Saint Philomena removed?

[braeden_mackay]

At my parish, there was a Statue of Saint Philomena (one of my favourite Saints) and this Sunday they removed the statue and replaced it with a Artificial plant. I asked my pastor why he did this, and he replied “when the Bishop visited, he ordered me to get rid of her because she didn’t exist and it was not good to have parishioners praying to a girl who never existed”.

I am very upset about this. I realize that she was removed from the liturgical calendar before Vatican II, but why? And why now would they decide to take her Statue out of the Church? I don’t really want to even go to that parish anymore, these kind of things I think are liturgical abuses in my sight.

What do you think? Should they have done this?

 

[jmjconder]

At my parish, there was a Statue of Saint Philomena (one of my favourite Saints) and this Sunday they removed the statue and replaced it with a Artificial plant. I asked my pastor why he did this, and he replied “when the Bishop visited, he ordered me to get rid of her because she didn’t exist and it was not good to have parishioners praying to a girl who never existed”.

I am very upset about this. I realize that she was removed from the liturgical calendar before Vatican II, but why? And why now would they decide to take her Statue out of the Church? I don’t really want to even go to that parish anymore, these kind of things I think are liturgical abuses in my sight.

What do you think? Should they have done this?

Pope John XXIII removed her from the calendar. Her feast day continues to be August 11. Once a person is declared a Saint…even if they are removed from the Liturgical Calendar (St Christopher as example) does not mean they are un-sainted…it means that other Saints have a greater devotion by the regional faithful.

She IS the wonder worker! If your financial situation allows…offer your parish a donation for her!

God bless your devotion to her.

 

[braeden_mackay]

Thank you for your reply!

I have just recently tried to become more devoted to her and I felt like that the removal of the Statue was a sign that my devotion was wrong, But I have to also remember that the enemy may be the one responsible too.

I would offer a donation for sure! except she is too big for my house at the time. They have her locked up downstairs in a storage closet with the other unused statues that were removed after Vatican II. Oh well.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

At my parish, there was a Statue of Saint Philomena (one of my favourite Saints) and this Sunday they removed the statue and replaced it with a Artificial plant. I asked my pastor why he did this, and he replied “when the Bishop visited, he ordered me to get rid of her because she didn’t exist and it was not good to have parishioners praying to a girl who never existed”.

I am very upset about this. I realize that she was removed from the liturgical calendar before Vatican II, but why? And why now would they decide to take her Statue out of the Church? I don’t really want to even go to that parish anymore, these kind of things I think are liturgical abuses in my sight.

What do you think? Should they have done this?

Here is an interesting Wikipedia article on the Saint. It explains why she was removed from the calendar. That is not an indication that she never existed nor that she is not a Saint, it simply means there are serious historical questions about the body found. Your prayers to the Saints never go unanswered. Perhaps, afterall, she preferred to remain unknown.

Linus2nd

 

[Elizium23]

You can come to our parish, where Philomena has a large statue in our sanctuary, on equal par with our patron, and she is celebrated three times a year when the Archconfraternity gathers for special Masses. We have a first-class relic and once the rector of her shrine in Italy joined us to celebrate the Mass.

Yes, her status as a saint is one of the murkiest in Catholicism. The Wikipedia article tells the saga, although I was unable to add a section explaining that some of her indulgences are still in force because I was unable to find evidence on the Internet. But her miracles are well-attested and her devotion is widely practiced and accepted by authorities, so it is a great shame your bishop does not cooperate in this veneration.

 

[CatholicLife]

So Saint John Vianney and Saint Pio of Pietrelcina where fools for praying to an imaginary girl? I hate it when people say that Philomena didn’t exist. Tell your priest to contact the rector of Saint Philomena’s Shrine in Italy so he can be more informed about her.
Saint Philomena pray for the Church in these troubled times!