Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/799

 Her name  is  a  household  word  in  many  Irish  homes. Many a stricken  heart  turns  to  her  for  aid  in  the  necessities  which encompass our  various  paths  through  this  land  of  distress and sorrow. And it  is  sweet  to  think  that  much  of  that beautiful fervor  and  devotion  toward  St.  Philomena, which has  spread  like  the  odor  of  some  delicate  fragrant flower over  pagan  and  far-off  lands,  has  been  borne  thither by Irish  hands  and  Irish  hearts.

May our  efforts  to  retrace  some  of  the  glories  which  surround the  name  of  the  youthful  martyr  of  the  Catacombs increase the  fervor  of  those  devoted  to  her. May they urge others  to  spread  wider  still  veneration  for  her  virtues of constancy  and  heroism,  by  which  she  obtained  such favor with  God,  and  merited  so  many  benedictions  for those who  invoke  her! St. Philomena! Pray for  us.

GLORIOUS virgin  and  martyr,  beloved  child  of  God, blessed Philomena! I rejoice  in  thy  glory,  and  give God thanks  that  He  has  bestowed  on  thee  such  power,  for the glory  of  His  name,  for  the  edification  of  His  Church,  and to honor  thy  merits  in  life,  and  thy  sufferings  and  martyrdom in  death. Looking up  to  thee  in  heaven,  I  rejoice  to see  thee  so  exalted,  so  powerful,  so  pure,  so  generous. I congratulate thee  on  being  so  faithful  to  the  precepts  and counsels of  Jesus  Christ,  while  on  earth,  and  on  being  so munificently  rewarded  by  Him  in  heaven. Moved by thine  example  to  the  practice  of  solid  virtue,  filled  with hope at  the  view  of  the  rewards  bestowed  upon  thee,  I resolve  to  imitate  thee  in  the  avoidance  of  all  evil,  and  in the  fulfilment  of  God's  holy  will. Assist me,  O  glorious little saint,  by  thy  powerful  intercession,  and  obtain  especially for  me  perfect  purity  —  invincible  fortitude  in all  trials,  temptations,  and  sufferings  —  generosity  which refuses nothing  to  God  —  and  love  stronger  than  death for the  one  true  Faith  —  a  ready  and  willing  obedience to the  Holy  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  to  our  sovereign Pontiff, the  common  Father  of  all  the  faithful,  the  Pastor