Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena (ULRA)

I have sent all the financial reports and recent lists of over 600 new members. We want to begin the New Year fresh and be ready for the work that lies ahead.

Meanwhile, for the second time, I have traveled to the Diocese of Sangmelima, mostly dominated by the Protestants, upon the invitation of the Bishop’s private secretary who gave us an appointment to meet his Lordship, the Bishop, Msgr. Christophe Zoa and explain the ULRA to him. On December 23, I went with one of the members, Mr. Docky Jean Paul. We left at about 8:30 a.m. and arrived in Sangmelima at about 11:45 a.m. We were so lucky that the Bishop had not yet arrived in his office when we reached. We sat and waited till around 4:15 p.m. The city of Sangmelima is about 180 km. from Yaounde.

After our meeting, the Bishop gave us permission to introduce the ULRA throughout the Catholic schools and with the Youth Groups in his Diocese. He insisted that we must work with the Vicar General to draw plans with the Secretariat of Education and the Youth Chaplaincy. We presented the Bishop with the Holy Mass Crucifix with St. Philomena’s image, “Jesus, the King of Love” booklet and a precious Rosary. The only instruction he gave us was not to abandon the work when we start and we must reach out to the youth of the diocese and to schools.

Schools across the country open on Monday, January 4, 2016. During my 5 days stay, I met and explained the ULRA to the Vicar General, who did not hesitate to accept all the plans we had put in place as regard to working in the area. He ordered that some of our flyers be placed on the notice board on all corners of the Cathedral.

I expect the Vicar General to call us when school resumes so that we know when the enrolment is to begin. I was so encouraged on how we were received and the way the ULRA was welcomed in the diocese.

Many thanks to all our benefactors and staff for all their untiring support in 2015! I plead and pray God to give us the grace to work harder in 2016, and to crown our efforts with fruitful result. Ave Maria!

< Paul – Cameroon >

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Blessed Christmas, Patti! Blessed Christmas to your Team! Blessed Christmas to all our Benefactors! Blessed Christmas to the all the ULRA members! May our Divine Infant King bless and reward you all!

I apologize for the delay in acknowledging the wonderful parcels sent in October and November 2015 that came in my absence.

With heartfelt gratitude, I render a big thank you and a huge hug to you, Patti! The parcels are full of treasures!!! I am overwhelmed with the inspiring and soul searching prayer cards, special Rosaries, Scapulars, Miraculous Medals and the “Holiness Through Mary” Book. Most excellent Book! I am really absorbed in Marian Devotions; thanks to you, I have so much to share with others looking through these spiritual materials. The Holy Spirit is really at work with you when you prepare what to send to me. I have shared all the “Novena to the Holy Spirit” Booklets which you sent. There was a person who was looking for this booklet but I had no copy left to give him. Now, you have sent us more copies. The leaflet on “The Holy Name of Jesus” is really touching. I myself have experienced the power that is in the Holy Name of Jesus! Thank you, Patti, for spreading this good news to the whole world. I will do my best to spread this wonderful devotion of The Holy Name of Jesus. If I may beg, could you kindly send me a few more copies of this leaflet, more copies of “The Holiness Through Mary” book. I am reading through it now!!! The Ten Life-Long Resolutions leaflets are beautiful indeed!!! You are leading countless souls to Heaven! Could I have a few more copies of these also? The Jubilee Card of St. Benedict is beautiful too! In fact, all the things in these boxes are very excellent, especially the CD, Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Heart, etc. to mention a few. Thank you very much for all these spiritual materials. May all your intentions and the intentions of all our Benefactors be granted as we say these prayers!

We are praying for all of you. We are united around the Crib in prayer. Merry Christmas!!! Thank You, Jesus, and Mary, Our Immaculate Mother, for Patti Melvin! Thank you, St. Philomena and Pauline-Marie Jaricot for Patti Melvin!!!

Sr. Mary Florence Angwe
St. Joseph’s Convent,
Shisong – Cameroon

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In spite of every difficulty, the Child of Mary holds on, absolutely and obstinately determined never to lose heart. Ever constant in his faith and unrelaxing in his efforts, he hopes for success, but his work goes on independently of it. When apparent failure comes, he fights on, undismayed, confident that, fortified by grace, he will eventually wear it down. He has a heart for the impossible, but his spirit is applied in all its fullness to even the smallest task. To each, he brings the same golden tenacity of purpose, standing by the cross until his work is consummated. He has been chosen as Mary’s instrument and, though ever conscious of his utter unworthiness, he will not fail through any cause in his own power in the fulfilment of the trust reposed in him, no matter how long or drawn-out the battle, how hard the labors, how great the rebuffs, how hardened the cases, how hopeless the prospect. He knows that there simply does not exist on God’s earth the person in whom his faith, trust and perseverance will produce no results. In the sinner, Christ is held captive, still being mocked and crucified; the King of Heaven is in possession of the enemy. The pursuit of such a soul must be unrelenting, even if the campaign lasts a life-time and the battle is the grimmest ever waged. White-hot faith must burn up everything natural which stands in the way of the salvation of that soul. Therefore, he never allows himself to be put off by false human reasoning. It is enough for him that God wants that vile disfigured soul so ardently that He has sent His only Son to die for it in fearful torment.

