St. Philomena vs. Harry Potter

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Arlene_Alice

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I am currently reading the book, “Saint Philomena the Wonder-Worker” by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P. [Tan Books - http://www.tanbooks.com”]www.tanbooks.com]

The jacket reads: St. Philomena is perhaps the most extraordinary saint in the history of the Catholic Church.
When the relics of this 13-year-old Virgin [early Church] Martyr were discovered in the Roman Catacombs in 1802, she became almost overnight one of the most popular saints in the Church, earning the nickname of “The Wonder-Worker” because of the countless remarkable favors that she sent to those who prayed to her. But amazingly, since the l960s she has been almost forgotten. …Fr. O’Sullivan tells of her martyrdom [she miraculously survived many terrible tortures administered to her by order of the Emperor of Rome whose lust for her consumed his sanity, and finally died by beheading] her many miracles, her relics, her partnership with the Cure of Ars. …as well as recounting many other true stories of the “dear Little Saint’s” generous answers to those who invoke her.

No literary genius or contemporary story-teller could have created the exceptional wonders that have surrounded this saint; from countless miracles of healing, heavenly manifestations at the chapel in Mugnamo, Italy, where her relics are preserved, her wooden statue which has changed colors and positions, the vial of blood of the saint which takes on a flourescent quality at certain times, the “chord” of St. Philomena which has served many sacramental purposes. This story of this saint is so totally amazing that one is naturally drawn to her in wonder, in respect and for prayerful favors.

Why have some Catholic parents ignored the great treasury of wonders that is our faith tradition for the silly counterfeits that are offered by those who would seduce our children into the world of the demonic and occult? The Harry Potter craze is just one example of this shift from honoring the holy saints to honoring witchcraft and unholy practices so repulsive to the Spirit of God.

The Catholic bookstores that carry exceptional literary works like the lives of saints are hardly able to survive bankruptcy, like TAN books in Rockford, Illinois, for instance. In contrast, we have Rowlings, Scholastic Publishers, and Hollywood making billions off of this current occult fad that many Christians happily contribute to. What a sad indictment of our times!

The 13 year old St. Philomena is truly a Wonder-Worker. Perhaps we and our children should get to know her again.
 
I believe St Philomena was removed from the liturgical calendar becuase they could not find any actual historical evidence to her existance, same goes for St Christopher.
Arlene Alice:
The Harry Potter craze is just one example of this shift from honoring the holy saints to honoring witchcraft and unholy practices so repulsive to the Spirit of God.
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Every time you say this I will counter it…

What is portrayed in the Harry Potter books is not witchcraft nor anything of the occult.

If you believe this then you must also be against the Lord of the Rings becuase of its portrayal of magic.
 
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ByzCath:
I believe St Philomena was removed from the liturgical calendar becuase they could not find any actual historical evidence to her existance, same goes for St Christoper.
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I have heard this and I have a hard time buying it. That we can just ditch saints out of the church is ridiculious. St. Philomena is a wonderful Saint and a model for all girls. My girls wear the cord of St. Philomena, have participated in plays regarding her life. She is truly an example of all that is good and holy within The Church.

St. Philomena pray for us!
 
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ByzCath:
I believe St Philomena was removed from the liturgical calendar becuase they could not find any actual historical evidence to her existance, same goes for St Christopher.
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What I have read about her is they know of her existance because of the evidence they found, namely her grave the markings on which showed her to be a virgin and a martyr.
 
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Mandi:
I have heard this and I have a hard time buying it. That we can just ditch saints out of the church is ridiculious. St. Philomena is a wonderful Saint and a model for all girls. My girls wear the cord of St. Philomena, have participated in plays regarding her life. She is truly an example of all that is good and holy within The Church.

St. Philomena pray for us!
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Mandi,
They do not “ditch” saints out of the Church. When they are unsure they just remove them from the liturgical calendar. They are still saints.
 
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ByzCath:
Mandi,
They do not “ditch” saints out of the Church. When they are unsure they just remove them from the liturgical calendar. They are still saints.
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Yes indeed. Sts. Christopher and Philomena,no longer have official feast days, but are still recognized as saints.
 
