The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Mugnano del Cardinale, Italy

Home to the relics of St. Philomena—the 'Wonder-Worker' beloved by the Curé d'Ars—where miracles began the moment her remains arrived in 1805.

On May 24, 1802, workers excavating the Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome unsealed a tomb that had lain hidden for fifteen centuries. Inside they found the skeleton of a girl no older than fifteen, a small glass vial stained with what was taken to be blood, and three terracotta tiles bearing an inscription that, when properly arranged, read PAX TECUM FILUMENA—"Peace be with you, Philomena." Engraved alongside were an anchor, arrows, a palm, and a lily: the unmistakable symbols of a virgin martyr. Three years later, Canon Francesco De Lucia of Mugnano del Cardinale—a small village in the hills of Irpinia, some thirty kilometers east of Naples—obtained these relics for his parish church of Our Lady of Graces. What happened next would transform an obscure Campanian town into one of the most remarkable pilgrimage sites of the nineteenth century. From the moment the relics arrived on August 10, 1805, miracles multiplied. A statue donated by Cardinal Luigi Ruffo Scilla the following year sweated fragrant liquid for three consecutive days. Pilgrims came, prayed, and left healed. Pope Gregory XVI, astonished by the reports, called Philomena "the Wonder-Worker of the Nineteenth Century" and granted her public veneration in 1837. Today, pilgrims from across the world still make their way to this unassuming town, drawn by a young martyr whose name means "Daughter of Light."

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

Nothing certain was known of Philomena when her tomb was opened. The Church at that time accepted that the presence of a blood vial indicated martyrdom, and the symbols on the tiles—anchor, arrows, palm—confirmed it. But who was she? In 1833, a Neapolitan tertiary nun named Sister Maria Luisa di Gesù reported a series of revelations in which the saint herself told her story. According to this account, Philomena was the daughter of a Greek king who converted to Christianity. At thirteen she consecrated herself to God with a vow of virginity. When the Emperor Diocletian, visiting to negotiate peace, demanded her hand in marriage, she refused. He subjected her to torture: scourging, drowning with an anchor tied to her neck, piercing with arrows—yet each time she was delivered by angels. Finally, on August 10, she was beheaded and received the crown of martyrdom. The relics reached Mugnano with signs and wonders. Canon De Lucia documented these meticulously: healings, conversions, the multiplication of bone dust that filled hundreds of reliquaries without diminishing. In 1827, Pope Leo XII sent the original terracotta tiles to the shrine, where they remain displayed above an altar. The most celebrated early miracle came on August 10, 1835, when Pauline Jaricot—foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith—arrived at Mugnano dying from a severe heart condition. She was carried into the church on a stretcher. Within hours, she walked out healed. Her cure was examined, verified, and instrumental in securing Philomena's beatification. No saint proved more devoted to Philomena than St. John Vianney, the Curé d'Ars. When Pauline Jaricot visited him after her cure, she gave him a relic of the little martyr. He built a chapel in her honor at Ars and dedicated himself to her by vow. "I have never asked for anything through the intercession of my dear little saint without having been answered," he declared. He attributed every miracle worked through his ministry to her intercession, calling her his "miracle-proxy" and "representative with God." When skeptics questioned her existence, Padre Pio—who shared the Curé's devotion—replied that doubts were "the fruit of the demon." The friar of Pietrelcina called her "the little princess of Paradise." In 1961, during liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council, Philomena's feast was removed from the universal calendar due to lack of historical documentation. Yet her shrine remained, her cult continued, and in 2005, on the bicentenary of her relics' arrival, scientific analysis of the tomb tiles confirmed they had never been rearranged—strengthening the case that this was indeed the original tomb of a martyr named Philomena. The debate over her historical identity has never diminished the miracles attributed to her intercession. As Padre Pio observed: "You can say she was not called Philomena—but this saint has worked miracles, and it was not the name that did them."

☩ Sanctuary of Saint Philomena

The sanctuary stands at the heart of Mugnano del Cardinale, overlooking Piazza Umberto I. Originally built between 1580 and 1600 as the Church of Our Lady of Graces, it was rebuilt in the mid-nineteenth century to accommodate the growing flood of pilgrims. The façade is modest, but the interior reveals the treasures that have drawn the faithful for over two centuries.

Santuario di Santa Filomena

Local Name: Santuario di Santa Filomena Address: Piazza Umberto I, 83027 Mugnano del Cardinale AV, Italy GPS Coordinates: 40.9411892, 14.6424683 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: https://www.santuariosantafilomena.it Dedication: St. Philomena, Virgin and Martyr Historical Note: The church was constructed by the municipality of Mugnano between 1580 and 1600, originally dedicated to Our Lady of Graces. Canon Francesco De Lucia, born in the town on September 19, 1772, obtained the relics of St. Philomena from Pope Pius VII through the intercession of Bartolomeo De Cesare, future Bishop of Potenza. The remains arrived on August 10, 1805, and were placed beneath the altar. King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies received the relics as a gift from the municipality in 1836, further elevating the shrine's prestige. The church was substantially rebuilt by 1856 to accommodate pilgrims and remains one of nine official sanctuaries in the Diocese of Nola. Spiritual Importance: Pilgrims come to venerate the relics of St. Philomena, enclosed within a life-sized waxen effigy dressed in silken robes, visible through a crystal case. On one finger rests a gold ring set with a topaz, a gift from Pope St. Pius X. The chapel containing the original tomb tiles—donated by Pope Leo XII in 1827—displays the inscription LUMENA PAX TE CUM FI alongside the symbols of her martyrdom. The Miraculous Altar, gifted by Alessandro Serio in 1814, bears witness to its own wonder: a massive crack that split the marble during construction was inexplicably restored, leaving only a hairline fracture visible today. Also preserved is the chair in which Pauline Jaricot sat when she received her miraculous cure in 1835.

