Dear Universal Living Rosary Apostle,

This marks the launch of our first ULRA NEWSFLASH. In an effort to increase communications among all of our members, I want to share with you a new resource we have on our Web site which features a Daily News section  of reports and heart-warming stories from the Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena (ULRA) members worldwide. These stories illustrate the tremendous spiritual impact of the ULRA missionary work dedicated to Our Blessed Mother and Christ Jesus around the globe including in the Ukraine, Pakistan and India, as well as other important news covering the situations in the Gaza Strip and Congo , for which all of our prayers are greatly needed.

Please visit the Daily News section every day to view daily posts of inspiring testimonies from your fellow apostles. This will help you stay connected to your ULRA family members and share in a prayerful way in their joys, miracles, and tragedies. Please send me your news and include your personal story about your ULRA missionary work at filomena@philomena.org

Pious Exercises of the Living Rosary
By Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot - Summer of 1838
(Foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Association of the Living Rosary)

"The aim of the Living Rosary is to ask God, through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, for the conservation of the Faith in Catholic countries, the conversion of sinners, the strengthening of the just, and the exaltation of the Holy Church.

The people who join together for this pious exercise, divide among themselves the recitation of the prayers of the entire Rosary, and divide into groups of fifteen, in honor of the fifteen principal mysteries of our redemption. Their intention is to form, by the union of their hearts, as so many living rosaries which unceasingly recall to the Celestial Father the sign of salvation manifested to St. Dominic by the Mother of Mercies.

After Our Lady of the Rosary, the Association recognizes and honors as its Mediatrix before God, the illustrious Virgin and Martyr, St. Philomena, named by the Sovereign Pontiff, protectress of the Living Rosary.

Our Holy Father, Pope Gregory XVI, enriched this institution with numerous indulgences in favor of all the Catholic countries and gave it for a protector a pious Cardinal eminently devoted to the august Mother of God."
Please click here to read the full article >>>

Calling on Venerable Pauline Jaricot for Help
I purposely chose this day, January 9, to send our first New Flash to you on this, the anniversary of the day Pauline left us in the year 1862 to spend eternity in Paradise. As we are graced with another year and are faced with ever-challenging times including extreme economic strife for so many of our brothers and sisters, we are reminded of the financial hardships experienced by our very own foundress Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot. She had tremendous financial difficulties at the start of this holy mission when thousands of dollars she raised through her reputable name were stolen from her never to be recovered. She was falsely accused by her persecutors who pretended to be holy people, but, by their actions, were not. Through her unwavering commitment and faith in Christ Jesus, she overcame unbelievable odds and successfully formed this association; she died a bankrupt woman and left behind a beautiful legacy, which now includes 11,191,301 apostles around the world. Pauline has rightfully gained her place as the patroness of those in financial distress. She is mother of the poor, advocate of debtors, and help to all those persecuted. She understands your plight and anxieties. You can call upon Pauline and she will hear your prayers, ease your burden and obtain for you the special graces needed to carry your heavy crosses with courage and hope.

In Pauline's words, one aim of the association is to seek God's help for the "strengthening of the just" through our shared devotion to the Holy Rosary and love of the Holy Church and our Lord. Let us remember to call on Pauline whenever we encounter difficulties and rest assured she is a guiding light for us all; with the help of our beloved Patroness, St. Philomena, our intentions will be lovingly placed at the foot of our Savior's throne. By joining our prayers with hers, we will shower Christ with our unending love and humbly serve Him in His mission of the salvation of souls.
Please click here to download the flyer with prayers >>>

A New Year Greeting…
Let us combine all of our efforts as ULRA members to love very deeply our duty and understand the value of this work in the eyes of Our Everlasting God. Keep your spirits raised up at their highest and let your generous, compassionate hearts be ever the mainspring of your Catholic life bearing always in mind your first ideal -- to be saviors, both of the body and soul. It is He alone whom you serve and for Him alone there can never be enough devotion, sacrifice, or renunciation.

Solidarity, charity, and fraternity are the marks of Christ's disciples. As we embark on another year of great sacrifice and suffering, we must be united always in prayer, in heart, in spirit and in the precious work to bring all souls to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through our Daily Decade in the Living Rosary. May St. Philomena, our Patroness and Protectress who art the Guardian Angel of our Association be always at your side! She will never fail you. Pray for one another without ceasing and take every possible opportunity to share with all souls this sacred, powerful and most needed devotion.
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May the joy of serving God, Our Father, fill your hearts always and be a shining example for millions of apostles throughout the world.