Dr. Colossus:
Yes indeed. Sts. Christopher and Philomena,no longer have official feast days, but are still recognized as saints.
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Glad to hear that!!!
 
Dr. Colossus:
Yes indeed. Sts. Christopher and Philomena,no longer have official feast days, but are still recognized as saints.
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Are you sure about this? My aunt Philomae told us she was given her name based on this saint only to learn later that it was determined that there was no proof that she ever lived.

It’s my understanding that the church went through the list of saints and removed the ones that could not be substantiated. For example, apparently, during the middle ages, there was a saint that was in actuality a dog. The church needed to clean up the mess created by “inventing” saints that never lived. Perhaps someone can verify this for me.
 
If St. Philomena was “de-canonized”, it wasn’t during the revision of the liturgical calendar.

This article by a Fr. William Saunders: catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0265.html is in response to questions about St. Christopher, but includes the following:
In no way did the Church “de-canonize” St. Christopher or anyone else, despite the lack of historical evidence surrounding their lives.
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I would recommend reading the article. It explains in better detail why the liturgical calendar was revised and what it means for those saints whose feast days were removed.
 
Thanks Dr. Colossas & Shiann.

Even though the details surrounding St. Philomena are sketchy, we may presume she is indeed a saint and that she did exist.

I got the impression that St. Philomena was never canonized. I understand that no saints are ever de-canonized.
 
Philomena is a saint, harry potter is just fiction…why even bother comparing the two? YOu could only do so on the grounds that harry potter be canonized, which will never ever happen.

I agree with ByzCath, the witchcraft in Harry potter is not real witchcraft. Real witchcraft doesn’t involve waving a wand around and saying latin phrases. By no means can doing cause somethign to levitate or make a snake appear. The potions used aren’t real either, if they were, i think doctors would be adopting these things, since they cure broken bones in mere minutes or can wake up someone who has been petrified. It is physically impossible to levitate and no way can someone turn themselves into an animal.
 
Raphaela: Your knowledge of the actuality of witchcraft is totally lacking and un-scriptural. It is actually pathetic how little you know on the subject.

Go back to the Old Testament magicians/sorcerers in the court of Pharoah [Exodus 7:8-13] of Egypt. Apparently they could perform many “magic” tricks, including snake tricks. The snakes they conjured up were consumed by the “SNAKES” that God allowed Moses and Aaron to exhibit. A lesson to all of those who would doubt the Word of the Lord.

I have exhausted every resource to prove to you that God abhors the occult. If you do not believe what is documented in the Bible, repeated in the Catholic Catechism, and the constant teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, than remain in your obstinancy

If you keep denying the truth, you act in defiance of the authority of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Woe to you.
 
Taken from the above-mentioned book:

The credibility of Philomena has been vindicated by the Sovereign Pontiffs, Popes Gregory XVI, Leo XII, Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X and Benedict XV, and the many Cardinals, Bishops, the multitudes of enlightened Catholics all the world over.

“To sum up the Roman Congregations and the Popes themselves, using their supreme authority have decalred emphatically and repeatedly that St. Philomena is a Saint, a Virgin, a Martyr and a Wonder-Worker. Those who dare deny that such is the case are acting thereby in open defiance of the authority of Rome. If, notwithstanding all this, there continue to be carping critics and others who allow themselves to be led astray by their utterances, we can only bewail the fact and feel sorry that they refuse to get a share in the great graces so generously bestowed by this Thaumaturga.”
 
Your knowledge of the actuality of witchcraft is totally lacking and un-scriptural. It is actually pathetic how little you know on the subject.
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Wow, simmer down!! Based on the modern-day witchcraft that i do know very much about thankyouverymuch, I’d have to say taht my observations are correct. I didn’t put into account the magic of the old testament because that wouold be unfair since I have not read it. Only the new testament.

Given that Harry Potter is based in the modern times, I compared the witchcraft used in that to the actual witchcraft used today…they aren’t even close. That was the only logical source of i could apply.

