October 17 – 1835, Healing of Pauline at Mugnano di cardinale, near Naples (Italy)

Pauline's illness was deemed incurable, nevertheless she wanted to visit to Mugnano, Italy, even though such a voyage would be difficult, if not insane given the severity of her condition. Pauline had a serious heart problem (palpitations). She had trouble eating and had to take great care not to suffocate. She had a few moments of reprieve, at the end of a novena to Saint Philomena and, although she condition was serious, she was determined to carry out her project of travelling to Mugnano, to the tomb of Saint Philomena, passing through Paray-le- Monial and Rome. A popular devotion to Saint Philomena had emerged following an archeological discovery in the catacomb of Priscilla, on May 25, 1802 in Rome. The artifact was a series of blocks bearing the inscription Lumena Paxte Cum Fi, surrounded by symbolic Christian characters. By changing the order of the blocks, it is possible to read Paxte Cum Filumena, which may be translated as Peace be with you, Philomena. The name may even mean Beloved (from the Greek root Phileo), or even Daughter of light (from the Latin root Filia luminis)? (see Catherine Masson, Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 311). A secret allure attracted Pauline to the tomb of Philomena, who was considered a martyr. How, then, to express this desire and especially how to get to the Roman catacombs from Lyon, when she was so ill that she could no longer bear the slightest shock?

For the doctor, all remedies were useless; he therefore came to see Pauline, as a friend, without prescribing anything, as if she were simply an object of curiosity, for observation. Wouldn't undertaking a journey of any kind be a way of ending Pauline's life? To this question, the doctor replied,  Since for a long time nothing, absolutely nothing explains the prolongation of your existence, you can without any scruples satisfy your fantasy of traveling. (Catherine Masson, Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 312-313).

When Pauline confided to Bishop de Pins her plan to go to Paray-le-Monial, she did not specify that it would be a test of her ability to survive and go to Mugnano. She wanted to have recourse to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the intercession of the Venerable Margaret Mary. Since June 21, 1817, Pauline was a member of the Association of the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, which was presided by Claudine Thévenet. When she added some of the workers into an association, she gave them the name “Reparatrixes of the Heart of Jesus. Moreover, when she conceived her work L'amour infini, subtitled Le cœur de Jésus Christ, salut de l'Église et de la France, she referred, there too, to the heart of Jesus. (Catherine Masson, Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 313). Since she arrived alive at Paray-le-Monial, Pauline decided to go at least as far as Rome to receive the Pope's blessing.

Pauline remains incognito while crossing Lyon and goes to Chambéry where she is received by the Visitandines. Her condition worsened and she thought she was dying far from France and far from Rome - Savoy did not yet belong to France at that time (see Catherine Masson, Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 314). The Visitandines prayed a novena to Saint Philomena and Pauline found the strength to set out again. She and her retinue stayed a few days in Loreto and then left for Rome where she arrived almost unconscious. She was received by her friends, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, whose convent was at Trinité des Monts (at the top of the Spanish Steps). Given her extreme state of weakness, Gregory XVI honored her with a visit. Pauline pleaded with the pope for the cause of Saint Philomena and, after a five-week stay in Rome, the caravan set out again.

Pauline Jaricot arrived in Mugnano on August 8, 1835, two days before the feast of St. Philomena. She was welcomed with joy as the founder of the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary, even though she was suffering inexpressibly. On Sunday, she seemed almost dead and her friends placed her near the venerated tomb. deep inside she felt her healing, which she hid at first, because she was intimidated. According to Sister Cecilia Giacovelli, Pauline understood that she had just been the object of a divine miracle. Clapping her hands in a rhythmic movement, Pauline began to sing Glory to the Father. The pallor of her face gives way to her natural complexion: she leaves the aspect of an emaciated woman looking more than 50 years old to offer the image of a woman at least fifteen years younger, who manages to walk freely through the crowd with a surprising liveliness. (Sister Cécilia Giacovelli, Pauline Jaricot. Biography, op. Cit., p. 202).

The general amazement gave way to blessings, thanksgiving and praise. The next day, August 10, the feast day of St. Philomena, Pauline felt so much better that she tried to walk around the church a bit. Even her friends carried her chair behind her, Pauline felt a real improvement that was confirmed when she returned to her home. I can walk to my apartment and up the stairs to my room in one go: something I hadn't done in 15 months. I hoped that things would happen quietly, but no sooner had I arrived than the whole village knew what had just taken place. (Catherine Masson, Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 315).

Gathered around a priest, the people demand to see her. Pauline will join in the demonstrations of joy with the crowd and the religious enthusiasm. She is no longer the lady or the French young lady, but the princess of paradise (Sister Cécilia Giacovelli, Pauline Jaricot. Biography, op. Cit., p. 202).   The bell rang. She was forced to walk through the town, preceded by the musicians and accompanied by soldiers. : I really looked at myself as a victim adorned with ribbons and crowned for the sacrifice. She left Mugnano only after a novena of gratitude. She took a relic with her and left her chair there as an ex-voto. On the way back, she did not fail to surprise all those who had seen her dying on the way! She herself recalls, at the relay, the postilions who had brought me in a state close to death shouted aloud: “Miracle! Miracle! Long live Saint Philomena! At their cries, the crowd ran from all sides, crowded around the car, hanging wreaths and garlands of flowers, invoking the holy Martyr (Catherine Masson, Pauline Jaricot, op. Cit., p. 315-316).