Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena (ULRA)

SAINT PHILOMENA, PROTECTRESS OF THE LIVING ROSARY AND THE CHILDREN OF MARY

“My Children, Saint Philomena has great power with God!” St. Jean Marie Vianney

It is written of Divine Providence, not only does it arrange the means, but it reaches the goal. Gentleness is remarkable in the former and strength of character in the latter. St. Philomena received from Jesus Christ in the heights of Heaven, her mission. It seems the King of Kings to Whom all power is given from the Father, distinguished her in the midst of the assembly of Saints by a particular satisfaction and preferential love. “Go, I have chosen you and wish to place you in the fields of My Church like a new sowing, destined to make It productive. You will bring to Me the fruits which My Hand prepares for you; may your firmness augment for Me, your savor.”

Ah, Christ, Our Savior, wishes to use the glorious St. Philomena to console us, to instruct us and to encourage us. She will be our Anchor of Hope in this Age of Darkness. We need her in these unhappy times to which the words of St. John apply so well: “My dear children, we have come to the last hour. You have been told that the anti-Christ is neigh, or there are a great number of anti-Christs in the world. This is why we affirm that the last hour has tolled. Preserve your doctrine, my children, which was taught to you from the beginning. It will keep you constantly united with the Father and the Son. The anti-Christs will conspire with such malice, audacity and slander that, not only in the cities but even in the hamlets, his reign will infest you with a disgusting poison and impious vomit. False prophets will spring up, God’s laws will fall to scorn, souls will be gorged with silver and gold, sanctuaries will be profaned. Fathers and mothers will be insulted by their children, marriages torn asunder, and incest will stain all classes.

Divine Wisdom cries out: “Have Faith! It is I Who permit these fearful winds and storms. Have Confidence! It is I Who permit the tides to rise. I will come at the moment you need Me. If I must move the heavens and the earth to make you triumph over your enemies, I will do it! Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will enter into My glory.” In falling under the tyrant’s sword, Philomena was victorious. She received an immortal crown and was placed upon a throne in eternity. Her reign will have no end!

PEACE BE TO YOU, PHILOMENA!

Pauline-Marie Jaricot was born at Lyon on July 22, 1799, to a profoundly religious family of silk merchants. Her life was spent at the feet of Our Lady of Fourviere. Her entire life was given completely to God and to Holy Mother the Church through the glory of the Cross. We know her universally as the foundress of the Propagation of the Faith, but she was so much more than that. Pauline founded many other works for the Church, remarkable for their diversity and copiously fertile propagation. At heart, Pauline was a contemplative, a very great one indeed! Her union with God was the source and secret of her influence upon souls.

The greatest miracle of St. Philomena took place before the Holy Father’s eyes. Pauline Jaricot, sick and very near death, visited him before her journey to Mugnano. Immediately upon her return from Mugnano, she visited him again and was the picture of health.

While Pauline remained present in Rome for over a year, the Office, Mass Common and Fourth Lesson proper to a double minor rite were given to Philomena. Pope Gregory XVI waited three years to follow the movement of devotion to St. Philomena and to be certain of the miracles reported.

It was Pope Gregory XVI who gave the Living Rosary its blessed Patroness, “Now, all the Living Rosary is under the protection of St. Philomena! Pray to St. Philomena, whatever you ask of her, she will obtain for you.”

Pope Gregory XVI passed away in 1846 and Pius IX, his successor, who had been cured by St. Philomena of the condition of epilepsy, was able to ascend the throne of St. Peter. He did not forget his “little Saint” and it was at the altar of St. Philomena, he promised to resist iniquity until his death. Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Philomena secondary Patroness of the kingdom of Naples. On July 6, 1853, the Office and Mass composed according to liturgical regulations was accepted. One would never be able to say the decisions of the Holy See concerning devotion to St. Philomena had been ill-advised. Pope Pius IX was the Pope to proclaim the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception! As a last act of homage, the Holy Father sent His chalice to Mugnano as a sign of gratitude and to grace the resting place of his heavenly benefactress. It was Pope Pius the IX who placed all of the Children of Mary under the patronage of St. Philomena. On the property of Pauline Jaricot in France, today, is a beautiful chapel entirely dedicated to St. Philomena. Not only do pilgrims visit this chapel but the bishop offers Holy Mass there once a month.

In 1878, Pope Leo XIII mounted the pontifical throne which he was to occupy for 25 years. Leo willingly approved of the red and white cord in honor of the virgin and martyr, and he embellished this devotion with rich indulgences. He granted the title and privilege of Archconfraternity to St. Philomena’s devotion.

