There is little information about Philomène's life. Her remains were discovered in 1802, with three terracotta plaques attached to the tomb: "LUMENA / PAX TE / CUM FI". It was decided that the order of the bricks had been reversed and should read: "PAX TE / CUM FI / LUMENA", i.e. "Peace be with you, Philomena". A lily, an arrow, an anchor and a palm are also carved into the rock.
In 1833, a Neapolitan nun is said to have had a vision revealing that Saint Philomena was the daughter of a Greek king who attracted the attentions of the emperor Diocletian. She refused all his advances. The emperor had her tortured, but she remained steadfast and eventually suffered martyrdom. Christian slaves took her body and laid it piously in the Roman catacombs.
Her reputation for holiness spread throughout Italy, Spain and Portugal, and even to France, where the Curé d'Ars performed several miracles thanks to her intercession.
Pope Gregory XVI canonised Philomena in 1837, but because of doubts about her real existence, the saint was removed from the liturgical calendar in 1961.
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