Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/796

 remains. Beside them  stood  the  phial  containing  the blood of  the  saint. The examination  of  the  relics  having been made,  it  was  ascertained  that  St.  Philomena  had  been martyred in  her  tender  youth,  at  about  12  or  13  years  of age.

The relics  of  the  saint  were  bestowed  in  the  Church  of Mugnano,  which  was  destined  on  this  account  and  through the numerous  miracles  wrought  by  her  intercession  to  become one  of  the  most  honored  shrines  in  the  Christian world. It was  in  the  summer  of  1805  that  the  relics  were transferred to  Mugnano. On the  eve  of  the  arrival  the bells of  all  the  churches  were  rung,  and  cannon  were  fired in honor  of  the  advent  of  the  relics. The inhabitants  made their first  petition  to  the  saint  by  asking,  through  her  intercession, that  the  long-continued  drought  from  which their crops  suffered  might  come  to  an  end. The sound  of the  bells  from  the  church  towers  had  scarcely  ceased  when rain fell  in  copious  torrents. At sunrise  the  procession entered Mugnano. The joyful  inhabitants  turned  out  in vast  multitudes  with  olive  branches  in  their  hands  to  welcome the  youthful  martyr  —  and  the  little  children,  as  they, saw the  case  of  relics  dressed  with  flowers,  filled  the  air with the  cries  of  "Viva  la  Santa!  Viva  la  Santa!  Hail to  the  saint!"

During the  course  of  the  procession  to  the  church  of  Santa Maria delle  Grazie  —  which  occupied  two  hours  —  many manifestations of  the  power  of  the  saint  were  witnessed.

Although the  day  was  serene  and  beautiful  at  one  time a whirlwind  arose,  and  yet  not  a  single  one  of  the  lights which were  carried  before  the  Shrine  of  Philomena  was extinguished.

The body  of  the  saint  was  placed  under  a  splendid canopy at  the  Gospel  side  of  the  principal  altar,  where High Mass  was  celebrated. That day  —  the  10th  of August  —  was  observed  as  a  feast  day  of  obligation,  and the spiritual  rejoicings  lasted  over  many  weeks.

The numerous  wonders  which  immediately  began  to  be wrought  at  this  shrine  induced  Don  Francesco  —  the saintly priest  who  had  received  them  from  Rome  —  to  announce his  long-cherished  intention  of  keeping  the  relics