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Dear devotees of Saint Philomena,
It is some time now that we have not sent out our regular newsletter, caused by the so much internal correspondence and literature work that needs to be done here at the Sanctuary. I have personally been very busy in finalizing the last corrections and proofreading of my new upcoming book of Saint Philomena, which will be published by the end of December 2009 in Italian to be then translated to all other languages. The new book contains all the updated information regard the devotion to Saint Philomena and studies. The devotion to Saint Philomena and devotees that directly contact the Sanctuary from all over the world has grown tremendously in the last couple of years. We receive so many e-mails, letters and devotional items orders daily to handle. It has already started to be a great triumph for our dear Saint Philomena, since the Holy Father designated St. John Vianney patron saint of parish priests as the universal patron saint of all worldwide priests. Through this, many devotees and priests have come to acknowledge the great intimate devotion that our dear St. John Marie Vianny had towards our dear heavenly Princess and of assigning manymiracles that occurred in Ars through him invoking Saint Philomena’s intercession. This year I have dedicated the new 2010 calendar to our beloved Saint Philomena and Saint John Marie Vianney. For those of you that wish to order a copy, you may do so further down the newsletter.
As we have entered the Holy Christmas season , on the first Sunday of the advent on the 29th November, which comes from the Latin adventus , meaning "arrival" or "coming", the time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas, which is also the first season of the liturgical year. Advent is an especially lovely season and we can make great use of it. With the beginning of the season of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year. The First Sunday of Advent is therefore the Church's "New Year's Day". Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, and therefore varies in length between 22 days and 28 days. This year in 2009, it is 26 days long.
Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery - that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. She urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us.
 Taken from St. Charles Borromeo:
This reflection on the meaning of the Christian Season of Advent, the time of preparation for the Coming of Jesus Christ, is an excerpt of a Pastoral Letter written by St.
Charles Borromeo, bishop of Milan, Italy, in the 16th Century. It is incorporated into the Church's Office of Readings on Monday in the First Week of Advent with the accompanying biblical reading from Isaiah 1:21 - 2:5.
Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see.
This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery.
In his infinite love for us, though we were sinners, he sent his only Son to free us from the tyranny of Satan, to summon us to heaven, to welcome us into its innermost recesses, to show us truth itself, to train us in right conduct, to plant within us the seeds of virtue, to enrich us with the treasures of his grace, and to make us children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power has still to be communicated to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.
The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.
In her concern for our salvation, our loving mother the Church uses this holy season to teach us through hymns, canticles and other forms of expression, of voice or ritual, used by the Holy Spirit. She shows us how grateful we should be for so great a blessing, and how to gain its benefit: our hearts should be as much prepared for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world.
It should be a time for families to come together in prayer and devotion. In our hectic modern world, however, it is easy to get distracted, and the Christmas music on the radio and decorations in the stores tend to increase our anxiety. No wonder so many people are tired of Christmas by the time Christmas Day finally arrives!
The world may move too fast, but we can slow down. The following activities and devotions can aid us in celebrating Advent as it is meant to be celebrated. And then, when Christmas arrives, we can greet Christ with joy.
ADVENT PRAYERS AND PREPERATION ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/
In conclusion, as the spiritual father and guardian of the Sacred Body of the Virgin and Martyr Saint Philomena, I would like all the Filomenian family to remember that the true and deep sense of devotion to Saint Philomena and Saint John Marie Vianney, is to honour them by imitating their virtues, faith, hope and charity, following the word of the Gospel that leads us to unity and peace.
Assuring you all of my Prayers at the Sacred Altar of our beloved Saint Philomena and the statue of St. John Marie Vianney. I bless you all with Saint Philomena's benediction and protection, invoking Her to guide you all during your daily paths and life.
Remembering you all during these coming holy feast days, I wish you all Christmas greetings and all Good and joyful wishes for the New Year, invoking the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary through the intercession of St. Philomena.