Chapel of the Tomb Tiles

A side chapel houses the three original terracotta tiles that sealed Philomena's tomb in the Catacomb of Priscilla. Above them hangs a painting depicting the saint's martyrdom, executed at the Palace of Caserta in 1859. The tiles bear the rearranged inscription and the symbols that identified her as a virgin martyr: lily, palm, anchor, and arrows.

Reliquary of Martyred Saints

Dating from the eighteenth century, this collection contains relics of numerous saints and martyrs, including St. Boniface, St. Justin Martyr, St. Cyprian of Carthage, and St. Alphonsus Liguori. A relic of St. John Vianney himself was later added, honoring the saint who did more than anyone to spread devotion to Philomena.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

August 10–11 – Feast of Saint Philomena Santuario di Santa Filomena. The principal celebration commemorates both the saint's martyrdom and the arrival of her relics in 1805. The battenti—faithful who walk barefoot through the night, rhythmically tapping wooden clappers—converge on the shrine from surrounding villages. On the second Sunday of August, the Miraculous Statue of St. Philomena is carried in solemn procession through the streets of Mugnano, accompanied by bands, fireworks, and thousands of pilgrims.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Sanctuary Accommodation

Casa del Pellegrino (The Pilgrim's House) 📍 Address: Piazza Umberto I, 83027 Mugnano del Cardinale AV, Italy 🌐 Website: Casa del Pellegrino 📞 Booking: Contact the sanctuary directly The sanctuary's own pilgrim house offers comfortable accommodation in a warm, family atmosphere just steps from St. Philomena's relics. Rooms include family, double, matrimonial, and single options (some reserved for clergy), most with private bathrooms. An elevator ensures accessibility for disabled guests. Meals are served in a large refectory featuring traditional Neapolitan cuisine. Groups staying four or more days can arrange organized tours to Rome, Monte Cassino, San Giovanni Rotondo, and the Amalfi Coast. Book well in advance for the August feast days.

Nearby B&Bs

Villa Palmira ⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Maria Scarano 35, 83020 Quadrelle AV, Italy 🌐 Website: Villa Palmira 🔗 Book: View on Booking.com Just a five-minute walk from the sanctuary in the neighboring village of Quadrelle, this family-run B&B has welcomed pilgrims for over forty years. The Italian-American hosts offer spacious rooms, a garden terrace, airport transfers, and genuine Southern Italian hospitality. An excellent base for exploring Campania. Dolci Sogni 📍 Address: Via Roma 33, 83027 Mugnano del Cardinale AV, Italy 🔗 Book: View on Booking.com This family-run bed and breakfast sits within walking distance of the sanctuary, offering simple, air-conditioned rooms with mountain views. The hosts provide local restaurant recommendations for meals.

4-Star Hotels

Hotel I Gigli ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Via Giacomo Puccini 32, 80035 Nola NA, Italy 🔗 Book: View on Booking.com Located in nearby Nola, approximately 10 km from Mugnano, this 4-star hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, garden, and easy highway access to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Ranked #1 hotel in Nola on TripAdvisor.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Naples International Airport (Capodichino) lies approximately 35 km west. Rental cars are available at the airport, and the drive takes roughly 40 minutes via the A16 motorway. By Train: The Circumvesuviana railway runs from Naples Porta Nolana station to Baiano (approximately 1 hour). From Baiano station, taxis or the Nola-Avellino bus reach Mugnano del Cardinale in about 15 minutes. Tell the bus driver your destination. By Car: From Naples, take the A16 motorway (Napoli-Bari) and exit at Baiano. Mugnano del Cardinale is approximately 1 km from the exit. Free parking is available near the sanctuary.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P., Saint Philomena: The Wonder-Worker – The classic account of the saint's discovery, miracles, and devotion, including her remarkable partnership with the Curé d'Ars.

Articles & Online Resources:

🔗 Useful Links

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

  • Sanctuary of Montevergine (15 km) – High in the Partenio Mountains, this Benedictine abbey houses the revered Byzantine icon of the Mamma Schiavona, drawing millions of pilgrims annually.
  • Naples (35 km) – The Cathedral of San Gennaro preserves the blood relic of the city's patron, which liquefies three times yearly.
  • Pompei (40 km) – The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei, founded by Blessed Bartolo Longo, stands in the shadow of Vesuvius.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"To Saint Philomena, God refuses nothing."

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— St. John Vianney, the Curé d'Ars