Pope Saint Pius X, elected in 1903 had a great desire to beatify the Curé of Ars whose name is closely bound to the glory and name of St. Philomena. On August 8, Pius X participated in the festivities of St. Philomena by sending a gold ring to the reigning Princess of Mugnano. He was so saddened to hear what was being written about her at that time. How can such writings be possible! Horacio Marucchi denied her very existence. Pope Pius X spoke at length on this Wonder-Worker of the 20th Century stating: “… to discredit the present writings concerning St. Philomena as not being permanent, stable, valid and effective, necessary of obedience, and in full effect for all eternity, proceeds from an element that is null and void and without merit or authority.” St. Pius X

St. Peter Julian Eymard, personal friend and confidant of Ven. Pauline Jaricot, was cured of a grave infirmity by St. Philomena and was then able to go forward amidst persecution and setbacks to found the noble order of the Adoration Fathers of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

After visiting the house of Venerable Pauline Jaricot, the holy Curè of Ars took St. Philomena for his own. Pauline gave him a relic of the dear saint which he housed in a special chapel at Ars built in her honor. She was his little saint and did everything for him. He, in turn, sent everyone to her altar, that she might give them light, hope and joy. The healing of bodies at Ars seemed to be reserved to the Little Saint.

It was behind St. Philomena’s glory that St. Jean-Marie Vianney hid his own. For 18 hours a day in the summer time and eleven during the colder months, the Curé was bound to his Confessional as to Calvary. All of the penitents having seen and heard the Curé, left with the seeds of salvation planted in their souls. Certainly, it was the wonders of conversion that most often occurred in Our Lady’s chapel at Ars. St. Jean Marie Vianney had the gift of reading souls. He knew what was in their hearts and could tell them – when, where and how their lives had been led and what must be done to obtain peace from God. Father Vianney’s strength had been sustained beyond human provision. His scant sleep at night, diet of cold moldy potatoes and the many penances he imposed on himself, had left him no more than an “armful of bones covered with skin.” Moreover, he was no stranger to illness: he had abdominal pains and constant headaches, and to these miseries were added other painful infirmities. The devil gave him no rest. Even so, he remained smiling, active, always exhausted, but ever ready to labor for souls. One day, however, he was forced to stop. It was around May of 1843. All alone in a crushing ministry, with the number of pilgrims flocking to Ars ever increasing, doing his best to “make his corpse gallop,” he was unable to go on. Bedridden despite himself, he was soon at death’s door and began his preparation for death. Four doctors were in attendance of him “watching him die.” His confessor was called in to administer the Last Sacrament.

After receiving Extreme Unction, he made a vow to Saint Philomena. He promised to have always a large candle burning in her honor and to have 100 Masses offered in her honor. The first Mass was offered at once by Father Dubouis, the pastor of Fareins, in the chapel at Ars. Jean Pertinand, who was with the dying Curé, as the Mass was being offered, related, “The Mass was scarcely over when he exclaimed, ‘My friend, a great change has come over me. I am healed!’ I heard him murmur the name of his dear protectress several times and believe that Saint Philomena appeared to him.”

In return for so many benefits, known and unknown, the Curé of Ars showed every mark of gratitude to his “Beloved”. The Roman Breviary declares, “He inspired souls with a tender piety toward the blessed Philomena.” He cherished a plan to have a splendid shrine built in her honor, but only death prevented him from fulfilling this plan. In his last days with trembling hand, amid the tears and sobs of all, he wrote these lines:

“I will pray to God for those who help me build a beautiful church to Saint Philomena.”
(Jean MB Vianney, Curé d'Ars – April 2, 1859)

After reading his life, writings and the miracles that took place at Ars, no one can deny that he alone, Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney, had done as much, if not more, for the glory of St. Philomena than all others combined. During his life, he honored her constantly and loved her deeply, and she him. Without leaving his poor, obscure church, he had made the young virgin of the catacombs known and loved all over the world. Far more than this, he himself had become a living, tangible proof of the existence and sanctity of the child saint. Who would ever dare to pretend that a miracle-worker, a sage, a Saint like the Curé of Ars, who is now declared the Patron Saint of all Priests in the world, lived an illusion!!! That a man who read the secrets of hearts would not have discovered this error, this falsehood, in his own heart? He proved himself to be a man of total truthfulness and heroic in the virtue of prudence. Would such a man, believing in purely imaginary visions himself, have engaged millions of souls to pray to a virgin-martyr unworthy of the name?