THE RECTOR
Msg. Giovanni Braschi
CALENDAR OF SAINT PHILOMENA 2010
If you would like to receive a copy of St. Philomena's 2010 calendar direct from the Sanctuary here, please send a $6,00 dollar donation to help cover the shipping and publication costs. The following image is the cover page. Please click the following button for the Calendar donation.
Donation for Calendar 2010 = $6,00
IMAGES OF THE SANCTUARY OF SAINT PHILOMENA AND
VARIOUS EVENTS OF THE YEAR 2009
THE PATRONAGE FEAST OF ST. PHILOMENA AND ANNUAL BLESSEING OF THE SACRAMENTAL OIL CELEBRATED ON THE 11TH JANUARY 2009
IN JANUARY 2010 THE PATRONAGE FEAST OF ST. PHILOMENA AND ANNUAL BLESSEING OF THE SACRAMENTAL OIL WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY 17TH JANUARY 2010.
Some pictures of the Church of Ars-France dedicated to Saint John Marie Vianney in occasion of the 150th anniversary year of his death and the Year for priests, as the Holy Father designated St. John Vianney patron saint of parish priests as the universal patron saint of all worldwide priests. During his life he was a great devotee of Saint Philomena. There was a great intimate relationship between the two of them, that if the Cure of Ars’s great devotion towards his dear little Saint would not be mentioned, his full life and priesthood mission would become totally incomprehensible. Many miracles that occurred in Ars took place through
St. John Vianney invoking Saint Philomena’s intercession.
Some pictures of the Feast in honour to Saint Philomena during the month of August 2009.
 
Please visit our official web site often and if possible sign up to our forum on our English website so we can send you our regular online newsletters, as it is continuous contact and news directly from the Sanctuary, keeping updated with all the worldwide events. |
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A list of our previous newsletters
August 02, 2009
July 17, 2009
June 28, 2009
May 20, 2009
April 09, 2009
March 15, 2009
January 29, 2009
December 15, 2008
September 26, 2008
August 06, 2008
June 30, 2008
Support the Sanctuary of Saint Philomena
“To love Saint Philomena is to love Her Sanctuary Her home on earth”
If you can, please send a donation, if not pray for the works of the Sanctuary, tell people about them and spread the devotion to our Little Saint.
Ways to send a donation
If you are able to send a donation please send it direct to the Sanctuary. This is possible through various methods.
By personal check payable to the “ Sanctuary of St. Philomena” and make sure to send it through registered or express mail to the Sanctuary's address which is at the bottom of this newsletter.
Online with credit card or through www.Paypal.com to the Sanctuary's
e-mail address: SantaFilomena@philomena.it you will find further information and full procedure on our web site under the heading donate or by clicking the following donation button.
By bank transfer to the Sanctuary's Bank account:
SANTUARIO SANTA FILOMENA
BANCA DELLA CAMPANIA – fil n° 0007
BANK ACCOUNT: n° 1279013
SWIFT CODE: BPMOIT22
IBAN: IT19L0539275790000001279013
Please contact the Sanctuary direct for any further information you require.
If possible also take some time to visit our online devotional items shop.
We are pleased to inform you of new items that we have added in the last week or so, with some special promotional packets, Relics, medals and Marian Rosaries in our range of devotional products offered from the Sanctuary here in Mugnano del Cardinale. We are also in the procedure of putting together a whole new web shop with plenty of devotional items which will be ready soon. Please remember that the sale of these items helps defray
the daily costs of running the Sanctuary.
Devotional Items
PLEASE PASS OUR NEWSLETTERS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND OTHER DEVOTEES OF SAINT PHILOMENA YOU KNOW, TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF THE REGULAR EVENTS AND NEWS DIRECT FROM THE SANCTUARY.
Universal Archconfraternity of the Saint Philomena
Headquarter
83027 Mugnano del Cardinale
Avellino, Italy
tel: 0039 081 825 7204
fax: 0039 081 511 2733
http://www.philomena.it
e-mail:SantaFilomena@philomena.it
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