Mayeb it’s just me, but i seem to think that some overreact when it comes to Harry Potter because he is fiction, the whole thing in it’s entirety is fiction…prove other wise. as long as parents inform their children of the evils of witchcraft and that Harry Potter is just fiction, i see no problem in letting children read/watch it. It’s the parents who let their kids believe it’s real that are my problem.

Arlene, I don’t appreciate you calling me pathetic because you have surpassed me in you level of knowledge. It’s judgemental and unfair. I may not be as wise as you, but God did bestow on everyone they gift of opinion.

BTW…just incase you try and twist my words when I say that I know a lot about modern witchcraft…I have friends who WERE wiccan for years, and I read thier books, at least 10 of them so dont’ call me pathetic for reading in the search of knowledge.

Thank you
 
ByzCath:

Your knowledge of the Saints of the Church and Witchcraft is just as woefully lacking as Raphaela’s.

There are close to 400 scriptural references in the Bible warning against satanistic witchcraft, …the kind that is found in the HP series: divination, magic, sorcery, wizardry, casting spells, etc. Practice in any of these black arts was punishable by death.

If you continue to remain obstinate and refuse to connect the dots, that’s entirely your problem. Perhaps Harry has cast his spell over you?

If you question the Word of God…certainly you will question everyone else’s word, as well.

What I am suggesting in this thread is that Catholic parents expose their children to sound “Catholic” truths by offering them literature that is NOT FANTASY AND FICTION. The story of Wonder-Worker St. Philomena is Christian, documented, factual, it is amazing, it is loaded with miracles, signs and wonders, it is enriching, absorbing, and worthy of every parent’s consideration - especially those who have teenage children. The Lives of the Saints is the proper antidote to the occult poison that Rowlings and others have wrapped up in the shiny package of “fantasy” to entrap our kids.

To compare Tolkein and C.S. Lewis to Rowlings, is quite a stretch. These authors based their works on Christian theology. Rowlings bases hers on satanism.
 
Arlene Alice:
To compare Tolkein and C.S. Lewis to Rowlings, is quite a stretch. These authors based their works on Christian theology. Rowlings bases hers on satanism.
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Another unfounded accusation.

Seems your the one with the stone to grind as you keep bringing it up.

As for what happens in the Harry Potter books… To say that it is witchcraft and satanism is to say that the magic in Tolkein and Lewis is also witchcraft and satanism.

If you think witches run around rideing broom sticks and waving wands… well then I guess you can continue in the fantasy world.
 
Arlene Alice:
Code: 
Your knowledge of the Saints of the Church and Witchcraft is just as woefully lacking as Raphaela's.
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Whatever happened to judge not, lest thee be judged. I guess you assume you know more about these topics then members of the Vatican, since
Code: 
"Secretary of the European Conference of Bishops Fr Don Peter Fleetwood said: "I don't see any, any problems in the Harry Potter series."

Follow the link from a Catholic news source.
[Link](http://www.cathnews.com/news/302/10.php)

The church has not removed any Saints.   St. Philomena is still considered a Saint, if you doubt it I guess you can complain to the Catholic Answer Apologists since they say she is. [Link](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=8015&highlight=Saints+removed)

The USCCB even says that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkiban is for **adults and adolescents** I guess they don't feel it is morally objectionable.  
[link](http://www.usccb.org/movies/h/harrypotterandtheprisonerofazkaban.htm)
They don’t even rate it as bad due to witchcraft reasons,
USCCB:
Due to some frightening images and scenes of intense menace, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-- parental guidance suggested.
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Aren't we all supposed to be charitble here and not assume the worst.
 
Thank you Marauder…That was well said, i was losing my patience and needed someone to stand up and say that!! And thank you ByzCath for your information!!
 
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Marauder:
The church has not removed any Saints. St. Philomena is still considered a Saint, if you doubt it I guess you can complain to the Catholic Answer Apologists since they say she is. Link
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I never said that the Church has removed any Saints.

Please show where I made any such statements and I will gladly retract them.

What I said was that they removed St Philomena, as well as St Christopher, from the liturgical calendar. There are no longer any feast days for either of them.
 
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