“The great argument in favor of devotion to Saint Philomena is the Venerable Curé of Ars.” (St. Pius X)

It is written in the declaration of canonization of St. Jean-Marie Vianney that he should be imitated in all his spirituality. How could one follow this directive without including a tender devotion to the Saint, whom he loved and honored in a singular way throughout the long years he lived as a holocaust for souls?

“O Powerful Saint Philomena, ‘Guardian Angel’ of the Living Rosary Association,
obtain for us the Gifts of the Holy Ghost in order that we may be given the light
to know the Will of God, the science of loving Him, the wisdom of discerning
what pleases and displeases Him, the fear of saddening Him,
and the strength to obey Him.”
Venerable Pauline Jaricot, Foundress of the Living Rosary

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST!

We welcome with joy your requests for Holy Masses. It is our privilege to remember you at the Altar. When offering the Sacred Liturgy, we realize that we are going to perform an action which is the most holy and divine, the greatest and most important, the highest and most sublime action that can be performed in Heaven or on Earth. It must be performed with divine intentions and dispositions, with great care and attention of mind, body and soul. In union with Jesus Christ Himself, the Holy Sacrifice is offered for your family in the ancient Byzantine Rite which is preserved unchanged in Ukraine.

Please offer the Triune God a home in your heart. It must be His own undivided property, consecrated and set aside for Him. He must be your ALL – not merely a guest, stranger or passing visitor. We ask Our Eucharistic King to take full possession of us and to live His Life within us. O my Loving God, You decide, arrange and settle everything in my life Yourself, so that You will be loved tenderly and intensely.

Do ask God to help you to become His pure instrument and to direct everything in your life. Mary offered her whole self to the Eucharistic God, for perfect love makes no condition or reservation. At Holy Mass, we unite with Mary to prepare our soul for the angelic duty of adoration.
 

May the Precious Blood of Jesus strengthen you and prepare you for the sacrifices, suffering and death which await each one. Be at peace! Trust Him with all your heart! With God’s blessing, prayers and respect,

I remain your servant at the Holy Altar, Fr. IVAN KOLODIJ

For over 60 years, the Eastern Catholic Church in the USA and
Canada has had steadily growing numbers of members. Their liturgical rites may appear strange and unfamiliar, their ecclesiastical discipline different. These Catholics are loyal members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The majority of these Catholics in the recent past have undergone the most bloody persecution history has ever known. The bishops, priests and faithful belonging to this group within the Church have sealed their loyalty to the Rock of Peter with the heroic sacrifice of their lives. For them, to die for the Church is sweeter and more gratifying than to live outside of Her in spiritual and mental slavery. These Catholics belong to various Eastern Rites, the largest of which is the Byzantine Rite. This is the Rite in which our beloved Father Ivan Kolodij is ordained.

I want to share with you our progress in spreading the Living Rosary Association in the territories of Eastern and Western Europe. During the last five months, the Living Rosary in Ukraine established 50 new groups, and more people are joining our wonderful organization every day. Many people feel the terrible depression and financial difficulties now, when countries are in deep economical crisis. People have lost their trust in money and are calling to join the Living Rosary and receive spiritual and psychological support and care. Many people who lost a lot of money are humbled. They say to the priests of the Living Rosary that, without the spiritual support which the LR provides, their lives would be destroyed. Many priests in Ukraine who did not pay attention to the power of the LR when they established the prayer groups in their parishes, now see that the members are taking care of the churches, washing vestments, helping the priests and religious to run the parish works. Many of them are involved in the charitable aid to the poor members of the parishes. Many members of the Living Rosary run the counseling mission to the youth and freely distribute the books, newspaper and prayer cards to them. People who don’t have any financial means, receive our help with materials. Recently, the Living Rosary established new groups in Genova, Barcelona, Napoli and Perudjia. People call our Center and ask us to pray for them and to help them in these difficult times which bring them a lot of stress and tribulations.

Every weekend, pilgrim groups of the Living Rosary members come to Lviv to receive instructions and spiritual formation. The Ukrainian people have very strong devotion to pilgrimages. During the Spring and Summer, our Center sends envoys with materials for free distribution to the pilgrims. After every pilgrimage, we receives a lot of phone calls and ‘SMS’ messages in which people say that the advices and information which they got from the newspaper, The Voice of the Living Rosary, help them to become better Christians.

The Living Rosary in Ukraine has begun to distribute a 200-page book about the Virgin Mary which is titled, “Our Heavenly Mother.” Also, with the help of the Living Rosary, International Center in Dickinson, Texas, our Center gives some vital support to sick priests through Mass stipends. We can do all such things because you, our dear benefactors and members, help us. By your generosity, we are able to speed up the mission efforts to reach all souls.