One through the Pure Heart of Mary,

Patti Melvin, ULRA Director
Please pray for me!
www.philomena.org

Gentile Apostolo del Rosario Vivente Universale,

Con questo segniamo l'inizio della nostra prima circolare ULRA NewsFlash. Nel tentativo di aumentare la comunicazione tra tutti i nostri membri, vorrei condividere con voi una nuova risorsa del nostro sito web che comprende una sezione di Notizie Giornaliere che tratta di storie e toccanti racconti da parte dei membri dell'Associazione di Santa Filomena del Rosario Vivente Universale (ULRA) in tutto il mondo.

Queste storie ci illustrano l'immenso impatto spirituale del lavoro missionario dell'ULRA dedicato a Nostra Madre Benedetta e Gesú Cristo nel mondo, compreso in Ukraina, Pakistan, e India, oltre anche ad altre importanti notizie riguardanti la situazione in Congo, per cui sono ampiamente bisognose tutte le nostre preghiere.

Vi invitiamo a visitare la sezione Daily News (Notizie Giornaliere) ogni giorno per visionare le ispiranti testimonianze da parte dei vostri fratelli apostoli. Questo vi aiuterá a rimanere in contatto con i membri della famiglia ULRA e a condividere in modo religioso le loro gioie, miracoli e tragedie. Vi invitiamo a mandarci le vostre informazioni incluso le vostre storie personali riguardanti il lavoro missionario dell'ULRA all'indirizzo filomena@philomena.org

Esercizio Religioso del Rosario Vivente
Della Venerabile Pauline Marie Jaricot (Fondatrice della Societá; per la Propagazione della Fede e dell'Associazione del Rosario Vivente)

"Il fine del Rosario Vivente e di chiedere a Dio, con l'intercessione di Nostra Signora del Rosario, la conservazione della Fede nei paesi Cattolici, la coversione dei peccatori, il consolidamento del giusto, e l'esaltazione della Santa Chiesa.

Le persone che si uniscono per questo esercizio religioso, si dividono tra loro la recita delle preghiere dell'intero Rosario, e si suddividono in gruppi di quindici persone, in onore dei quindici misteri religiosi della nostra redenzione. Lo scopo é di formare, dall'unione dei loro cuori, altrettanti rosari viventi che ricordano incessantemente al Padre Celeste il segno della salvezza manifestatosi a S. Domenico dalla Madre delle Grazie.

Dopo Nostra Signora del Rosario, l'Associazione riconosce ed onora come sua Mediatrice davanti a Dio , l'illustrissima Vergine e Martire Santa Filomena, nominata dal Sovrano Pontefice, protettrice del Rosario Vivente.

Il Nostro Santo Padre, Paga Gregorio XVI, ha arricchito questa istituzione con numerose indulgenze in favore di tutti i paesi Cattolici ed ha assegnato come protettore un Cardinale pio ed assoluto devoto alla solenne Madre di Dio."
Clicca qui per visualizzare l'intero articolo>>>

Facciamo appello alla Venerabile Pauline Jaricot per chiedere aiuto
Ho scelto di proposito questo giorno, il 9 gennaio, per inviare la nostra prima circolare NewsFlash, in onore dell'anniversario in cui Pauline nel 1862 ci lasció per trascorrere l'eternitá in Paradiso. Benedetti con l'arrivo di un nuovo anno e dovendo fronteggiare le continue difficolta' di questi tempi compresa la difficile situazione economica di molti nostri fratelli e sorelle, ricordiamoci anche della dura esperienza finanziaria vissuta dalla nostra fondatrice Venerabile Pauline Marie Jaricot. Ella ebbe terribilli difficoltá finanziarie all'inizio di questa santa missione quando migliaia di dollari raccolti grazie al suo rispettabile buon nome Le furono rubati e mai recuperati. Per questo fu ingiustamente accusata dai suoi persecutori che pretendevano di essere persone religiose ma che dato le loro azioni non lo erano di certo. Nonostante ció, con il suo risoluto impegno e fede in Gesú Cristo, riuscí a superare incredibili difficoltá e a fondare con successo questa associazione; morí che era in stato di bancarotta ma ha lasciato una bellissima ereditá, che oggi comprende 11,191,196 apostoli in tutto il mondo. Pauline si é giustamente guadagnata la posizione di padrona di coloro che sono in difficoltá finanziarie. Ella é madre dei poveri, avvocata dei debitori e aiuto per tutti coloro che sono perseguitati. Ella comprende benissimo la vostra situazione e ansie. Potete fare appello a Pauline e lei ascolterá le vostre preghiere, attenuerá il vostro peso e otterrá per voi grazie speciali necessarie affinché possiate trasportare con coraggio e speranza le vostre pesanti croci.

