdom is heaven.’

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Sainte PhilomèneSainte Philomène

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My words plunged them into despair and they brought me before the Emperor, who on his part did all in his power to win me. But his promises, his allurements, his threats, were equally useless. He then flew into a violent fit of anger and, influenced by the Devil, had me cast into one of the prisons of the palace, where he had me loaded with chains. Thinking that pain and shame would weaken the courage with which my Divine Spouse inspired me, he came to see me every day. After several days, the Emperor issued an order for my chains to be loosed, that I might take a small portion of bread and water. He renewed his attacks, some of which would have been fatal to purity had it not been for the grace of God.

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The defeats which he always experienced were for me the preludes to new tortures. Prayer supported me. I did not cease to recommend myself to Jesus and his most pure Mother. My captivity had lasted thirty-seven days, when, in the midst of a heavenly light, I saw Mary holding the Divine Son in her arms.

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‘My daughter,’ she said to me, ‘three days more of prison and after forty days you shall leave this state of pain.’

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Such happy news made my heart beat with joy, but as the Queen of Angels had added that I should quit my prison, to sustain, in frightful torments a combat far more terrible than those preceding, I fell instantly from joy to the most cruel anguish; I thought it would kill me.

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‘Have courage, my child,’ Mary then said to me; ‘are you unaware of the love of predilection that I bear for you? The name, which you received in baptism, is the pledge of it for the resemblance which it has to that of my Son and to mine. You are called Lumena, as your Spouse is called Light, Star, Sun, as I myself am called Aurora, Star, the Moon in the fullness of its brightness, and Sun. Fear not, I will aid you. Now nature, whose weakness humbles you, asserts its law. In the moment of combat, grace will come to lend you its force, and your Angel, who was also mine, Gabriel, whose name expresses strength, will come to your aid. I will recommend you especially to his care, as the well beloved among my children.’

These words of the Queen of virgins gave me courage again, and the vision disappeared, leaving my prison filled with a celestial perfume. I experienced a joy out of this world. Something indefinable.

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What the Queen of Angels had prepared me for was soon experienced. Diocletian, despairing of bending me, decided on public chastisement to offend my virtue. He condemned me to be stripped and scourged like the Spouse I preferred to him. These are his horrifying words.

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‘Since she is not ashamed to prefer to an Emperor like me, a malefactor condemned to an infamous death by his own people, she deserves that my justice shall treat her as he was treated.’

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The prison guards hesitated to unclothe me entirely but they did tie me to a column in the presence of the great men of the court. They lashed me with violence until I was bathed in blood. My whole body felt like one open wound, but I did not faint.

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The tyrant had me dragged back to the dungeon, expecting me to die. I hoped to join my heavenly Spouse. Two angels, shining with light, appeared to me in the darkness. They poured a soothing balm on my wounds, bestowing on me a vigor I did not have before the torture.

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When the Emperor was informed by the change that had come over me, he had me brought before him. He viewed me with a greedy desire and tried to persuade me that I owed my healing and regained vigor to Jupiter, another god that he, the Emperor, had sent to me. He attempted to impress me with his belief that Jupiter desired me to be Empress of Rome. Joining to these seductive words promises of great honor, including the most flattering words, Diocletian tried to caress me. Fiendishly, he attempted to complete the work of Hell which he had begun. The Divine Spirit to whom I am indebted for constancy in preserving my purity seemed to fill me with light and knowledge and to all the proofs which I gave of the solidity of our Faith, neither Diocletian nor his courtiers could find an answer.

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Then, the frenzied Emperor dashed at me, commanding a guard to chain an anchor around my neck and bury me deep in the waters of the Tiber. The order was executed. I was cast into the water, but God sent me two angels who unfastened the anchor. It fell into the river mud, where it remains no doubt to the present time. The angels transported me gently in full view of the multitude upon the riverbank. I came back unharmed, not even wet, after being plunged with the heavy anchor.

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When a cry of joy rose from the debauchers on the shore, and so many embraced Christianity by proclaiming their belief in my God, Diocletian attributed my preservation to secret magic. Then the Emperor had me dragged through the streets of Rome and shot with a shower of arrows. My blood flowed, but I did not faint. Diocletian thought that I was dying and commanded the guards to carry me back to the dungeon. Heaven honored me with a new favor there. I fell into a sweet sleep, and I found myself, on awaking, perfectly cured.

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Diocletian learned about it. ‘Well, then,’ he cried in a fit of rage, ‘let her be pierced with sharp darts a second time, and let her die in that torture.’ They hastened to obey him. Again, the archers bent their bows. They gathered all their strength, but the arrows refused to second their intentions. The Emperor was present. In a rage, he called me a magician, and thinking that the action of fire could destroy the enchantment, ordered the darts to be made in a furnace and directed against my heart. He was obeyed, but these darts, after having passed through a part of the space which they were to cross to come to me, took a quite contrary direction and returned to strike those by whom they had been hurled. Six of the archers were killed by them. Several among them renounced paganism, and the people began to render public testimony to the power of God that protected me.

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These murmurs and acclamations infuriated the tyrant. He determined to hasten my death by ordering my head to be cut off. My soul took flight towards my heavenly Spouse, who placed me, with the crown of virginity and the palm of martyrdom, in a distinguished place among the elect. The day that was so happy for me and saw me enter into glory was Friday, the third hour after mid-day, the same hour that saw my Divine Master expire."

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What is noteworthy from a historical perspective is not only that this revelation was confirmed by two other individuals unknown to each other (one a priest, the other a historian), but these other historical facts: 1) The Third Century Roman Emperor was known for executing Christians by the use of arrows, exemplified by St. Sebastian; 2) The Third Century Roman Emperor was also known for killing Christians by tying anchors around their necks and throwing them into the water; 3) The reference to "Lumena" -- the name given to her at birth, "Light" -- and then at Baptism, "Fi Lumena," "Daughter of Light," may explain the arrangement of the tiles found at the grave as "Lumena," her first given name, was on the first tile.

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The Facts of St. Philomena

In spite of much research, little is known of the life of St. Philomena before the discovery of her celebrated tomb in the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome. Details about her are derived from the revelation that she herself made to the Servant of God, Sister Maria Luisa of Jesus, her fervent devotee, on August 3, 1833.

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The following are historical facts beginning with the discovery of St. Philomena’s tomb in 1802.

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May 24, 1802 - A Tomb Is Discovered

Revolution, war, famine, atheism, and persecution had plagued Europe during the eighteenth century, and the Jansenist heresy had touched and withered the spiritual vigor of Catholics. Men cameo believe in their own abilities and the right of any man to think as they did.

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In these fierce days of persecution, the primitive Christians were obliged to perform the sacred rites of their holy religion in the subterranean caverns (cryptœ) which extend on every side of the Eternal City, but clustered most thickly at the south-east corner, near the Appain Way and the Ardeatine Way. These caverns, long-believed to have been originally mere sand-pits, arenaria, out of which sand was dug for building purposes, are now proved beyond all doubt to have been constructed at great expense by noble and wealthy Christian families as places of burial. During three consecutive centuries, the Catacombs, as they are called, were places where the faithful had their temples and altars; where they met to pray in common and where the Pontiffs celebrated "The Gathering," or the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They were in constant use also up to the cessation of persecution, and even to 410 A.D as the last resting-place of the Saints and martyrs. In the terrible irruptions of the Goths and Lombards, many of these cemeteries, especially of the Via Salaria, were sacrilegiously plundered of their sacred treasures, and in part destroyed. When happier times ensued - at the commencement of the eighth century and culminating with Pope St. Paschal - all the relics of the Popes and principal martyrs and confessors which had hitherto lain in the Catacombs were removed for greater safety to the churches of Rome. As time passed, the Catacombs were abandoned and in great part closed, and the knowledge of them was lost altogether, until they were accidentally re-discovered by some laborer in the year 1578. Even then they seem to have been left unguarded, and permission was given to the faithful to take away whatever relics they chose.

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However, the story begins quite plainly, though and perhaps sadly. On May 24, 1802, workers had just returned to the excavations begun earlier in a tufa pit in an underground cemetery dedicated to the family of Priscilla (the ancient Catacomb of Saint Priscilla), underneath the soil on the road that goes out of the Porta Salaria from Rome to Ancona.

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Laboring in the darkness, a fossor reached the center of the Catacomb not far from the Greek Chapel, and very close to the largest luminaries where he was clearing loose sand which had fallen from one of the galleries on the upper level from a loculus when his pick struck a cemented surface.

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Upon closer examination the concrete surface appeared to be some tiles which would normally enclose a loculus and, as previously instructed by Msgr. Ponzetti, Custodian of the Holy Relics, he immediately ceased the excavation.

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May 25, 1802 - The Tomb Is Revealed

Fr. Filippo Ludovici, Vatican overseer of the excavation was informed, and on the following day, May 25, 1802, Fr. Ludovici, accompanied by several observers, descended into the Catacomb, and witnessed the full uncovering of the loculus, whereby with the removal of sand, three brick funeral tiles (the tiles were given to the Sanctuary on August 14, 1827 by Pope Leo XII) were revealed which bore an epitaph painted in lead. Each tile measured approximately 50 centimeters long and had a total length of 1.74 centimeters (5 feet 9 inches).

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LumenaLumena Pax TePax Te Cum FiCum Fi

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The painted inscription on the three funeral tiles appeared as follows: tile one - LUMENA; tile two - PAXTE; tile three - CUM FI. The loculus was documented by Msgr. Ponzetti, Custodian of the Holy Relics, as bearing "FILUMENA," an interpretation of the epitaph consistent with both the ancient custom of beginning inscriptions from the second tile and the logical etymological context. The result is a full reading of the epitaph as "PAX TECUM FILUMENA."

