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The Special Blessings on the Feast of the Assumption by Rachel L. Lozowski

History, customs and traditions of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15, blessing of the fields, processions, blessing of flowers and herbs,

NINTH DAY (Final Day)
St. Philomena is the New Light of the Church Militant. She exercises today a glorious apostolate. The works of the just do not perish; they are seeds that remain buried for a time. The winter is past, the lovely brilliancy of her virtue we behold and proclaim. Come, come, O holy and dearly beloved soul! Take thy place in the midst of us. God shows forth His gratitude by a marked abundance of new graces through thy intercession – a dew as it were, of visible and invisible benedictions. Are not thy merits still living, though many ages have passed? What has St. Philomena done to acquire this glory? She has loved justice and hated iniquity. Her heart, filled with love for the “Law of God,” was fed with it, day and night. Everything she undertook was crowned with success. Let me begin at last to follow her. I will now set about sowing my ground with acts of virtue. The more abundant the seed, the greater will be the harvest. I will endeavor to obtain the treasures of piety, patience, charity and obedience, and of all Christian virtues. I will seek only God in my actions. I will not let any opportunity for grace to be ignored. With thy help, O Princess of Paradise, Virgin and Martyr, I will amass treasures for the Church Suffering, the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant! What I do for God, I do for myself, for the Angels, for the Saints, for the just and for sinners. Let me make haste; let me not lose a moment. Aid me, O St. Philomena, be my anchor of Hope! Thou who has been given the most glorious title of PATRONESS OF THE CHILDREN OF MARY by Pope Pius IX, obtain for me a tender and true devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.

*** (Prayer)
Hail, O holy St. Philomena, whom God glorifies by so many miracles, whom the Vicar of Jesus Christ has named the “Protectress of the Living Rosary and the Children of Mary,” manifest more and more plainly from the heights of Heaven, that a voice holy as thine cannot be denied and that we have the right to rely upon thine aid. Obtain for us the grace to remain faithful to Jesus Christ, even unto death. Amen.

Faithful Virgin and glorious Martyr, whose faith triumphed over all the attacks of the world and of Hell, I bless God for thy triumphs! I praise Him and I give Him glory for the victorious strength He communicated to thee. Blessed be Thou, O Holy God! O God admirable in Thy Saints! O Just God! O Powerful God! O God of Infinite Mercy! Amen.

St. Philomena illumine, defend and preserve us this day and always.

Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven.

PRAYER
O most pure Virgin, glorious Martyr, Saint Philomena, whom God in His eternal power has revealed to the world in these unhappy days in order to revive the faith, sustain the hope and enkindle the charity of Christian souls, behold me prostrate at thy feet. Deign, O Virgin, full of goodness and kindness, to receive my humble prayers and to obtain for me: that purity for which thou didst sacrifice the most alluring pleasures of the world; that strength of soul which made thee resist the most terrible attacks; and that ardent love for Our Lord Jesus Christ, which the most frightful torments could not extinguish in thee. So that wearing thy holy cord and imitating thee in this life, I may one day be crowned with Thee in Heaven. Amen.

EIGHTH DAY
St. Philomena withstood the attacks made upon her. It was death to self on the battlefield that procured for her eternal blessedness. She overcame shame and suffering: both of which united in vain to subdue her. Glory covers her like a garment. Raise thy voice, O illustrious Martyr! Reproach now thy proud enemies. What has become of their sting! St. Philomena died and now she lives; she was conquered and now she triumphs; she was dragged to the scaffold and now, behold, she is glorified in Heaven! Humiliation is the forerunner of glory; the cross our pledge of eternal happiness. Have I comprehended this? Do I wish to come to the practice of it? If I had to engage the most terrible enemies and offer myself in a combat of blood, how long would I last? What sort of fight would it be? A moment, a slight contest, almost nothing and then a weight of glory and a boundless eternity of beatitude and happiness! O my heart, expand thyself at this hope! Not only will this make me resigned in my different trials, but also I will carry them with joy. Let my tears flow since to them is promised so valuable a consolation. Sorrows avoid me not as after you, the sweetest joys will come! Yes, I desire to suffer in order to enjoy; I wish to fight, in order to conquer. I wish to humble myself and to be humbled, that my God may exalt me; I wish to die to the world, to sin and to myself, that I may live in God and with God for all eternity. St. Philomena draw me after you and aid me by thy intercession. Animate and enlighten me by your example. Obtain for me the grace to follow it. Make the sacrifice today of one meal or at least a cup of water when you are hungry or thirsty. Mortify your flesh in some small way in reparation for choosing self in place of God so often in the past and in preparation for death.

