LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

The Third Level of Paintings: 
The Life of Saint Philomena

Msgr. Maillard’s representation of Saint Philomena’s life

The Blood of Christ leading to saintliness, symbolized by the life of Saint Philomena, former patron saint of the Co-Cathedral, is represented by a series of paintings above the Way of the Cross. These paintings are Msgr. Maillard’s representation of the life and the martyrdom of Saint Philomena.
 
It is a story of a young girl who had devoted her life entirely to God. Without doubt she was baptized and bore witness to the presence of God in her community, which lead to her suffering various tortures.

On the Co-Cathedral walls, we see :
Saint Philomena is thrown in prison to be brought later before a court where she is judged and condemned to death because she has chosen to obey God rather than to obey man. The executioners attempt to kill her with arrows but an angel descends to her rescue and reflects the arrows towards the executioners killing many of them. Raging with anger that she is still alive, the soldiers decide to tie an anchor around her neck and drown her in the Tiber River. Once again, the angels intervene and she is saved. She is later put in prison where an angel comforts and reassures her not to be afraid because this is what God wants and He will be by her side. She is then taken by the soldiers and decapitated. The Christians later place her body in the catacombs where she rests in peace. Another painting of Saint Philomena depicts her risen from the catacombs, showing that she is victorious.