This funereal inscription presents the distinctive characteristics of apostolic times, rarely found in other cemeteries more recent than the Priscilla.

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The name of "Filumena" is officially granted to the sacred remains examined on May 25, 1802, as recorded in the document issued by Ponzetti as Custodian of the Sacred Relics which released the remains of this Christian martyr to the Diocese of Nola on June 8, 1805:

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8 Iunii 1805

Dono dedi Ven. Ecclesiae Archipresbyterali terrae Mugnano Dioecesis Nolanae corpus Sanctae Christi Martyris

FILUMENAE

Nominis proprii sic picti in tribus Tabulis laterariis cinabro

LUMENA PAXTE CUM FI

in pulverem et in fragminaactum per me infrascriptum Custodem extractum cum vasculo vitreo fracto ex Coemeterio Priscillae Via Salaria Nova die 25 maii 1802, quod collocavi in capsula lignea charta colorata cooperta et consignavi Illmo Dominico Caesari pro Illmo et Rmo D. Bartholomaeo de Caesare Epo Potentino.

HYACINTHUS PONZETTI, Custos.

Symbols of Martyrdom

In addition to the inscription, so eloquent in its simplicity, the sepulchral tiles exhibited certain symbols, including tokens of martyrdom. There were an anchor and arrow pointing upwards, a palm, and under the palm another anchor, a javelin pointing upwards, another arrow pointing downwards, and a lily.

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Students of Christian symbols generally agree on the interpretation of these figures on the tiles. The emblems breathe the language of faith and hope.

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In the anchor there is a resemblance to the cross, the sign of faith in Christ. In both Greek and Roman antiquity there is mention of the sacred anchor. The anchor also connotes hope, refuge, and preservation of life. In the legend of the martyred Saint Philomena there is a passage about the Roman emperor’s wrath when an anchor he had fastened to the girl’s neck wedged in the mud of the Tiber River. Other Saints, including Pope Clement, suffered martyrdom by having an anchor tied to the neck and being dropped into the sea. Emperor Trajan as well as Tberius decreed this form of brutality.

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The two arrows pointing in opposite directions signify torment similar to that which Tiberius exercised on St. Sebastian.

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On the removal of the tiles in the cavity, were disclosed the remains of an interment, which competent authority pronounced to be those of a young girl from thirteen to fifteen years of age. The head was small and very much fractured, but the principal bones were entire. Surgeons ascertained the type of wounds inflicted. Physicians examined the skeleton - its small unbroken bones, fractured skull, and eye sockets. The maiden had been lanced.

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At the end of the loculus was a small glass vial or vase with half-broken sides of which were encrusted within with a dust of blackish color indicating blood clinging to glass fragments, and with the lower portion of the vial still intact and firmly embedded in the cement . It was undoubtedly blood which had been collected at the death of the martyr, according to the custom of Christians during the persecutions, and placed with the remains as a testimonial to her death by martyrdom. As early as 1668, the Congregation of Indulgences and Relics had decided that the genuineness of a true relic of a martyr hinged somewhat on the finding of the vial or vase filled with the martyr’s blood. The same congregation renewed the decision in 1863.

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This blood was loosened from the broken pieces of the vial to which it adhered, and was carefully placed in a crystal urn. Those present, among whom were men of great learning of the Court of Inquiry, were startled by a strange chemical reaction. As soon as these little particles of blood fell into the sun, they glittered like burnished gold or silver, or shone like diamonds and precious jewels, or, again, were resplendent in all colors of the rainbow. The chemical change of the blood convinced the Church dignitaries that a new star had arisen among the Blessed. Cardinal Ruffo Scilla renewed the seals on the new reliquary after the blood of the Saint had been safeguarded in the crystal vial, and deposed in the authentication: "And we have seen her blood change into several brilliant little precious stones of various colors; also into gold and silver."

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This extraordinary phenomenon continues to the present day. The precious remains were reverently placed in a wooden case, lined with silk and stuffed with fine cotton and transferred to the Custodia Generale, or treasury of Sacred Relics, where they remained there for three years.

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August 10, 1805 - Transfer Of the Relics from Rome to the Sanctuary of St. Philomena, Mugnano del Cardinale, Av., Italy

The remains of Filumena departed from Rome on July 1, 1805 and arrived at Mugnano on August 10, 1805 where they have remained since the transferal.

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In 1805, England was at war with France. At this time, France was intrigued with Ireland Scotland had attempted to invade England with its aim on the Indian Empire. Napoleon, who had been the Commander-in-Chief of the French Army which invaded and conquered Italy, was now Emperor of the French.

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That summer, the Bishop-elect of Petenza went to Rome to be consecrated, and also to congratulate Pope Pius VII on his return from France, on behalf of the King of Naples, the Spanish Don Carlos. He took with him as his chaplain, a holy missionary priest, Don Francesco de Lucia Link Out, who was serving the parish of Mugnano north of Naples. Don Francesco, a cultured and pious priest, was born in Mugnano del Cardinale on September 19, 1772. He completed his studies in the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Lucera. Ordained a priest on September 19, 1796, he opened a school of philosophy and literature in Naples. He quickly gained the esteem and affection of distinguished Neapolitan people in education circles. Amongst these was the Venerable Jesuit Servant of God, Guiseppe Maria Pignatelli.

Don Francesco De LuciaDon Francesco De LuciaDon Francesco had a heavy heart. His parish was infested with impurities of revolutionary ideas, resentment against the authority of the Church, unbelief, and immorality. His secret hope was to get the Bishop to use his authority to get him the relics of a martyr - a Saint who would come back with him and help him convert his parish. He knew exactly what he wanted - a virgin martyr whose name was known.

The Guardian of the Custodia Generale, which Don Francesco soon got permission to visit, was evidently taken by this devout and humble priest, and said he would help him acquire what he desired, and told him to choose among the relics in the Custodia. In mid-May, Don Francesco was taken to the Treasure House of Relics, which was under the care of a worthy guardian, Monsignor Don Giacinto Ponzetti. There were those of thirteen martyrs, but only the names of three were known - one was a child, one an adult and then there was ‘Filumena.’ He had wanted a virgin martyr from the start, but what was more, when he stood before the case containing Filumena’s relics, he felt alive with spiritual joy, and it was as though She instantly took away the heaviness of his heart. This was undoubtedly the helper he wanted! The Guardian promised to arrange for this. Imagine his disappointment, then, when the official reply came that bodies of martyrs whose names were known were so few, that such as were found must be kept for special churches or dioceses.

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His sadness doubled. Rome is not the best place in which to spend the summer - or at least it was not in those days, when the marshes of the Campagna had not been drained. As a result of the intense heat, and his considerable worry and disappointment, Don Francesco’s health began to decline. A friend offered him the relics of an unnamed martyr to comfort him, but he would not accept it. He was convinced that only Filumena could help him convert his parish. One night when he was burning with fever, he promised that if Filumena would grant him sleep, he would do everything possible to take her as his patron to Mugnano. Miraculously, his fever was gone and he fell asleep awakening in perfect health.

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This confirmed to him that Filumena wanted to come with him to Mugnano just as much as he did. This time he went to the newly consecrated Bishop, and asked him to use his influence. When the Bishop heard the story, he agreed that the Saint appeared to want to go to Mugnano, and added his request to Don Francesco’s. The Guardian gladly acted on this permission to entrust the relics to Don Francesco and felt certain that Filumena would perform miracles in Mugnano.

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Delighted, the good Bishop and Don Francesco took possession of the precious casket, and proceeded to bring Filumena to Naples. With many prayers and every honor, the casket was placed in the front of the Episcopal carriage.

Saint Philomena and La Salette

The cortege was due in the little town on Sunday, August 10, and on the vigil, bells were joyfully rung to announce the event. At dawn, a messenger was sent by Don Francesco to proclaim that the sacred body was coming. Soon an unusual excitement reigned, and crowds were seen proceeding from all directions to meet and welcome Her. The day was to be noted as a memorable one in the archives of Mugnano. More than forty priests in their richest vestments, the members of the various confraternities and representatives from the neighboring parishes went in procession displaying their banners. The road was strewn with olive branches and exquisite flowers. When the body came into sight, all the bells were heard "sprinkling air with holy sounds," and heavenly music, sounds of bomb and gun fire, and groups of young men and young girls united in song welcomed Her in the most honorable way.

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After entering the town the cortege took fully two hours to reach the church of the Madonna del grazie. Upon arrival of the sacred body, it was deposited under a triumphal dias near the Gospel side of the high altar, and Solemn High Mass was sung.

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Don Francesco de Lucia Link Out, to give a solid and profound base to the devotion to the Saint, founded the Association of the Children of St. Philomena. He was the first rector of the sanctuary and most vigilant guardian of the holy remains of the Saint. He dedicated his priestly life for the glory of God and for souls. After 41 years of untiring apostolate in the propagation of devotion to Saint Filumena in all the Kingdom of the Two Sicilys, acquiring the regard of cardinals and bishops, he rendered his great soul to God on April 9, 1847.

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January 30, 1837 - Pope Gregory XVI Confirmed the Feast of St. Philomena Established as August 11

Pope Gregory XVIPope Gregory XVIFor thirty years miracles continued to increase in number at Mugnano, and the glory of the "Thaumaturga" (Wonder-worker) filled the Universe. Various appeals were addressed to the Holy See so that a feast day might be established, and an Office and Mass permitted in her honor.

