Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/797

 in his  private  chapel. After a  short  time  he  bestowed them on  the  church  of  Santa  Maria  delle  Grazie.

Here a  side  chapel  was  prepared  to  receive  them,  and  an altar  erected,  beneath  which  they  were  henceforth  to  rest for public  veneration.

On the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  September 25, 1805,  after  the  celebration  of  High  Mass,  the  relics were carried  in  procession,  and  solemnly  deposited  in  their appointed place.

Mass was  again  chanted  at  the  new  altar,  and  thus  ended the translation  of  the  relics  of  St. Philomena. To the  zeal and sanctity  of  the  Cure  of  Ars  may  be  ascribed,  in  great measure, the  rapid  and  universal  spread  of  devotion  to  St. Philomena  throughout  France. Medals and  other  memorials of  the  virgin-martyr  distributed  by  him  were  fruitful of  many  miracles. The story  of  the  extinction  of  a fire  at  his  house  (caused  by  the  agency  of  the  devil),  through the presence  of  a  statue  of  St. Philomena, will  be  remembered by  many  readers  of  Monsieur  Manney's  life.

Among the  clients  of  the  martyr,  whose  special  holiness has distinguished  them  in  the  annals  of  this  century,  may be named  —  Pere  Varin,  one  of  the  restorers  of  the  Society of Jesus  in  France;  Venerable  Mother  Barat,  foundress of the  Congregation  of  the  Sacred  Heart;  Madame d'Houet, foundress  of  the  Faithful  Companion  of  Jesus and Mary;  Pere  Eymard,  founder  of  the  Priests  of  the Most Holy  Sacrament.

As regards  the  shrine  at  Mugnano,  the  present  beautiful church, surmounted  by  its  dome  and  towers,  was  underttaken  in  1853,  and  completed  three  years  later. Its great attraction is  the  chapel  containing  the  relics  of  St. Philomena. A profusion  of  the  finest  marbles,  mingled  with agate and  porphyry,  cover  the  walls  from  floor  to  ceiling. Stately columns,  supporting  Corinthian  capitals  of  white marble, impart  an  appearance  of  chaste  splendor  to  the whole interior. Over the  white  marble  altar  stands  the case containing  the  relics,  revealing  the  figure  of  the  saint, half sitting,  half  reclining  on  her  couch,  radiant  in  jewels and costly  attire. Above is  the  familiar  picture  of  our Lady of  Good  Counsel. At the  opposite  side  of  the  nave