What does it mean to believe in Christ? It means more than accepting and affirming the truth of who He is – God in human flesh – and believing what He says. Real faith results in obedience… True faith is never seen as passive – it is always obedient.
John MacArthur

St Philomena

St Philomena

ST. PHILOMENA

From THE ROMAN CATHOLIC. “Pope Gregory XVI solemnly canonized St. Philomena. This can be attested by past papal documents and Church historians, particularly Father Buonavenia, a Jesuit who in 1906 published a work entitled CONTROVERSY OVER THE CELEBRATED EPITAPH OF ST. PHILOMENA V.M. In this work, he confirmed all the declarations and decrees of several popes, notably the solemn decree of Pope Gregory XVI.

“One must agree with St. Bonaventura and other Church Doctors who state that it would be a most horrible thing to doubt the true beatitude of anyone whom the Church has canonized.

“Many past theologians, among them St. Robert Bellarmine and John of St. Thomas, hold that the Pope is infallible in issuing a decree of canonization. St. Thomas Aquinas says, `Since the honor we pay to saints is in a certain sense a profession of faith, i.e., a belief in the glory of the Saints, we must piously believe that in this matter also the judgment of the Church is not liable to error.’

“In conclusion, after having recourse to the mind of the Angelic Doctor, again must I mention countless testimonies, miracles, investigations, etc., the act of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on the ousting of her cultus was a most flagrant violation against the Church and her veneration of the saints, an act that never should have occured, no matter how much deliberation of `later investigation’ there may have been.

“May Catholics everywhere pray to St. Philomena, a Saint, a Virgin, a Martyr and a Wonder-worker.

“Hail, Philomena, pearl of virgins, generous spouse of the King of kings! Hail, flower of martyrs, living host of Christ! Refuse not the succor of thy prayer to those who invvoke it, venerating thy merits.”