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In 1835, Pauline Jaricot, Foundress of the great French lay social institution in aid of the missions, Propagation of the Faith, and also foundress of the Association of the Living Rosary, and of other good works, was close to death. She suffered from a heart disease which had affected her health for some years and had left her suffering from frequent heart attacks. She had been unable to walk for the previous year and a quarter. The slow deterioration was leading to death. Doctors had given up on her case and deemed it hopeless.

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Drawn by an irresistible attraction, she wanted to visit Rome and the Holy Father. When she arrived at Rome after a terrible journey, her state was such that she could not go to the Vatican, and it was the Holy Father who went to visit her in the convent of Trinita dei Monti. The young lady asked Pope Gregory XVI if he would approve the cult of Saint Filumena, if she was cured by the Saint.

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"Surely, my child," replied the august Pontiff, "for that would indeed be a first class miracle." This miracle indeed took place at the Sanctuary of Saint Filumena. On her return to Rome, the Sovereign Pontiff wanted Miss Jaricot to stay a full year there until all doubts about the completeness of the cure were quashed. Then, in a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, confirmed by the Pope on January 30, 1837, the feast of Saint Philomena was established as the eleventh of August.

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A recount of the miracle:

Toward the evening of Saturday, August 9, 1835, vigil of the feast of the Translation of Saint Filumena, during the Solemn Vespers, a French lady was seen to arrive accompanied by her chaplain, a maid and a servant. These last two, with much trouble, lowered their mistress from the coach onto a chair, and carried her through the crowd to the foot of the altar of the Reliquary where she remained in prayer until the end of the function.

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After 15 months of suffering, the lady was pallid, wasted and weak. Being in the final stages of heart disease, she resembled more a corpse than a live person.

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The next day, on August 10, she was taken to the Sanctuary a number of times to participate in various Masses and to receive Holy Communion. She attended the Evening Office as she had on Monday. Her sad state was observed by a number of doctors from Naples who had come for the feast day celebrations.

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Up until that evening, she gave no sign of improvement though she later revealed that she had felt herself healed soon after Communion, but was afraid to announce it because of the commotion the people would make. However, after the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, when the people had left, she rose and walked back to her lodging without help. She had truly been cured. When they quickly found out, the enthusiasm of the public was indescribable. At the second hour of the night, 9:30 p.m., the church bells pealed, and the shouts of joy of the crowds replied. Miss Jaricot had to show herself to satisfy the wishes of the people.

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Out of gratitude she took the haven of the daughters of Saint Filumena: The Little Sisters of St. Philomena, and added to her name those of Philomena-Maria. The same gratitude brought her back to Mungano in 1839 for a four-day visit. After cruel trials, borne with the resignation and serenity of the Saints, she entered into the sleep of the just on January 9, 1862. Her body rests in the Church of Saint Polycarp awaiting the honor of being raised to the altars. The process of her beatification has been under way for a number of years.

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On January 30, 1837, Pope Gregory XVI issued a solemn pontifical decree confirming the rescript of the Congregation of Rites authorizing Saint Philomena’s public cultus and approving the office, Mass of the Common of a virgin and martyr with a proper fourth lesson at Matins in honor of St. Philomena, virgin and martyr on August 11. This papal approval of public liturgical devotion was first granted to the clergy of the Diocese of Nola, and later extended to other dioceses, including Rome itself. The fourth lesson officially inserted into the Breviary in liturgical honor of Saint Philomena on August 11 acknowledges the finding of her remains in the Priscilla catacombs, her martyrdom status, the rapid spread of her extensive popular devotion amidst the faithful due to her miraculous intercession, and the permission of the Pope to celebrate liturgically the office and mass in her honor (as here presented):

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DIE XI AUGUSTI

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IN FESTO S. PHILUMENAE

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Virginis et Martyris

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In II NOCTURNO - LECTIO IV

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Inter cetera martyrum sepulcra, quae in coemeterio Priscillae ad viam Salariam reperiri solent, illud exstitit quo repositum fuerat sanctae Philumenae corpus, uti ex tumuli inscriptione, tribus laterculis apposita, perlegebatur. Licet vero inventa fuerit phiala sanguinis, et alia descripta conspicerentur martyrii insignia, dolendum tamen est res ab eadem gestas actaque ac genus martyrii quod ipsa fecit obscura perstitisse. Ceterum ubi primum sacrum hoc corpus, ex beneficentia Pii septimi initio pontificatus ejus acceptum, cultui fidelis populi propositum fuit Mugnani in Nolana dioecesi, ingens illico famae celebritas ac religio erga sanctam martyrem percrebuit, praesertim ob signa quae ejusdem praesidio accessisse undique ferebatur. Hinc factum est ut complurium antistitum cultorumque martyris postulationibus permotus Gregorius decimus sextus pontifex maximus, universa rei ratione mature perpensa, festum ejusdem cum Officio et Missa in memorata Nolana dioecesi et alibi agendum benigne permiserit.

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C.M Episcop. Praenest. Card. PEDICINIUS;

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S. R. E. Vice- C. S.R.C. Praef.;

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V. PESCETELLI S. Fidei Promotor.

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In summary, Pope Gregory XVI in a papal decree, granted official approbation of the liturgical cultus and, thereby, official ecclesiastical recognition of the sanctity of St. Philomena, virgin and martyr. The Pontiff, fully aware of the absence of any historical account of the martyr Saint "Filumena," granted to her the privileges of public liturgical veneration based upon the foundation of the great quantity of miracles ecclesiastically documented and recognized as having occurred through her direct intercession.

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The official positive decree of Pope Gregory XVI in papal recognition of Saint Philomena’s status as deserving of liturgical cult reinforces the deeper truth that far more important than the historical account of Philomena’s earthly life is the historical and documented account of her powerful intercession for the Church as sanctioned by God himself. Whoever this early Christian martyr is and whatever constitutes the particular circumstances of her life and death, God is pleased with prayers of petition offered in the name of "St. Philomena," to which He has responded generously to the Christian faithful in granting an abundance of heavenly favors.

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The historical abundance of miracles attests to God’s desire to encourage devotion to the person behind the name of Filumena, regardless of the absence of a recorded history of her earthly life. This primacy of importance of her actual intercession for the people of God in our own times, over the details of her earthly life in ancient times, is what the Pope and the Church confirmed in the raising of St. Philomena to the level of public liturgical veneration, the beginning of the process of her public recognition as Saint and martyr.

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Magisterial Decrees Pertaining To Devotion to St. Philomena

From the liturgical approval of Pope Gregory XVI to the papal decrees of St. Pius X, Nineteen acts of the Holy See in the course of five successive pontificates were issued in positive promotion of popular devotion to Saint Philomena expressed in the form of elevations in rank of liturgical cultus, the erection of confraternities and archconfraternities, and the granting of plenary and partial indulgences.

Several acts of the Holy See particularly display the Magisterium’s approval and encouragement of ecclesial devotion to this Christian Saint and martyr. Beyond the elevation of the rank of the mass and office previously granted by Pope Gregory XVI, Bl. Pius IX approved a proper mass and office dedicated to St. Philomena with the papal confirmation of the previously submitted decree, Etsi decimo on January 31, 1855, a significant liturgical elevation, even though her name was never entered into the Roman Martyrology. The granting of a proper mass and office to Saint Philomena, which took place following the return of Bl. Pius IX from a papal pilgrimage to Mugnano during his forced exile from Rome, was an unprecedented act in honor of a Christian martyr known only by name and evidence of martyrdom. Bl. Pius IX also granted plenary and partial indulgences to devotions in honor of St. Philomena at the Sanctuary in Mugnano.

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Pope Leo XIII granted papal approbation to the Cord of Saint Philomena with several plenary indulgences in association with its wearing, and accorded the title and privilege of "archconfraternity" for the respective Philomenian devotion and work in France. Pope St. Pius X continued the papal succession of encouragement for public Church devotion by approving the extension of the Archconfraternity of St. Philomena to the universal Church.

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Far more than one solitary papal act by Pope Gregory XVI, the papal Magisterium has repeatedly encouraged the nature and growth of ecclesial devotion to Saint Philomena, in official recognition of her status as a Saint, in public liturgical and devotional sanctions which extended to the universal faith and life of the Church, and thereby manifesting official and essential liturgical and devotional characteristics of her status as a Saint as defined by the Church.

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Hagiographical Testimony

St. John Vianney, beyond any other Saint or Blessed, manifested an expansive testimony of faith and documented witness toward the reality of St. Philomena and her profound intercessory efficacy. The CurÉ, as recorded in the canonization process, attributed all the miracles documented at Ars to have been affected through Saint Philomena’s intercession; repeatedly spoke of having received apparitions of St. Philomena; and directly attributed his own personal miraculous cure from grave illness to her intercession.

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The testimony and cure of Ven. Pauline Jaricot through the intercession of the young martyr Saint has been noted. St. Peter Julian Eymard was cured from serious illness after having been instructed by St. John Vianney to pray a novena to Saint Philomena. St. Peter Channel, the first Oceanian martyr, preached of St. Philomena and referred to her as his "auxiliary" in his missionary apostolate.

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Blessed Damien de VeusterBlessed Damien de VeusterSaint Joseph Damien de Veuster of Molokai Link Out dedicated his first chapel in Molokai to the young Saint. St. Madeleine Sophie Barat consistently invoked Saint Philomena during difficulties in the establishment of her societies, and attributed the miraculous cure of a dying novice to her intercession.