Usando le parole di Pauline, uno degli scopi dell'associazione é di cercare l'aiuto di Dio per "il consolidamento del giusto" mediante la nostra devozione al Santo Rosario e amore per la Santa Chiesa e nostro Signore. Ricordiamoci di fare appello a Pauline ogni qualvolta incontriamo difficoltá e stiamo sicuri che lei sara' la luce guida per noi tutti; con l'aiuto della nostra Padrona, S. Filomena, le nostre intenzioni saranno amorevolmente poste ai piedi del trono del nostro Salvatore. Unendo le nostre preghiere alle sue potremo inondare Cristo con il nostro infinito amore e servirLo umilmente nella Sua missione di salvare le anime.
Cliccare qui per scaricare il volantino con le preghiere>>>



Un messaggio di Buon Anno...
Uniamo tutti i nostri sforzi come membri ULRA per amare profondamente il nostro compito e comprendere il valore di questo lavoro agli occhi del Nostro Eterno Signore. Mantenete i vostri spiriti piu' in alto possibile e lasciate che i vostri cuori generosi e clementi siano la sorgente della vostra vita Cattolica tenendo conto sempre del vostro primo ideale - essere salvatori, dell'anima e del corpo. é Lui solamente che voi servite e per Lui solamente non esisterá mai abbastanza devozione, sacrificio o rinuncia.

Solidarietá, caritá e fraternitá sono i segni dei discepoli di Cristo. Dal momento che stiamo per intraprendere un altro anno di grande sacrificio e sofferenza, dobbiamo restare sempre uniti nella preghiera, nel cuore, nello spirito e nel nostro prezioso lavoro per attirare tutte le anime al Cuore di Maria Immacolata mediante la nostra Decade Quotidiana nel Rosario Vivente. Possa S. Filomena, nostra Padrona e Protrettrice, che funge da Angelo Custode della nostra Associazione, essere sempre al nostro fianco! Non ci abbandonerá mai. Non smettiamo mai di pregare per ognuno di noi e usiamo ogni opportunitá possibile per condividere con tutte le anime questa sacra, potente e bisognosa devozione.
Cliccare quí per visualizzare l'intero messaggio>>>


Possa la gioia di servire Dio, Nostro Padre, riempire i vostri cuori sempre e sia un esempio illuminante per milioni di apostoli sparsi nel mondo.

Per il Cuore Puro di Maria,

Patti Melvin, ULRA Director
Prega per me!



Patti Melvin, Director
Universal Living Rosary Association
P.O. Box 1303, Dickinson, Texas 77539, U.S.A.
Fax: (281) 337-3722 / (281) 309-9821
E-Mail: Filomena@Philomena.org
Web: www.Philomena.org
(Pakistan) www.ULRAPak.com
(UK) www.WaysideAudio.com
(Ukraine) www.LivingRosary.org.ua

Pious Exercises of the Living Rosary

Pious Exercises of the Living Rosary
By Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot
(Foundress of the Association of the Living Rosary and the Propagation of the Faith)

The aim of the Living Rosary is to ask God, through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, the conservation of the Faith in Catholic countries, the conversion of sinners, the strengthening of the just, and the exaltation of the Holy Church.

The people who join together for this pious exercise, divide among themselves the recitation of the prayers of the entire Rosary, and divide into groups of 15, in honor of the 15 principal mysteries of our redemption. Their intention is to form, by the union of their hearts, as so many living rosaries which unceasingly recall to the Celestial Father the sign of salvation manifested to St. Dominic by the Mother of Mercies.

After Our Lady of the Rosary, the Association recognizes and honors as its mediatrix before God, the illustrious Virgin and Martyr, St. Philomena, named by the Sovereign Pontiff, protectress of the Living Rosary.

The principal obligation of each Associate consists in reciting, each day, one decade; that is, one Our Father, ten Hail Mary, and the Glory Be to the Father, meditating, according to one’s comprehension, on one of the mysteries of the Rosary, whose allotment is done each month.

By this method, the great rosary of St. Dominic is said in its entirety each day, in all 15 decades, and all the mysteries are honored at one time.

This ancient and venerable prayer, so productive of fruits of salvation and of which the experience of many centuries has demonstrated its efficacy to touch the heart of God, acquired, in some manner, a new strength in the Living Rosary, by the great number and the concord of those who recite it.

In prescribing to pray for others, this exercise is also a means of personal sanctification for the Associates. A short meditation, which is reiterated every day for a month, on the same mystery, joined to the recitation of the decade, insinuates little by little, in the spirit, the truths of the religion and increases in the hearts the live of Jesus and Mary.