*** (Prayer)
Hail, O holy St. Philomena, whom God glorifies by so many miracles, whom the Vicar of Jesus Christ has named the “Protectress of the Living Rosary and the Children of Mary,” manifest more and more plainly from the heights of Heaven, that a voice holy as thine cannot be denied and that we have the right to rely upon thine aid. Obtain for us the grace to remain faithful to Jesus Christ, even unto death. Amen.

Litany of St. Philomena (Composed by St. John Vianney)
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Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity one God, have mercy on us.
Response after each phrase - Pray for Us
Holy Mary, Queen of Virgins,
St. Philomena,
St. Philomena, filled with the most abundant graces from your very birth,
St. Philomena, faithful imitator of Mary,
St. Philomena, model of Virgins,
St. Philomena, temple of the most perfect humility,
St. Philomena, inflamed with zeal for the Glory of God,
St. Philomena, victim of the love of Jesus,
St. Philomena, example of strength and perseverance,
St. Philomena, invincible champion of chastity,
St. Philomena, mirror of the most heroic virtues,
St. Philomena, firm and intrepid in the face of torments,
St. Philomena, scourged like your Divine Spouse,
St. Philomena, pierced by a shower of arrows,
St. Philomena, consoled by the Mother of God, when in chains,
St. Philomena, cured miraculously in prison,
St. Philomena, comforted by angels in your torments,
St. Philomena, who preferred torments and death to the splendours of a throne,
St. Philomena, who converted the witnesses of your martyrdom,
St. Philomena, who wore out the fury of your executioners,
St. Philomena, protectress of the innocent,
St. Philomena, patron of youth,
St. Philomena, refuge of the unfortunate,
St. Philomena, health of the sick and the weak.
St. Philomena, new light of the church militant,
St. Philomena, who confounds the impiety of the world,
St. Philomena, who stimulates the faith and courage of the faithful,
St. Philomena, whose name is glorified in Heaven and feared in Hell,
St. Philomena, made illustrious by the most striking miracles,
St. Philomena, all powerful with God,
St Philomena, who reigns in Glory.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V.) Pray for us, Great St. Philomena,
R.) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
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We implore Thee, O Lord, by the intercession of Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, who was ever most pleasing to Thy eyes by reason of her eminent purity and the practice of all the virtues, pardon us our sins and grant us all the graces we need (and name any special grace you may require). Amen.

SEVENTH DAY
St. Philomena was powerfully aided by God in her combats. God will help us in our temptations and difficulties if we ask. He will send Jesus Himself, in the arms of His Mother, Mary – the holy Angels – and the Spirit of Strength, into our hearts that we might conquer all of His enemies and our own selves. Though, I shall see whole legions united against me, I will still hope. Saint Philomena passed with fearless courage through torments and death. Am I not God’s child? Will God not do for me what He did for Saint Philomena? Alas, why do I have such doubts, why do I fear to be abandoned? Has not God said: “Ask and you shall receive!” Do I believe that, morning after morning, God gives me His own Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist, and then fail to trust and hope in Him when I ask a small favor? Away then with these unjust fears! In my tribulations, I will call upon God with unshaken confidence. O, holy Protectress, St. Philomena, strengthen me in these sentiments. Beg God today for every grace you need to attain eternal salvation and be at peace!

*** (Prayer)
Hail, O holy St. Philomena, whom God glorifies by so many miracles, whom the Vicar of Jesus Christ has named the “Protectress of the Living Rosary and the Children of Mary,” manifest more and more plainly from the heights of Heaven, that a voice holy as thine cannot be denied and that we have the right to rely upon thine aid. Obtain for us the grace to remain faithful to Jesus Christ, even unto death. Amen.

Dear Friends,

If anyone would like to join/would like more information about the Universal ArchConfraternity of St. Philomena, below are the international centers:

http://philomenafamily.org/?page_id=876