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Bl. Anna Maria Taigi, as related in her beatification proceedings, applied oil burned before the tomb of St. Philomena to the eye of her grandchild who had been medically diagnosed with an incurable pupil tear of the eye, and the eye was immediately healed. Other Saints and Blesseds who manifested veneration to Saint Philomena include St. Magdalene of Canossa, Bl. Bartolo Longo, Bl. Annibale Da Messina, and Bl. Pius IX, who, shortly before his death, sent to Mugnano the chalice presented to him by the Belgian Federation of Catholic Circles on his golden Episcopal anniversary as one of several papal votive gifts sent in honor of and gratitude to St. Philomena.

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The wisdom inherent in sanctity as personified in the lives of the aforementioned Saints and Blesseds provides a substantial confirmation of the decrees of the ordinary Magisterium which granted public ecclesiastical devotion to the martyr Saint. Worthy of particular mention is the significant number of Saints and Blesseds who immediately participated in veneration of Saint Philomena within the same half century of the discovery of her sacred remains, some before any certain statement concerning her public veneration was issued by Rome.

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Note also the predominant importance of the supernatural intervention of miracles in the Church process of canonization. Without the documented miracles, an individual cause does not typically advance past the status of "Servant of God," even with extensive historical evidence of an earthly life of heroic virtue. The Church places its greatest emphasis for canonization, along with an essential historical basis, upon God’s witness to the sanctity of the candidate through the manifestation of miraculous intercession by the person. It was therefore most appropriate for Pope Gregory XVI to give far greater importance to the miracles documented to the intercession of St. Philomena, rather than to the history of her earthly existence beyond the Church approved criteria of historically establishing her martyrdom. The present inquiry into the case of Saint Philomena should follow the same criteria as those followed by Popes Gregory XVI, Bl. Pius IX, Leo XIII and St. Pius X.The Story of St. Philomena.

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OF SOME OF HIS PENITENTS, WHO LED HOLY LIVES.

Philip drew into this work many of the principal men of the court, whose virtues were the subject of admiration. Among those was Giovanni Battista Salviati, brother of Cardinal Antonio Maria Salviati, a person of great distinction, as well from the nobility of his own family, as from his near relationship to Catherine of Medici, Queen of France; but much more to be esteemed for the goodness of his life, and the edifying examples of humility which he gave. He was assiduous in prayer, and in works of mercy, and in the continual practice of meditation, in which the Saint exercised him daily, he was constant in attending the hospitals, where he performed every sort of office for the sick, however vile and degrading. One day he went to the hospital della Consolazione, and found there a sick man who had formerly been his servant. He desired, according to his custom, to make his bed for him, and asked him to get up that he might be able to do so; the sick man asked him, why? “Why!” replied Giovanni Battista, “because I wish to make your bed for you.” The servant knew nothing of his master’s change of life, and thinking he was making game of him, said, “O Signor Giovanni Battista, this is not a time to make game of poor servants; I pray you let me alone.” Giovanni Battista answered, “I say I wish anyhow to make your bed, and what I am doing is in earnest, and not a mockery.” The servant, however, persisted in thinking that he was being made game of; and partly also moved by the respect he felt for his old master, obstinately refused to let him make his bed. The contest between them lasted for a long time, but at length the charity and humility of the master got the better of the pertinacious obstinacy of the servant.

This gentleman came at last to such a degree of mortification that, whereas before he dressed very showily, and was attended by a great number of servants, he would not, after he had become acquainted with the Saint, and had some experience of a spiritual life, dress even becomingly, or have any servants to follow him. But Philip bade him, out of proper respect, dress as his equals did, and be attended as man of his rank usually were. God rewarded these and his other virtues in the peace and happiness of his death; for when he had with exceeding devotion received the last Sacraments, and it was told him that the hour of his passage was come, he was all cheerfulness, and lifting up his hands to heaven, he sang out, “Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi, in domum Domini ibimus,” and shortly after breathed his last in Philip’s arms.

The Saint had a long while before drawn Giovanni Battista’s wife, Porzia de’ Massimi, to a spiritual life, and assisted her to advance far on the road to perfection; and it was with her assistance that he at last made the conquest of her husband. After his death she entered the monastery of Santa Lucia at Florence, that she might be the better able to servo God; but finding the air unhealthy, she returned to Rome, and shut herself up in the monastery of S. Catherine of Siena, near Monte Magnanapoli, where she died holily, according to the tenour of the life she had lived.

Together with Giovanni Battista Salviati was Francesco Maria Tarugi, of Montepulciano, a relation of popes Julius III. and Marcellus II., a man of lively genius, and in high favour with great people because of his engaging manners, which made him pass for one of the first among the courtiers. He went one day to S. Girolamo della Carità to confess, on the occasion of a jubilee published by Paul IV. When he had finished his confession, Philip took him into his room, and talked with him upon various topics. After this he made him make an hour of prayer with him, during which Tarugi, although he had never practised mental prayer before, felt such spiritual sweetness, that the hour passed away without his knowing how, so excessive was the interior delight which he experienced. This caused him to return there again; and as he often saw the Saint raised three or four feet from the ground at prayer, he formed a great opinion of him, and was inflamed with a great desire to change his life. There were, however, some impediments at the time, which seemed to make it necessary for him to defer his conversion, and he made a minute statement of them to Philip. The Saint answered, “Do not doubt; the hindrances will cease before a month is over;” and so it proved. Tarugi, therefore, returned to him afterwards, and made a general confession, during which Philip discovered to him his sins and secret thoughts. On this account he conceived such an affection for the Saint, that he cared no longer for the court or the world, and gave himself up so completely into Philip’s hands, and with such ready obedience, that the Saint did what he pleased with him, and afterwards made great use of him in winning souls.

So great was the fervour of Tarugi, that he soon had more need of the bit than of the spur. He had such resignation to the will of God, that for the fifty years or more that he survived, he never, in good or evil, lost that interior peace which he acquired in the beginning of his conversion. This he himself declared. He was most obedient to the Saint in all things, and such was the respect he had for him, and the opinion which he had conceived of his sanctity, that after he was made cardinal, he boasted of having been Philip’s novice for fifty years, implying that from his twenty-ninth year, when he gave himself into the Saint’s hands, till the end of his life (for he reached the age of eighty three), he had no other conceit of himself than that he was Philip’s novice. He had an eminent gift of prayer and of tears; and his success as a preacher was such, that he was the admiration of the most eloquent men of his day; so that Baronius in his Annals calls him dux verbi. Clement VIII. made him bishop of Avignon, and afterwards cardinal of the holy church. In his extreme old age he begged of the fathers to let him return to die in the congregation; and a few mouths afterwards he surrendered his holy soul to God in the year 1608, aged eighty-three years and eight months, and was buried in our church of Santa Maria, in Vallicella.

Costanzo Tassono was another of the Saint’s first spiritual children. He was nephew of Pietro Bertani, Cardinal di Fano, and Majordomo of Cardinal Santa Flora. he was so given up to the court, that it seemed quite impossible for him to break away from its allurements and pursuits. Nevertheless, he applied himself to works of piety; and there was no exercise, however vile or difficult, in which he did not willingly engage. He confessed and communicated several times in the week, and often daily. He went continually to the hospitals to serve the sick, and went through every kind of mortification which the holy father put upon him. In obedience to Philip he was ordained priest, and said mass every morning, he was so completely detached from the good things and honours of the world, that he refused a rich benefice which was offered him. He was in the end, for his piety, taken into the service of S. Charles at Milan; and there he persevered in his holy life until the end. He died at Rome, his death having been foreseen by the Saint.

One of the oldest of the Saint’s children, and one of those most in his confidence, was Giovanni Battista Modio, of Santa Severina in Calabria. He was the author of some annotations on the poems of the B. Jacopone, and an Italian treatise on the waters of the Tiber. On one occasion, when he was suffering dreadfully from the stone without any prospect of relief, and every one considered him in the last extremity, Philip went to visit him according to his custom; and after having exhorted him to bear his cross manfully for the love of Christ, he went out of the house and retired into a neighbouring church to pray for him, which he did with most earnest vehemence. At the first tear which Philip shed, in the very selfsame moment, Mochio began to pass the stone, and in a short time recovered entirely; and attributing his recovery to the Saint’s intercession, he gave himself completely into his hands. He was a very tender-hearted man, and singularly compassionate to the poor. He had also considerable talent in preaching, so that, although he was a layman, Philip made him relate the lives of the Saints in the oratory, which he did to the great delight and profit of the hearers. After his death Philip appointed Antonio Fucci of Città di Castello to succeed him in this office of relating the lives of the Saints. He also was a very learned man, and what is of more importance, advanced in the spiritual life, and one of those who wished to accompany the Saint to the Indies to shied his blood for the holy faith, as we shall see afterwards.

Merzio Altieri, a Roman noble, was also another of his spiritual children. Under the discipline of the Saint he arrived at such perfection and taste of the Divine grandeurs, that, like another Moses, his spirit so abounded within him that he could not talk of God. He had such piety towards the poor, that he hesitated not to strip himself in order to clothe others, and gave in alms even the counterpane of his bed, expecting from the Lord the promised reward.

To these may be added Matteo Stendardi, nephew of Paul IV., Benardino Valle da Come, maestro di casa to Cardinal Montepulciano, Fulvio Amodei, Giacomo Marmita, of whom we shall speak afterwards, Giovanni Antonio of Santa Severina, and Ludovico Parisi, who served the Saint out of devotion for more than thirty years; and others of the principal families of Italy, who were all his penitents, and so many mirrors of perfection in the court of Rome.