The reports of favors obtained by the exercise of the Living Rosary contributes also to nourish the piety of the Associates by developing among them the virtues of charity and of zeal at the same time furnishing powerful motives of encouragement and edification.

Besides, the Associates who, for the triumph of the Faith and the salvation of souls offer each day to God the Father, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the infinite merits of the Savior’s mysteries, may well hope that these divine merits will be applied to them, through God’s goodness, and will draw upon them, according to their needs, either new life or grades of conversion.

The brevity of the Living Rosary puts it at the disposal of the faithful of all ages and of all conditions; the persons who say daily the entire Rosary, or the third of the Rosary, can reserve for the pious exercise one of the decades they are in the habit of reciting. As to those who do not practice this devotion in any manner, the Living Rosary cannot but dispose them to adopt it later on, by making known to them the consolations attached to saying it.

Our Holy Father, Pope Gregory XVI, enriched this institution with numerous indulgences in favor of all the Catholic countries and gave it for a protector a pious Cardinal eminently devoted to the august Mother of God.

By a title of affiliation that the Principal-Directors hold by goodness of T.R.P. Superior General of the order of St. Dominic, the Associates of the Living Rosary are admitted to participation in the merits of all the holy masses, prayers, penitence, preaching, and the other good works of the religious of this Order.

For the indulgences and the other rules, see the manual for the use of the Associates published by the main bureau. (Lyon rise of Fourvieres, 50).

Moreover, if the Zealot wishes to keep a memorandum of the allotment of the mysteries, it is easy for him or her to transfer, at the time of changes, the name of each Associate beside the mystery he or she had been assigned.

Hence, if by the death or any other reason, the group of fifteen loses one of its members, the mobility of the little tabs makes it possible to change the inscription of names without altering the bulletin-board.

Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot
http://www.philomena.org/

Images of Saint Philomena

http://www.philomena.org/

The History of the Universal Arch Confraternity of Saint Philomena

The History of the Universal Arch Confraternity of Saint Philomena

The Universal Arch Confraternity of Saint Philomena has its humble beginnings, was born and raised to Universal by Rome, all in Paris France.

In France, after the death of the Holy Curé of Ars, Saint John Vianney, in 1859, a zealous priest in Paris, called Father Luis Petit, consecrated his life to making the Little Saint known and loved. "Far from us the thought," said the virtuous Father Petit, "to make the cult of Saint Philomena a devotional that could be damaging to the cult of the most Holy Virgin, or even more, the adoration of the only God. That would not be Christian, as we know Christianity to be from the evangelical teachings of the Church. With our devotion to Saint Philomena we bless God who is reflected in His Saints. Honoring Saint Philomena we proclaim the power of God in the strength of His Martyrs, and His Infinite Goodness in the favors He concedes to the prayers of His Saints. This was the theology of the Holy Curé of Ars, and this will be ours also".

In August, 1876, the first copy of the Messenger of Saint Philomena was issued from the headquarters in Paris. This publication spread devotion to her throughout the entire world.
In the tracks of the venerable Father Petit, the Sanctuary published the bulletin, The Voice of Saint Philomena under the guidance of the highly esteemed rector, Monsignor Gennaro Ippolito. This same priest, on February 10th, 1884, at Paris, with the blessing and approval of the Cardinal Giubert, founded the Confraternity of Saint Philomena, called also, the Work of Saint Philomena. So, this is how the Work of Saint Philomena was born. Still today, following the directives of the Sanctuary at Mugnano, it spreads her devotion throughout the world.
In testimony of the above, we publish the following letter:

Very Reverend Father Rector, everywhere to England there can be found devotion to Saint Philomena, and some wish that the Confraternity of the Saint be established in this country. In the diocese of Leads there is a priest, looked upon favorably by the Bishop, who is disposed to act as Spiritual Director of the Confraternity should it eventuate. He would like to know if there is in existence a stable Constitution or Rule for this Confraternity, and he would be very grateful to receive information about this point. In the hope of receiving your kind reply, I give you my most sincere regards, Mrs. Margaret Seddon, Near Keighley, Yorks, England. 11.6.1985.
The Confraternity of Saint Philomena was raised to the rank of Arch Confraternity by Pope Leo XIII, November, 1886

On June 16th, 1907, the Supreme Pontiff Pius X, receiving in audience Father Petit, from Paris, the director of the Work of Saint Philomena, exclaimed: "Ah, Saint Philomena! It is very sad to read what has been written recently against her" (The Holy Father was referring to certain detractors of the cult of Saint Philomena who dared to maintain that our Little Saint did not even exist.) "It is incredible," continued the Holy Father, "that such things can come about without them (the detractors) looking at the great argument in favor of the saint, the Holy Curé of Ars. By her, in her name, and through her intercession, he obtained innumerable graces and continual prodigies."