Besides remembering you at the Holy Altar, during the month of June, we pray the Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for all your needs and intentions.

< Fr. Ivan – UKRAINE >

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It is with great joy and oceans of gratitude that we join together now to celebrate the glorious Feast of our Patroness and Protectress, Saint Philomena. This great Saint was given to us by Pope Gregory XVI as our "Guardian Angel!" It is very fitting that we express to her our love and our confidence on her Feast Day. Her double patronage this month makes the celebration so much more endearing to us. St. Philomena was named the Patroness of the Children of Mary by Pope Pius IX.

“Have full confidence in this great Saint;
She will obtain for you all that you ask.”
Ven. Pauline Jaricot

Saint Philomena, Protectress of the Living Rosary has come to give us: Ardent Faith, Perfect Charity and Absolute Confidence in God!

PATTI MELVIN, ULRA – Director

Prayer to Saint Philomena

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.

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Progress is the watchword of our modern Day. Progress should be likewise the watchword of our spiritual advancement: progress in making use of the means of Salvation God has given us for these perilous times. Our families are plagued with opportunities for sin, which are innumerable and divisive. Dangers, which are so incredibly menacing, attractive and enticing, surround us on every side. We cannot overcome them by our own power. Without God’s help, we will drown in the mire. Witchcraft and Satanism abound, drugs and alcohol, pornography and nudity have found their way into our schools and homes.

We have been deceived by the devil. Setting our hopes on material comforts, possessions and future security, we have forfeited family, faith and eternal beatitude. How can we best appeal to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary? How can we attain the salvation of our families? How can we help those who have lost the faith and abandoned themselves to this vacuum of greed, pride and hate?

Our Lady of Fatima came to bring peace to the world. The foundation of Peace is the possession of Grace. Man must cease offending God. Sanctifying Grace is the Life of God Himself imparted to the soul, whereby man is raised to a supernatural level and becomes a friend and child of God, and an heir to Heaven. The presence or absence of Sanctifying Grace in our souls, at the moment of death, will decide our eternal salvation or damnation. Through the Sacrament of Confession, all is gained and saved, and the repentant sinner is restored to the friendship of God. Washed in the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God, he receives the source of life, the medicine of salvation, the fount of healing and the beginning of all that is good. There is no more effectual means of preservation from the dangers and temptations which beset our families, than frequent union with Our Lord in Holy Communion. Misled by false teachers, many have given up the Faith, Love and Hope of Christ. We must turn back to God by whom we are loved so very much. When man restores God to the temple of his soul, Mary will reward the world with a lasting peace.

Thirty one days of Sacred Liturgies will be offered by Father Ivan Kolodiy in the Ukraine during the month of August for our loved ones who have fallen away from the Sacraments, for grandchildren who need to receive Baptism, and for the conversion of those you entrust to God. The names of those enrolled will be placed on the Altar during the entire month of August.

SUGGESTED STIPEND DONATION: $ 5.00 each for Enrollment in the thirty one days of Sacred Liturgies for your Loved Ones: PRINT VERY CLEARLY EACH NAME!
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Make your payment online through PAYPAL / CREDIT CARD at: WWW.PHILOMENA.ORG

If payment by Check / Money Order / Cash, please mail it directly to the address below:

THE LIVING ROSARY, P.O. BOX 1303, DICKINSON, TX 77539, USA.

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Share Your Gift of Faith

For centuries, our cherished Catholic faith has been passed from person to person, parent to child, etc. Each of us carries in our heart a special memory of how God first graced us with the knowledge of the faith and how Our Blessed Mother, Saint Philomena, Venerable Pauline Jaricot and other saints changed our lives and brought us closer to Christ.

In our work in the Universal Living Rosary Association, we see first hand how millions of souls are currently living without that knowledge of God and are living outside of His grace. We have been given a beautiful opportunity to carry out Christ's work and pass on our faith and blessings to others who would otherwise never be introduced to Our Lord, the Savior of all mankind. Just as we pray for the souls in Purgatory who have no one to pray for them, we should also make it a part of our life's mission to pass on our faith to as many souls as possible who have no one else to pass it on to them, who don't know Our Lord and His promise of salvation.

This is the box we send out to the foreign Missions $77.95. It contains Rosaries, Scapulars, Miraculous Medals, Cord & Oil, Newsletters, Calendars, Catechism books, 2 TAN books, large color prints, lists and encouragement for our Promoters.

Please Click here to Share Your Gift of Faith