Besides these he had others of a lower condition, who were also men of most saintly lives. Among them was Stefano, a shoemaker of Rimini, who had been a soldier for a long time, and was full of enmities, and altogether given up to the things of this world. Stefano came to Rome, and by some good inspiration went one day to St. Girolamo to hear the sermons and familiar discourses. Through reverence and respect for others he placed himself upon the back seats; but Philip, without ever having seen or known him before, went to him and drew him to the front seats. When the prayer was finished, he showed him great affection, and so captivated him by his manner, that from that day Stefano went continually to the sermons, and began to frequent the Sacraments. By this means he was delivered from his inveterate habits of sin and passion, and became a man of wonderful virtues. He was so given to works of charity, that although he was very poor, he took nothing from his weekly earnings but what was absolutely necessary, and gave the rest away for the love of God. His thoughts ran constantly on death, and he prepared himself for it daily, as if he were actually to die that day; but for all that he was never seen out of spirits or downcast, but always gay and cheerful. He was remarkable also for his obedience, and for his assiduity in prayer, in which he was greatly favoured by God, and was seen one day in the church of the Santissima Trinità di Ponte Sisto, suddenly surrounded by a resplendent light. Stefano lived in these exercises twenty-three years, living in a small house by himself. His friends told him that he would be dying suddenly without any one to assist him; but he answered that for that he put his confidence in the blessed Madonna, and was quite sure that she would not abandon him: and so it proved, for being assailed one night all on a sudden by his mortal sickness, he went out of his house and called his neighbours, who went for the parish priest, and then returned to help him into bed, where he received the last Sacraments, and gave up his soul to God.

Francesco Maria, commonly called Il Ferrarese, was another of Philip’s spiritual children. He was a man of the greatest simplicity, and of such goodness and purity of life, that he sometimes heard the angels singing, and was physically sensible of the noisome odour of sin. He had also a most eminent gift of tears, and when he communicated, which was ordinarily every day, or heard any one speak of the things of God, and particularly of Paradise, he wept immoderately. He was so enamoured of suffering, that being one day in excessive agony from the stone, he prayed God to send him a still heavier infirmity; and no sooner had he said this than he immediately recovered. He had a burning zeal for the salvation of others; and seeing a Jew one day, he was smitten with such compassion for his soul, that he prayed every day for him for three years continuously, beseeching the Divine Majesty to give him the grace of conversion. His prayers were not in vain, for being one morning at S. Peter’s, he saw most unexpectedly that very Jew go to receive holy baptism, and his heart so melted within him at the sight, that he immediately began to shed most abundant floods of tears.

Another time Francesco Maria Tarugi found him weeping bitterly, and being very importunate with him to tell him the cause, the good man (although an entirely uneducated person) answered, that he was thinking of those words which Christ said to his disciples, When you have done all these things, say, we are unprofitable servants; “for,” said he, “if the apostles, after having done so many miracles and converted the world, were for all that to say, We are unprofitable servants, what am I to say, who have done nothing? it is for this cause I weep, nor can I contain my tears.” Another time the same Tarugi found him in prayer, standing, and every now and then he drew back a little, making gestures of surprise. This having lasted some time, Tarugi asked him why he did so: he answered, “I am considering the greatness of God, and the more I consider it, the more it seems to grow before me, and its very immensity forces me to step backward, even corporally.”

Philip had also for his penitent another servant of God, named Tommaso Siciliano, whom he led to such a height of perfection, that he considered it an immense privilege to become some day sweeper of S. Peter’s. This post he obtained according to his desire, and continued to sweep the church for many years with the greatest diligence and delight. Indeed he never left it except when he went to the holy father to confession. At night he slept in his clothes, on the predella of one of the Seven Altars. The devil, always the enemy of humility and perseverance could not endure to see him continuing this exercise with so much sweetness, and endeavoured one night to terrify him from his undertaking. While Tommaso was asleep the malignant spirit made such a disturbance, that the good man, when he roused himself, thought by the noise that all the benches in the church were being thrown up into the air, and were falling down on the floor broken in pieces. Jumping up, he ran to the lamp and lit a candle, but he found all the benches quiet in their places. He then searched the church diligently, thinking there might be a robber lurking in it; and in his search he saw the demon behind one of the columns, in the form of an Ethiopian; upon which he went boldly up to him, and lifted up his hand to give him a blow, upon which the enemy disappeared; and the intrepid Tommaso went back to his place as if nothing had happened, and fell quietly asleep.

Another of Philip’s penitents was Fra. Ludovico, of Spoleto; not that he was really a friar, but was so called because he wore the habit of S. Francis. This servant of God was most poor in earthly goods, but richly endowed with every virtue, and of a life most singularly pure; in consequence of which the Saint set him to take charge of the girls of Santa Caterina de’ Funari, and, knowing his goodness, would never let him abandon that employment, although he wished it. Pietro Molinaro was also one of Philip’s most intimate friends, a man who, through the abundance of his tears, had lost his sight, though God restored it to him again by miracle. There were very many others of different trades and professions, who lived under the care and discipline of Philip, and died in the odour of sanctity; but for brevity’s sake we must omit particular mention of them, except as our narrative may from time to time lead us to touch upon them.

[stahlop]

Once Upon a Time 1x21 “An Apple Red as Blood” Review

Reviews 1x01 1x02 1x03 1x04 1x05 1x06 1x07 1x08 1x09 1x10 1x11 1x12 1x13 1x14 1x15 1x16 1x17 1x18 1x19 1x20

This is it! The penultimate episode to season one! And wow, did a lot happen. And what a cliffhanger of an ending! Holy shit!

Summary: Snow and the dwarfs take King George’s castle, but discover that the Evil Queen has taken Charming as leverage to ensure a private meeting with Snow. Emma comes to the conclusion that Henry would be better off if she left town. Regina gets her hand on the original poisoned apple.

Opening: Snow and the dwarfs.

Character Observations:

Evil Queen/Regina: We first see the Evil Queen saving Charming from getting beheaded. She offers George everything Midas was going to give him and more for Charming. She is planning on using him to exact her revenge on Snow White. Uh oh. The Evil Queen comes to Charming’s cell. It looks like she’s about to take his heart from his chest, but he bats her hand away. He offers up his life for Snow White’s. The Evil Queen says she won’t be taking Snow White’s life and walks off with an apple in her hand. Snow comes to save Charming from George’s dungeon only to discover that the Evil Queen has taken him. The Evil Queen talks to Snow through a mirror and asks for a parley to talk. Snow agrees. The Evil Queen says to meet where it all began. The Evil Queen is at the stables looking forlorn. This is probably the first time she’s been here for awhile. Snow arrives and the Evil Queen has her follow her up to the area she and Daniel had been at before they heard Snow screaming on her horse. Daniel’s grave is there. The Evil Queen tells Snow he died because of her. Snow apologizes but the Evil Queen is still not satisfied. The Evil Queen is very vulnerable when she tells Snow it’s her fault because she couldn’t keep a secret and didn’t listen to her. Snow claims she was young (yes, she was 10!) and starts to say that Cora tricked her, but the Evil Queen interrupts and tells her that Cora ripped his heart out. Snow is shocked but reminds the Evil Queen that she killed her father, so haven’t they suffered enough? Nope! The Evil Queen is still salty about everything so she takes out the apple and explains that Snow will be trapped in her own body with just her regrets. She tells Snow that the person has to take it willingly or it won’t work. Snow wants to know why she would take it, but the Evil Queen tells her if she doesn’t Charming will be killed. The Evil Queen is finally happy while watching Snow’s friends find her and thinking she is dead.

Oh, Regina. Regina, Regina, Regina. We start with a dream that is so telling of her psyche. Emma comes to interrupt dinner with Henry and tells her she’s come for her. Then we get the fish eye view of David, Mary Margaret, Ruby, Granny, Archie, Leroy and Emma saying they all came for her. Henry is on the stairs with rope (which looked like a noose on first viewing). Regina is then tied to a tree in the middle of the street and everyone is blaming her for what she did. Emma grabs an apple from the tree, which is black, and squeezes it. Emma tells them it’s rotten to the core while she looks at Regina. Regina cries that she just wanted to win for once. Emma says Regina took away their happiness so they’re going to take away hers (very reminiscent of what she said at the end of 1x19 The Return when she threatened to take away what she loved). David gives Emma his sword. Regina realizes what they intend to do and pleads with Henry not to let them do this to her. He says she did it to herself. Emma swings and Regina wakes up. So let’s unpack this before moving on. Regina is actually feeling guilty for what she had done. She knows that it is wrong. Maybe not having been truly evil in so long has softened her, maybe having Henry has curbed her evil impulses and the thought of him being taken away has her scared that she’ll revert. She says she just wanted to win for once. Regina grew up privileged but abused by her mother. She never got to just be herself from the little we’ve seen. Then her love (the one thing that was truly hers) was taken away most cruelly and she went after the person she blamed for his death rather than the person actually responsible. And Snow has always been the reason she became evil and Regina knows it. In the end, Regina hopes that Henry will choose to help her, but he blames her for everything too. Subconsciously, Regina knows she’s in the wrong, but she will never admit that to anyone else. Back in real life, Regina goes to Gold because her apple tree is dying and she wants to know why (oh you know why honey). She thinks it’s because of the curse weakening due to Emma’s presence (really, you’re just figuring this out?). She’s upset with Gold because he doesn’t seem to care that the curse is weakening. He says she’s upset because Emma wants Henry. Gold reminds her that the curse was to keep Snow White and Charming unhappy, maybe giving up Henry is her price to pay to keep the curse unbroken. Regina would rather just get rid of Emma. Gold reminds Regina that if Emma dies the curse breaks. Regina’s pissed because he designed it that way. She wants Gold to undo that part of the curse but wouldn’t do it even if he could due to the short supply of magic in the land. Regina realizes Gold wants the curse to break. She wants to strike a new deal in order to somehow get rid of Emma without the curse breaking. Gold isn’t interested. Regina is desperate and says she’ll give him anything, he says she doesn’t have anything he wants. He tells her to plan a trip because people will want her blood when they wake up. Regina remembers her dream. We next see her putting a white rabbit card on the back of Paige’s bike. Jefferson meets her. She wants his help and has a way for them to both get what they want. She has his hat but he tells her it won’t work without magic. Regina claims she has a little magic that will hopefully help. She wants to go back to their land for a solution to a very delicate problem. She appeals to his wanting Grace back. She says she’ll change the curse to put them together. Jefferson wants them together without knowledge of the Enchanted Forest. Regina and Jefferson go to Regina’s vault. The hat still won’t work. Regina puts in some magic trinkets for the hat to absorb. It still doesn’t work. Regina finally resorts to the ring Daniel gave her, which now has his face in the center. Apparently she wants to win so much she is willing to give up her last connection to Daniel. She throws it into the hat which starts spinning but still won’t open a portal. Jefferson tells her there is enough magic to touch the other side to reach through and retrieve something. He tells her to think about what she wants. The hat spins. A portal opens up right below where the poisoned apple Snow dropped in the past fell to. Regina makes an apple turnover. Emma comes over to Regina’s and tells her she’s leaving town but still wants visitation with Henry. Regina agrees and gives her the turnover for the road. Regina, of course, goes to Gold to gloat over her solution to the Emma problem. He reminds her that all magic comes with a price. She says Gold can pay it because the curse will now be stronger than ever. Oh Regina, you just never think things through do you? I’ve said it before. With the exception of playing the concerned and doting, yet vulnerable step-mother and wife, Regina never thinks long-term. It’s always a solution for right now and then she’ll figure out the rest. And that’s exactly what she’s done here. And she will definitely be paying the price now that Henry is under the sleeping curse instead of Emma.