In our present state of fallen nature, it is impossible for us to love God truly and effectively without sacrificing ourselves for Him. That is a basic truth of the spiritual life and the Child of Mary fully recognizes its importance. From the outset, the member is told to keep ever before him the image of his Crucified Lord Who devoted to him His last sigh and the last drop of His Blood, and to remember that his own service must strive to reflect such utter giving of self. He is bidden to emulate St. Paul who met with toil and weariness, and was often sleepless, hungry and thirsty. His work will take him out in the bitter cold and blinding rain; it will bring him to evil places, alive with stinking vermin and repulsive with filth; it will bid him approach those from whom he may expect only sour looks, ridicule, insults, rebuffs, criticism and ingratitude; it will often involve suffering the pangs of failure and taking on the anxieties of others. There is little glamour in his true life, but his soul is trained to count suffering a joy.

Those who are nearest to Christ will usually have the biggest share in His Cross. Suffering must have its place in every fruitful life. Often, the Child of Mary feels himself thwarted, crossed, frustrated; At such times he remembers that he who will not walk with the Man of Sorrows has no part in His mission for souls. Likeness to Christ means complete conformity with Him, on Calvary as well as on Thabor. We cannot pick and choose in Christ. Mary became the channel of all Graces because She accepted the whole Christ and all the anguish He brought with Him. So, it is with the Child of Mary. He knows that he is useful to God in proportion to his nearness to the Sacred Heart of Christ, from which he can draw deeply of the Precious Blood in order to bestow it on other souls.

Therefore, suffering is always a grace: it bestows healing, it confers power; united with that of Christ, it becomes priceless in its worth. The sense of suffering becomes the sense of Christ’s close presence; the sorrows of life, especially those arising from the effort to make God known and loved, are a sign that the Precious Blood is being painfully forced through the chilled veins of the Mystical Body so that each member may receive It to the degree Christ wills for him.

“No greater favor can His Majesty bestow on us than to give us a life such as was led by His beloved Son.” Such was the belief of St. Terésè. The process of being molded to the likeness of Christ through suffering is never an intolerable burden. Mary’s Children soon recognize that, because almost inevitably they are brought into close contact with Calvary in themselves or in others. This bearing of the Cross is in itself even more meritorious than their active works; it may well win more souls than vigils, disciplines or fasts.

In this Army of Mary, many souls who represent every stratum of society, are brought together in a great organization whose very life is to mirror the spirit of Mary to the world. Each member is bound in a unique way to all the other members; a principle of connection exists from each individual up through all grades of authority in the apostolate. The strength of the life of the movement depends on the strength of that connection, which, in its turn, depends on the loyalty of the members.

The Children of Mary are an army. What earthly army ever succeeded without rigorous discipline, heroism and sacrifice? Dare Mary’s soldiers offer Her less? The soldiers of the world are often called upon to lay down their lives for their cause. That is not often demanded of Mary’s soldiers, but they are expected to have at least complete readiness to offer their feelings, judgment, independence, pride and will to the wounds of contradiction and the death of a whole-hearted submission, when authority demands it.

Cause of Our Joy

The Mother of God is the Cause of our Joy. Therefore, Her Army must be permeated by the spirit of joy. This is one reason it sets out to attract to its ranks bright, generous and enthusiastic youth. A unit which is not attracting them fails in its purpose. Moreover, just as the mission of Christ was always to give joy, even through the Cross, so is the mission of the Apostolate. It wishes to banish from the face of the earth the one thing which can stand between the heart of man and true joy, namely sin. The true knighthood of Mary is always characterized by the sweet charm of spiritual joyousness; he is happy to serve his Queen and follow Her, if She should demand it, even to Calvary. That spirit he radiates to all around him.

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The rational man needs the Mass to pay Almighty God the debt of homage and adoration he owes Him. The grateful man needs the Mass to pay his debt of thanksgiving. The sinful man, and who among us is without sin, needs the Mass to propitiate God’s Justice and to pay his debt of satisfaction.

The needy man needs the Mass, that praying with Jesus Christ and through Him, he may offer a prayer that is worthy of being heard and, thus, discharge his duty and debt of petition.

At the hour of death, the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you to judgment and plead for pardon. At every Mass, you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins. Assisting devoutly at Mass, you render the Sacred Humanity of Jesus, the greatest homage. He supplies for many of your negligences and omissions. He forgives you all the venial sins you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all the unknown sins you have never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.

By hearing Mass, you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief. One Mass heard by you, during life, will be of more benefit to you than many offered for you after death. Holy Mass preserves you from many dangers and misfortunes that would otherwise befall you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass and win for yourself a higher degree of glory in Heaven. At Mass, you kneel amidst the multitude of Angels who are present at the adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe. You receive the priest’s blessing which Our Lord Himself ratifies in Heaven. You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

Nihil Obstat: P. L. Biermann, Censor Librorum.
Imprimatur: X George Cardinal Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago

The names you send for individual enrollment for the Sacred Masses during the Lenten Season and Easter Octave will be placed upon the Altar. Fr. Ivan Kolodiy and all the priests you have helped in Ukraine will offer these Masses. Suggested donation for each enrollment is $5. Mass cards will be provided for the persons enrolled. Please PRINT the names CLEARLY:

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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 NO. 1303, DICKINSON, TEXAS – 77591

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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