To definitively affirm the cult of Saint Philomena and to give the final word, on May 21, 1912, Pope Pius raised the Venerable Arch confraternity of Saint Philomena into the Universal Arch confraternity with the Apostolic Brief, "Pias Fidelium Societates," in which he states very clearly: "We decree with the present words that it shall remain always stable, valid and effective, that it receive and obtain its effects fully and completely, in this way it must be regularly judged and defined, and if it proceeds in any other way, it will be null and without value, whatever the authority might be…"

Aims of the Work of Saint Philomena (Universal Arch Confraternity)
The Work of Saint Philomena is an association of prayer and apostolate which resolves:
Commitment to a life according to the Gospel of Christ in the intentions which Pope Leo XIII and Saint Pius X have recommended, promoting them under the patronage of Saint Philomena and the Holy Curé of Ars:

Promotion of the Gospel message in the world of work.
Christian education of children and youth.
Prayer for vocations and the sanctification of the clergy.
Means: To realize these various aims, the Works always avails itself of the prayers, and of the spiritual and material support of its members. The offerings of members are used for the diffusion of the cult through press publications, information releases, pamphlets, etc. The Works publishes a special bulletin, The Voice of Saint Philomena.

Organization:
Little Members. This section comprises children under 14 years of age who have confided themselves to the protection of Saint Philomena. The Little Members of Saint Philomena, if they wish, can do much for the reign of Christ, since prayer is the great force in the world.
Members: These place themselves under the protection of Saint Phil0omena. They unite their prayers and their apostolate together with those of the other Members of the Archconfraternity on behalf of the other members and for the great intentions that the Church has entrusted to the Association.

Members of The Cord of Saint Philomena: Members of the Archconfraternity who wish to place themselves in particular manner under the protection of Philomena, or who desire to imitate more the example of the young martyr in the perfect practice of the duties of their state, carry as a badge, tied around their body, a white and red Cord which represents the virtues of their patron Saint:Faith and the purity of virginity;Charity and the generosity of martyrdom.
The Cord is a sign of special devotion towards her, and is carried to obtain special graces, particularly that of following a chaste life according to one's state. It is recommended for those who carry the Cord, to recite every day the following prayer:

Dear Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us, so that through your powerful intercession, we may obtain that purity of spirit and of heart that leads to perfect Love of God. Amen.

His Holiness Leo XIII approved and enriched this devotion with precious indulgences in the Apostolic Brief of April 4, 1884.

Institution and Enrolment: Any priest or lay person involved in the promoting of evangelical ideals may form a Pious Confraternity of Saint Philomena, with the approval of the local bishop and the consent of the rector of the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena. Any Confraternity of Saint Philomena must conform to the principles of the statutes of the Universal Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena instituted by Saint Pius X in the Apostolic Brief "Pias Fidelium Societates" of May 21, 1912. Generous souls who desire to work fervently for the diffusion of the reign of God, find in the Archconfraternity of Saint Philomena favorable terrain to satisfy their ideals and their devotions.

OBLIGATIONS
Each member must wear the cord of Saint Philomena as a cincture under their clothing or carry it around with them. The cord must be blessed by the Rector of the Sanctuary or a priest authorized by the Rector.
Each member must read and encourage others to read the life of Saint Philomena.
Each member should recite daily, where possible, the Chaplet of Saint Philomena.
Each member should attend Mass and receive Communion on the 10th January, 25th May, 10th and the 11th August.
Members are encouraged to make an annual donation according to their means, if at all possible.

PRIVILEGES
Mass will be celebrated every second Friday of the month for members living and dead.
The members will benefit in all of the prayers offered at the Sanctuary.
Members will gain a plenary indulgence* when one wears the Cord**, on the feast days of 10th January, 25th May, 10th and the 11th August.
A plenary indulgence* is gained at the hour of death provided one invokes the name of Jesus, with one's own lips or heart. This same indulgence can be gained if for a grave reason one is unable to go to Confession or receive Communion, provided one is repentant.
*Under the conditions laid down by the Church; confession, communion and prayer for the Holy Father, are required to gain a plenary indulgence.
**Pope Leo XIII approved and indulged Saint Philomena's blessed cord on the 15th December 1883.

To learn much more about Saint Philomena, please visit: http://www.philomena.org