Snow White/Mary Margaret: We’ve seen Bandit Snow and she’s pretty bad-ass, but ‘I’m in love with Charming and will take down an entire kingdom to get him back’ Snow is even more better! Snow and her crew (the dwarfs, Granny and Red) are scoping out King George’s castle to save Charming. Red tells them the Evil Queen is there. Snow says she’ll understand if the others want to turn back. This isn’t there fight, but of course they’re all in. Red asks Snow why the Evil Queen is doing this. Snow says she destroyed her happiness and now she wants to destroy hers. At this point I pretty much figured that Snow had found out the truth about Daniel at some point, but we later find out that she didn’t. So I’m confused as to what Snow thinks she did that destroyed Regina’s happiness, especially since Regina told young Snow that what she had with Daniel was just an infatuation. Snow and the others ambush the castle in a really cool action sequence. Red howls as their signal to attack, and they shoot a flaming arrow up to signal the fairies. They look like they’ve won, but more guards come. The fairies join in the attack and knock everyone out with fairy dust. Also, when did Snow become so good with a sword? Snow finally makes it to the dungeons and finds Charming’s cell. She realizes when she gets in that he is not there but she’s seeing him through one of the queens mirrors. Her ‘but I’m rescuing you’ line is great here. She wonders if this will be there life, constantly having to find each other. Charming tells her to have faith. The Evil Queen replaces Charming in the mirror and offers a parley to talk. Snow agrees. She is getting rid of all her weapons before going. The dwarfs, Granny, and Red don’t want her to go. Snow arrives at the stables. Regina brings her to a grave and tells her it’s Daniel’s grave. Snow is surprised because she thought that Daniel had run away. Regina says she told her that to spare her feelings, but let’s her know that Daniel died because of Snow. Snow genuinely apologizes, she didn’t know. But Regina tells her that he died because she couldn’t keep a secret and she lied. Snow gives this sigh like she’s done with this crap. She was young and Cora manipulated her, but Regina tells her Cora ripped out his heart. And yeah, Snow is done. Regina took her father, haven’t they both suffered enough now? But Regina is on a roll. She shows her the apple. Explains that she’ll basically be in a sleeping curse and she’ll seem dead to the world and that she’ll kill Charming if she doesn’t take it on her own accord. So Snow bites into it and drops to the ground.

We don’t see much of Mary Margaret this episode, but when we do she is being a disappointed, angry mother hen to Emma. And wow, I do not want to mess with Mary Margaret when she is angry. First she’s real passive aggressive, she says she thought Emma had left but wasn’t sure since she didn’t say goodbye. She reminds Emma about what she said to her when she ran. That they were family. Emma doesn’t want all the responsibility that’s been thrust upon her. Mary Margaret asks her about Henry. Emma admits she took him with her. Mary Margaret says she abducted him. That is not a stable environment for him and she is reverting to who she was when she first came to Storybrooke. Mary Margaret thought she had changed. Emma says she was wrong. Mary Margaret tells her she needs to do what’s best for Henry. Emma asks what that is. Mary Margaret says that’s her job as his mother to figure it out. Do not mess with Mary Margaret!

Emma: We begin where we left off last week, Emma and Henry in her bug going to leave Storybrooke. Henry is desperate. He doesn’t want to leave and if Emma leaves she can’t break the curse. She wants to do what’s best for Henry. He goes on about the curse again and Emma’s heart is breaking that his delusion is so great. Henry sees they’re about to cross the town line and swerves the car off the road. Everything is here, she can’t leave. Emma has apparently brought Henry home and goes back to her apartment where Mary Margaret delivers an appropriate beat down about Emma leaving. Emma is overwhelmed. She wants to help Henry but she doesn’t want all the town responsibilities to go with it. Emma goes to see Archie. He says he can’t help her get custody of Henry without proof of Regina being a bad mom. Didn’t Archie threaten Regina back in 1x05 That Still Small Voice that if Emma petitioned for custody he’d testify for Emma? Why has he changed his mind? Emma wants to know what he thinks. Archie says Henry has been happier since Emma came to town, but he’s also been more reckless. He’s also thinking they shouldn’t have indulged in his fantasy about the curse. Emma asks if Archie thinks Regina would ever hurt Henry. Archie says no. She’d hurt everyone else but not Henry. Everything Regina has done has been defensive. He says Emma and Regina have to figure out how they’ll both be in Henry’s life. Emma has made the decision to leave town, but goes to Regina and asks if they can share custody of Henry. They’ll figure it out as they go. Regina still doesn’t seem happy about it, but Emma points out that she is in Henry’s life now. Regina gives her the apple turnover she made for the road. Henry comes by Emma’s apartment and she tells him she’s leaving. She tells him about the deal she made with Regina. Henry says she can’t trust her. Emma says she has to. Henry tells her she’s on a hero’s journey and this is the part where the hero is at their lowest right before they have to fight back. Emma is extremely upset about this. She is on her knees telling him this isn’t a story and he can’t keep believe in curses. Henry is upset that Emma still doesn’t believe in the curse. Emma says this is the way it has to be. She used her (unreliable) superpower and Regina wasn’t lying and will take really good care of him. Ugh! The heartbreak in her voice right there just hurts so bad. Because we know why Regina made the deal, because she doesn’t expect Emma to be around to have to follow through. Henry says Regina wants her dead because Emma’s the only one who can stop her. Emma says Regina has only fought for him and their war got out of hand. Henry notices the apple turnover and tells Emma she can’t eat it. The deal was just Regina’s way of placating Emma so she’d eat the turnover which is poisoned. Emma is getting upset that Henry is still on this. He eats the turnover to prove to Emma he’s right. Emma sarcastically asks if he’d like ice cream to go with it right before he falls. Now she thinks there might be some truth to what he’s been saying. I still don’t think Emma truly believes there is a curse, but she definitely believes Regina just tried to kill her.

Charming: Poor Charming, he’s just been a stepping stone for everyone else since we’ve met him. King George used wanted him to kill the dragon and then marry Princess Abigail so he could get King Midas’ wealth. Rumplestiltskin used him for his hair to complete his true love potion. The Evil Queen is now using him as her prisoner to get her revenge on Snow White. Even Snow used him initially to get his riches so she could get out of the Enchanted Forest. George is about to kill him by beheading him when the Evil Queen comes by to make a deal for him. Snow comes to save Charming from his prison, thinking he’s still in George’s dungeon, but discovers that the Evil Queen has taken him. Charming tells her they need to have faith in their love after Snow laments about them always having to find each other. Charming also feels it when Snow eats the poisoned apple and screams in his cell after Snow is supposedly pronounced dead by Red. We don’t really get a lot of depth from him this episode, he’s basically just a pawn.

Henry: First off, let me just say this is some of the best acting I’ve seen from Jared Gilmore up to this point. I don’t find him one of those compelling child actors. Right now he’s here to be cute and give us information, not give us an emotional storyline. But his anger in Regina’s dream was so amazingly done. His hysteria in the car with Emma when she tries to leave Storybrooke, and then at the end when she says she’s leaving town was just beautifully acted. So we start where we left off last week. Emma is trying to kidnap Henry and he’s not having it. He tells her she has to stay. That she needs to break the curse. Once they get to the town line Henry takes the wheel and swerves the car into that ditch that is right near the line that everyone is always crashing into.  He begs Emma not to leave town. That she needs to break the curse and that her family is here and she can’t leave them. Henry goes to see August and August tells Henry that he failed to get Emma believe (I’m pretty sure he figured that out, what with her trying to kidnap him and everything). August shows Henry that his arm has now turned to wood. Henry is relieved that the curse is actually real. August tells him it’s up to him to get Emma to believe. Henry goes to Emma’s apartment. She’s brought him there to tell him she’s leaving town but that she’s worked out an agreement with Regina. Again, Henry is desperate to keep Emma there and to get her to believe. He tells her this is just the part of the story when the hero is at their lowest right before they fight back. Emma is crying because this isn’t a story. Henry sees the turnover on the counter. Emma tells him Regina gave it to her. Henry figures out that it’s apple and it’s most likely poisoned. He tells Emma she may not believe in the curse or him, but he still believes in her. He takes a bite and stays awake long enough for Emma to make a quip before he falls over. Aw, Henry sacrificed himself to get Emma to believe.

