Gallery of Rooms
Room 31 - Staff Bedroom - 3rd Floor
St. Philomena Room
- Adopted by Philomena Pottmeyer
- In loving memory of Grandma Philomena Lang Bauerbach
St. Philomena was born on January 19, 291 in Corfu, Greece. She died on August 10,304 at the age of 13 in Rome, Italy.
St. Philomena was a young consecrated virgin and martyr who was a daughter of a king. She took a vow of consecrated virginity. When the Emperor Diocletian fell in love with her, Philomena refused to be his wife. The emperor subjected her to torment: scourging from which two angels cured her, to drowning by an anchor attached to her but saved by two angels by cutting the rope, and being shot with arrows with the wounds being healed the first time, the second time the arrows turned aside, and the third time the arrows returned and killed six of the archers. This caused some of the archers to become Christians. Finally the emperor had Philomena decapitated.
St. Philomena’s remains were found in May of 1802 in the Catacombs of St. Priscilla. Now her remains are at Mugnano del Cardinale where they have become the focus of widespread devotion with many miracles attributed to her.
She was canonized on January 13, 1837 liturgically in an Act of Ordinary Papal Magisterium by Pope Gregory XVII in Vatican City.
St. Philomena is the patroness of children, youth, babies, priests, lost causes, sterility and virgins. Her Feast day is August 11.
3rd Floor Living Room
St. Therese Room
The Little Flower
St. Therese of Lisieux was born on January 2, 1873 in Alencon, France. She was the youngest of fifteen children. St. Therese is well known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus or The Little Flower. She was a virgin and is a Doctor of the Church. She died on September 30,1897 in Lisieux, France. She was twenty four years old.
When St. Therese was eight years of age, she was cured of an illness as a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary smiled upon her.
After St. Therese was refused admission to the French Carmelite Covenant due to her young age, she went to see the pope to get permission to join. The pop granted her permission and she entered the convent at the age of 15.
St Therese made small little sacrifices each day and did little deeds for everyone. She sacrificed for all souls. Her motto was “ To do small things with great love.”
While in the convent she wrote her autobiography at the obedience of her mother superior. Mother Agnes of Jesus, who was also her sister, Pauline. The book, “The story of a soul”, is a spiritual classic and one of the most beautiful autobiographies ever written. It reveals her deep love of God and draws the reader into the workings of grace within the soul.
St. Therese died on Sept 30, 1897 in Lisieux, France. She was canonized in 1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997, In Darien, Illinois is a National Shrine of St Therese which includes a window from her bedroom and several other items from her home.
Office
St. Joseph Room
- Daniel and Teresa Coleman Family
St. Joseph is the husband of Mary, Jesus’ Foster Father. Joseph was a learned man, skilled as an artisan in wood and metal. St. Joseph was well versed in the Torah.
St. Joseph was visited by an angel of the Lord in dreams. He received specific instructions and warnings of impending danger.
First Dream: Joseph is told to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived. Matthew 1:20.
Second Dream: Joseph is warned to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. Matthew 2:13.
Third Dream: While in Egypt, Joseph is told that it is safe to go back to Israel. Matthew 2:19-20
Fourth Dream: Joseph departed for the region of Galilee instead of going to Judea. Matthew 2:22.
Through tradition we are told that Jesus and Mary were present when Joseph died and that he died a happy death.
Pope Pius IX declared St Joseph as both patron and Protector of the Catholic Church. St Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, a happy death, families, fathers, pregnant women, explorers, pilgrims, travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers and working people in general.
St. Joseph Feast Day is March 19. The Feast of St Joseph the Worker is celebrated on May 1. Pope Pius XII instituted the feast in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between St Joseph and the cause of workers. By labor we fulfill the command found in Genesis to cultivate the earth.