Gold: He’s happy the curse is weakening and starting to break. He’s planned a trip! Regina wants Emma out of the way but Gold reminds her that if Emma dies then the curse breaks. Regina is catching on that he doesn’t want the curse to break. She wants to make a deal to keep the curse in place. Gold doesn’t want that. Later on, Regina gloats to Gold about putting Emma under the sleeping curse. Gold reminds her that all magic comes with a price. She says Gold can pay it this time.

Questions:

Where was Emma planning on taking Henry? She doesn’t have an apartment anymore, she moved all her stuff to Mary Margaret’s.

Why is Charming getting killed when Abigail canceled the wedding due to breaking her true love’s curse?

How was George going to explain ‘James’ death?

Is Regina just figuring out that Emma is the Savior, or is she just seeing ample proof once her tree starts dying. Does she share in Emma’s blindness to the truth as well?

If Emma had died when she was younger would that have broken the curse or is it only once she’s been to Storybrooke?

Where has Jefferson been this whole time? I doubt Emma just let him kidnapping Mary Margaret and herself go and hasn’t gone back to his house several times to look for him.

Why are the fairies part of the assault on King George’s castle? Was Grumpy able to call in a favor because of the Blue Fairy separating him and Nova? Do they have some vested interest in Snow and Charming? Is the Blue Fairy pissed at George because he gave Rumplestiltskin the info about Cinderella’s fairy godmother’s whereabouts that got her killed?

If Regina had been able to use the hat, where would she have gone? Does the hat normally allow people to go back into the past? Isn’t the Enchanted Forest supposed to be completely gone when the curse took it? Does she have other poisoned apples hidden in other realms?

Jefferson just told Regina there wasn’t enough magic for the hat to work and now he’s believing she can change his and Grace’s cursed personas?

Is Regina’s vault itself magic?

Did Henry have doubt before about the curse being real? He seems really surprised when August shows him that he’s reverting back into wood.

Why did Snow think she ruined the Evil Queen’s life if she didn’t know the truth about Daniel’s death? She knows telling the secret upset Regina, but how does that equate to ruining her life?

Does taking a sleeping potion under duress count as taking it willingly? Apparently so.

Why does Charming feel it when Snow falls into the sleeping curse? Is this a true love thing?

Okay, the last time we were in the hat it basically took you to a room full of doors to several different lands. How does thinking about what you want open a portal to, not only a different land, but the past as well? This doesn’t jibe with what we know about the hat.

How does the Evil Queen see to places where there is no mirror? Rumplestiltskin covered his mirrors so she couldn’t peek into his life, so how does she see into the forest and such?

Would eating the apple turnover without knowledge of the sleeping curse still put Emma to sleep? Regina stated earlier that the person has to take it willingly. Is it willingly if you don’t know what you’re eating has been poisoned?

Observations:

I thought this was the land without magic, but Gold makes it seem like there is a small amount that is just dwindling.

Snow got rid of 6 swords and daggers before going to meet the Evil Queen.

Regina is wearing Daniel’s ring when she meets Snow in the stables. She quickly takes it off when Snow gets there.

Regina put Daniel’s grave in the last place they were before Snow came into their lives.

Sleeping curses only work when the person takes the potion willingly.

Sleeping curses mimic death as Snow had no breath when Red checked.

One more episode left! What will happen to Henry? Will Emma believe now that Henry has proven that Regina is trying to do something to Emma? I can’t wait for the final episode to watch and review!!!

Please leave comments and reblog! Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in future reviews.

@searchingwardrobes @thisonesatellite @justbecauseyoubelievesomething @laschatzi @profdanglaisstuff @mariakov81

[ihavenoside]

Azalea: Who does your character wish would take better care of themselves?Bay leaf: What gives your character strength? Cattail: Is your character at peace with themself? Why or why not? Geranium: What’s one mistake your character remembers making? Iris: If your character could send one person a message, who and what would it be?

Flower And Tree Language Prompts || Accepting 

Azalea: Who does your character wish would take better care of themselves?

Without a doubt, Hank. He worries about Hank a lot and knows he should intervene but doesn’t for one reason or another. Mostly because while he understands the warning signs in humans and when they should seek professional help, he’s not really in a position to enforce it. It would act as a double edge sword because the right action would be to have Hank committed and be forced to deal with his depression, which is something Hank would likely not appreciate and blame Connor for, making Hank distrust Connor. So for Hanks well being the right action is seen as the wrong action.

This is something I learned recently thanks to a friend that works in that field. Considering Connor is very aware of Hanks suicide tendencies and has caught him more or less in the act of it. What Connor should have done that night when he found Hank on the floor drunk with a gun next to him, would have been to call an ambulance, the EMT’s might have seen it was an attempted suicide and after question Connor about it, would have learned the Hank had a cause for depression and would have been forced to seek help.

What Connor did instead, was rule it as Hank having suicidal tendencies, throw Hank in the shower to sober him up. Express, once again that Hank should seek professional help in which Hank yelled at him again for and Connor convinced Hank into going to the Eden Club because that is where the next deviancy report was. Connor is forced to work with Hank because without a human handler superviving Connor, he isn’t allowed to work on the deviancy cases alone, as per the loan agreement / Androids aren’t allowed to act without orders. Which is particularly bad because Connor doesn’t take orders from Hank, he takes orders from Cyberlife/Amanda. Thus putting his mission to Cyberlife above Hanks health. Which is already fucked and then Connor technically goes rogue when they are taken off the deviancy case, breaks all the rules a signed to him on Cyberlife's behave to find Jericho, making him a deviant before really becoming a deviant. Which is all sorts of messed up lol.

On another note, because seeking help for mental illness is dangerously ostracized today and even in-game. While Connor can see the signs in other’s he doesn’t see it in himself because he knows he’s an android and logically, Androids shouldn’t have depression or other mental related illnesses but they are designed to be carbon copies of humans. Which means if they can be provoked into attacking their owners, feel fear, as well as emotions and if not physical pain.(which if Connor falls during the hostage mission. his next unit does have a fear of heights, while mine hasn’t died) They are also susceptible to depression and other mental illnesses caused by and related to trauma but considering they can’t simply be medicated to fix the imbalance, it makes treating them so much harder. 

If anyone were to step back and remove the idea the Connor’s an android, they would see the signs too and if it was anyone other then Connor that found Hank that way. Without a doubt, Hank would have been committed but the system does seem flawed and Hank getting the help he needs willingly or not is as far as my knowledge goes on that subject. So Connor often feels like he’s failed Hank in one way or another because he was designed to be the ideal partner and he’s been far from an ideal one.

That was a long one and its only question 1. rip dash lol... Why am I this way??? but please take care of your mental health. :[

Bay leaf: What gives your character strength? 

I’m not sure if he has a source of strength atm and could be what's causing him to be sort of depressive. His greatest strength used to be his determination to complete his objective at all costs. That he was ruthless, unfeeling and obedient because he was a machine doing what he was designed to do. 

Knowing and realizing better now, he’s lost all those things about him because he no longer has any goals to fulfill, no one to guide him and since he’s his own person, he’s left to figure all of this out on his own, leaving him feeling lost and without a purpose. Which, he wouldn’t be the only android feeling this way in this new world, a lot of those who Connor had freed would likely feel the same way since they were never sold to anyone yet and went from being told to obey to being told they are there own person and to be free. What is freedom to those who have never experienced life?

Cattail: Is your character at peace with themself? Why or why not?

lol... no. He’s at war with himself and struggles to understand what’s wrong with him because he sees others enjoying themselves and having fun, being happy and he well... isn’t. He often finds himself acting more machine-like then a deviant and has no idea how to fix that aside from accepting that is just who is he and he’ll never outlive his reputation he’s created for himself. Which to be fair, people have the right to hate and judge him but he’s a lot harder on himself than people really see.

He’s drawn more to humans because they can empathize with him easier and he’s more at ease with them because they see him as simply a misguided machine who turned good? Humans tend to like him because he’s kind and helpful. Which to his credit, he was designed to be and enjoys being so because it gives him a sense of fulfillment that he didn’t get as a machine. With humans,  he’s freer to try and be himself because they’ll be more impressed with how lifelike he can be rather than his fear they will assume its a facade like he does with his kind.

With his kind, he’s seen as a monster and rightfully so. He’ll try to be kind and helpful where he can but he’ll often be met with distrust because he was designed to obey Cyberlife and was designed to take away androids freedom. He isn’t anything like his kinds designed purpose, which was to serve humans. He has little way to repair this image but to show in any way he can that he isn’t a threat. So he puts up with all sorts of verbal and physical abuse from his kind and doesn’t react because reacting can make him look hostile, making people fear that he will kill them and not reacting shows him as a machine like. There is little room for him to win and while he shows it doesn’t affect him at the time, it really does mentally later but there is no way for him to express how sorry he is for the things he was technically forced to do and no matter what he does, he feels like it will call for his termination. Which is a bit of a cruel irony because it was deviants that once lived in fear of dying and now that he’s a deviant, it's him that lives in this fear.

Lastly, he also sees he hasn’t changed much, that he can be just as cruel and ruthless as a deviant as he was as a machine. This is made obvious with how he treats 60. @head-shot-60‘s sixty to be specific. He’s tried being nice, he’s tried being mean, to downright manipulative to 60 to a point that his aim was to cause Sixty to deviate in one form to another but has somehow convinced sixty that he’s secretly Amanda. Which is fucking hilarious because it has Connor all sorts of conflicted now but this acts as a double edge sword again because pretending to be Amanda could get him information on sixty and Cyberlifes motives where is anyone, where to find out Connor, is Amanda... which he isn’t. Then he’ll have to accept the consequences of those actions and Considering he feels he has no one in his corner to defend him (even though he does) he isn’t willing to put up much of a fight to defend himself.

So Connor was just having a sense of humor and playing into Sixty’s sudden paranoia that Amanda is watching him, made up a convincing enough lie and now can’t decide if he’s just that good of a manipulator, his model series is gullible as fuck as a machine or if sixty is toying with him as much as Connor was toying with sixty lol.

He’s so at war with himself that he doesn’t know who he really is. A machine? someone who is alive? a manipulator? a monster? When all he wants is to be happy and be like everyone else. Which I feel so bad for him and love him so much XD I am a cruel mun but sometimes in life, you just don't get a break and while he does get breaks and does have fun in his own way. He’ll hyperfocus on other’s people's opinion on him and try and change himself just so he can be liked.

Geranium: What’s one mistake your character remembers making? 

All of them. lol. One that sticks out more then anything and would change if given the chance, would be prioritizing Hanks life over catching the deviant Rupert. Despite Hanks good odds at surviving, he’s not a monster and had faith that Hank didn’t need his help and was doing what he thought was right. Given how upset Hank was at his decision, it really makes him wish he hadn’t done that.

Iris: If your character could send one person a message, who and what would it be? 

I don’t think there is anyone that he can’t already contact if he wanted to. The only person that comes to mind might be Amanda but he has no reason to want to talk with her.

[pamphletstoinspire]

Saint Eustachius and Companions - Feast Day: September 20th - Latin Calendar

One day while Eustachius was hunting a Stag with a cross between its horns faced him and told him to embrace the Catholic Faith.

Saint Eustachius, His Wife and Sons, Martyrs

The life of St. Eustachius is so wonderful, that there are some who consider it a pious legend, rather than a true biography. The reason of this is, that they do not observe how miraculously the Lord often acts with His Saints, and by what unusual paths He leads them to the end which He has prepared for them. Holy Writ gives us more than one example of this, as, in Joseph, the son of the holy patriarch Jacob, and in David. The lives of these show clearly that we ought not to doubt a story because it contains many astonishing events, especially if it is proved by indisputable, ancient testimonials. As we possess these in regard to the following story, we have no hesitation in placing it before our readers.

St. Eustachius was born and educated in paganism; his name, before he was baptized, was Placidus. He sought glory in military exploits, and gave, under the Roman emperors, so many proofs of his generalship, that he became highly distinguished, and gradually rose to the dignity of a commander in chief. He had none of the vices usual to pagans, but on the contrary, conducted himself very praise worthily. When not in the field, he passed his time in hunting. One day while he was pursuing a large deer, it suddenly turned and stood still. Placidus was astonished to see between its antlers a Crucifix, surrounded by a bright light, and to hear from its mouth the same words which our Lord had spoken to Saul, the persecutor of the first Christians: "Placidus, why dost thou persecute me? I am Jesus, who died for love of thee, and who will save thee." Placidus, greatly surprised, fell upon his knees and said: "What dost thou wish me to do?" "Go into the city," was the answer; seek a priest, and be baptized, with thy wife and children; and then return hither."

Placidus obeyed the heavenly voice, went into the city, sought and found a priest, who instructed and baptized him, his wife, and his two sons. Placidus received in baptism the name of Eustachius; his wife, who had been called Tatiana, was named Theopista; the elder son, Agapius, and the younger, Theopistus. After this had taken place, Eustachius returned into the forest, humbly praying that God would further make His holy will known to him. The Savior appeared to him as before, saying: "Thou hast done well; thou has been obedient. Now, being a Christian, prepare thyself to suffer. A great struggle is approaching; but fear not; be constant. I give thee the assurance of my assistance, and promise thee the crown of eternal glory." Eustachius, although at first frightened at these words, submitted to the divine will, knowing that the Almighty would be with him. His wife and sons entered into the same sentiments, when he had told them what had happened to him; and they all resolved to take willingly from the hand of God, all the trials with which He might be pleased to burden them.

The occasion for showing their fidelity soon presented itself. By sickness and misfortune, Eustachius became so poor, that he was obliged secretly to leave the city with his family; and he determined to go to Egypt, as he was not known there. When they were already on board the ship in which they were to make the voyage, the owner of it, casting his eyes upon Theopista, ordered her to be put on shore again by force, while the ship, notwithstanding all the protestations of Eustachius, set sail. Theopista remained in the power of the godless man: but the Almighty did not permit her to be harmed; for no sooner had he laid hand on her, than God punished him with a sudden death, and thus Theopista was delivered.

Meanwhile, Eustachius continued his sad and dangerous voyage, deeply grieved at the loss of his wife. At length, he happily reached land with his sons, but at a considerable distance from the place of their destination. On their way, they came to a river, where they found neither bridge nor vessel to convey them to the opposite bank. After long deliberation, Eustachius resolved to carry one son after the other over the water. Taking the first, he carried him happily to the opposite side; but when, he returned for the second and had already reached the middle of the stream, to his indescribable anguish, he saw a lion carry off his son. Seeing that any attempt at a rescue would be madness, he turned round to go back to his other son, but before he could reach him, another wild beast seized him also and dragged him into the forest. There stood Eustachius, once so prosperous, without wife, without children, all alone, without human aid, in a strange land. The Christian hero, however, remembered the words of his Savior, and burying his grief deep in his heart, he submitted to Divine Providence.

Not knowing what to do for his livelihood, he hired himself to a peasant, and served him, not without many an inward struggle, for fifteen long years. It happened that at the end of these fifteen years, the enemy invaded Italy, and the Emperor Adrian, remembering his valiant general Placidus, searched everywhere for him. They found him at last, and brought him to the emperor, who made him commander-in-chief of the entire army, and ordered him to march against the enemy. Eustachius obeyed the command, marched, in the name of the Lord of Hosts, against the enemy, conquered him, and returned, laden with rich spoils to Rome.

While thus on his homeward march, he once encamped near a village to which his soldiers frequently went; and it was here that God designed to reunite the Christian hero, Eustachius, with his spouse and his two sons, whom he had long thought lost forever. Both sons served as soldiers and were in the same army which was now returning to Rome. But they did not know each other.

One day, while both were taking their dinner with some of their comrades before the door of a house in the village, they began to talk of their past life. One of the brothers said: "I am the son of a great general, who fled with my mother, my brother and myself from his home. What became of my mother I do not know; but I well recollect, that my father, when we had come to a stream, carried my brother over it, leaving me on the shore with the intention of coming back for me.

Meanwhile a lion came and carried me off. He would most surely have devoured me, had not some shepherds rescued me. I remained with them, and, in the course of time, I became a soldier." The other related that a wolf had seized him whilst he was sitting near a river; and that he had remained with the peasants who had saved him, until the war broke out, when he had joined the army. While thus speaking, the two looked at each other, and one recognized in the other his own brother. They embraced and wept tears of joy. Theopista, their mother, served in the same house before the door of which the brothers were sitting. She heard all they said, and concluded from it that they must be her sons. Going up to them, she looked at them closely, and seeing certain marks by which she could not fail to recognize them, she fell upon their necks, and while pressing them to her heart, she said, amid a flood of tears, that she was their mother.

After this, they went to Eustachius, the commanding officer, to tell him what had just happened and to beg his permission to go to Rome, their native place. Hardly, however, had she begun her story, when they recognized each other, and words fail to describe the happiness of that meeting. They all, with joyful voices, praised and blessed the power of Providence, which had so wonderfully brought them together, and against all hope had reunited parents and children. The army pursued its way homeward, and Eustachius, his spouse and sons, returned to Rome. The victorious leader was received amid the rejoicings of the people and with every manifestation of honor. The emperor, who ascribed to the gods the victory his army had won over the enemy, appointed a day of thanksgiving, when great sacrifices should be offered to them. All the officials of the state and army were commanded to take part in the solemn rite. The day came, and of all those who had been ordered to be present, Eustachius alone was absent. The emperor desired to know the reason, and dispatched a messenger to Eustachius, who returned the answer that, being a Christian, he could not participate in a pagan sacrifice. Enraged at this, the emperor immediately ordered Eustachius, his wife and sons, to be imprisoned.

Afterwards, he tried with kindness and promises, to win Eustachius to worship the gods, but when he found that all was in vain, he had him, with his wife and sons, cast before lions. These, however, forgot their cruelty, and lying down at the feet of the holy confessors, would not harm them. Adrian, more cruel than the wild beasts of the forest, ordered the Saint, his holy wife and faithful sons, to be thrown into an immense brazen bull, made red-hot. The inhuman sentence was executed. The holy martyrs, by Divine power, remained alive for three days, praising and blessing the great Giver of life and death. At last, when their voices ceased, the bull was opened, and all four were found without life, but also without any injury to their bodies or garments. This glorious martyrdom took place in the year 120.