9-DAY DIVINE MARIAN NOVENA & RETREAT BEGINS TODAY [31Aug - 08Sept 2020]

Divine Retreat Centre welcomes you and your loved ones to join us in preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary.

The Divine Marian Novena & Retreat will be from 31 August to 8 September 2020 with daily sessions live-streamed on the  Divine Retreat Centre Goodness TV channel

India: 5.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. (IST)

Malaysia: 8.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m. (MYT)

Australia: 10.00 p.m. to 12.30 a.m. (AEST)

UAE:  4.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. (GST)

UK: 1.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. (BST)

USA: 8.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. (EDT)

The daily Divine Marian Novena session will include: 

• the Rosary,
• the Novena Mass,
• the Novena Prayers,
• Teachings on the spirituality of Mother Mary,
• Eucharistic Healing Adoration and
• Prayer at the Marian Shrine.

There will be the following daily programs which are part of the Marian Retreat:

                                    Sunrise with Jesus    Daily Holy Mass     Divine Mercy Adoration        \ 

India (IST)                       6.30 a.m.                      7.15 a.m.                        3.00 p.m.

Australia (AEST)          11.00 a.m.                     11.45 a.m.                        7.30 p.m.

Malaysia (MYT)              9.00 a.m.                      9.45 a.m.                        5.30 p.m.

UAE (GST)                      5.00 a.m.                       5.45 a.m.                        1.30 p.m.

UK (BST)                         2.00 a.m.                       2.45 a.m.                       10.30 a.m.

US (EDT)                         9.00 p.m. (-1)                9.45 p.m. (-1)                  5.30 a.m.

You may send your intentions and thanksgiving for prayers by email to:   divineretreatcentre@gmail.com 

 We invite you if you are inspired to observe abstinence during these days. 

The links for the Daiiy Novena & Marian Retreat are here below. I would suggest you choose the subscribe option on the Divine Retreat Centre Goodness TV YouTube channel and click the notifications bell, that you may get reminders for the sessions.

  DIVINE NOVENA & MARIAN RETREAT is accessible  on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DivineRetreatCentreGoodnessTV

  

Links for Divine Marian Novena Sessions:

Day 1: Divine Marian Novena - 31 August 2020

Day 2: Divine Marian Noveena - 01 September 2020

Day 3: Divine Marian Novena - 02 September 2020

Day 4: Divine Marian Novena - 03 September 2020

Day 5: Divine Marian Novena - 04 September 2020

Day 6: Divine Marian Novena - 05 September 2020

Day 7: Divine Marian Novena - 06 September 2020

Day 8: Divine Marian Novena - 07 September 2020

Day 9: Divine Marian Novena - 08 September 2020

Please share this Marian Novena & Retreat details  with your friends and family  and experience the Power of Prayer. The Novena will be prayed  over the 9 days  culminating on 08 September 2020 - The Feast of Nativity of our Lady.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.7: TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS” by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

This is the final video of the 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES. At the top of this post is “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS” by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India. In this episode of LIVING WATERS, Fr. Augustine explains with holy clarity the mistaken understanding of what suffering is and how suffering should be understood in the context of the Catholic faith.

"When suffering come our way, when fiery ordeals come our way, we should never imagine that an ancestral curse is falling upon us. All of us who are baptized are liberated of all the ancestral curses. Jesus said 'Thank you, Father, for hiding  this from the wise and the learned  and showing it to the child-like.' Who is the childlike? They are the followers of Christ who surrender their lives to Jesus."

"Brothers and sisters, there is a great mystery being revealed. At the moment I suffer, I am mysteriously connected with Jesus Christ. I am so connected with Jesus, I am given  a share of the Cross of Jesus who took all my suffering upon Himself."

On Holy Thursday, a Divine Healing Adoration video by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.,will be uploaded for us to commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist and its infinite Healing Power.

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.6: "MOTHER MARY: DO WHATEVER HE ASKS YOU TO" (John 2:5) by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Saturday on this Friends of Divine blog until Holy Week. The 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - is to help us search our hearts deeply as to how are we really living for God? Do we put Jesus as the centre of our life not just during the Holy Season of Lent but in our every day living?  On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted.  

This is the sixth video of the 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES. At the top of this post is "MOTHER MARY: DO WHATEVER HE ASKS YOU TO" (John 2:5), by Fr. Michael Payyapilly V. C. In this Spirit-filled episode of STREAMS OF GRACE, Fr. Michael's sharing is a clear reminder to every Catholic that each of us is called to live a life filled with grace.

“’Hail! Full of grace, the Lord is with you.’ (Luke 1:28) Why was Mary filled with grace? It wasn’t just the fact that she was filled with grace but it was the beautiful thought and the beautiful fact that Mary’s life was grace-filled. Everything connected to her life was filled with grace.”

“Everything she did was filled with grace. Why?”

“It is pretty clear by the one Marian exhortation we see in the Scriptures, ‘Do whatever he asks you to.’ (John 2:8) At the Wedding in Cana, Mary would look at the servants  and tell them, ‘Do whatever he asks you to.’ This wasn’t just a statement to a few men over 2000 years ago. It was a statement to all of us, a statement that she lived herself – ‘Do whatever he asks you to.’ That is what underlined Mary’s grace-filled life.”

“And that is the same call given to us as well. We are called to be grace-filled. Our lives are meant to be grace filed.”

Next Saturday, Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran  V.C., Director - Divine Retreat Centre Kerala, India will be sharing the Word of God on “TAKE UP THIS CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS".

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.5: “PRAY AS JESUS HAS TAUGHT US"” by Rev. Fr. Augustine VallooranV.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Saturday on this Friends of Divine blog until Holy Week. The 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - is to help us search our hearts deeply as to how are we really living for God? Do we put Jesus as the centre of our life not just during the Holy Season of Lent but in our everyday living?  On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted. 

This is the fifth video of the 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES. At the top of this post is “TO PRAY AS JESUS HAS TAUGHT US” by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India. In this wisdom-filled episode of LIVING WATERS, Fr. Augustine shares with holy clarity how we agould pray to God as Jesus has clearly taught us.

“In John 15:6, Jesus speaks ‘I am the vine and you are the e branches. If you do not remain in me, you will be dried up, cut off from me, and you will not bear fruits.’ What are the fruits Jesus speaks of? It is the Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) when we are rooted in Jesus through prayer.”

“All these beautiful feelings, emotions, attitudes and characteristics will be missing from our hearts when we are cut off from Jesus. We must be connected to God in prayer. The power of peace, love, joy and gentleness in our hearts come from God.”

“For the Pharisees, prayer was not an experience. It was a routine to pray 5 times a day. Jesus said, ‘you shall not pray like them: like a habit, a routine, an obligation, or as a rule.”

“The Lord is inviting us to be men and women of prayer.”

Next Saturday, Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C., will be sharing the Word of God on “MOTHER MARY, “”DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU” (John 2:5).

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.4: “EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS CONSTRUCTIVELY” by Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Saturday on this Friends of Divine blog until Holy Week. The 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - is to help us search our hearts deeply as to how are we really living for God? Do we put Jesus as the centre of our life not just during the Holy Season of Lent but in our everyday living?  On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted. 

This is the fourth video of the 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES. At the top of this post is “EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS CONSTRUCTIVELY” by Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C., Associate Director of Divine Retreat Centre Ramsgate, Kent, UK.  In this heart-provoking episode of STREAMS OF GRACE, Fr. Joseph explains with clarity that every emotion should help us to grow into better human beings.

 “We have a wrong notion of anger. Anger is an emotion and it is a gift from God. It is not bad. It is good. It has to be expressed and not suppressed. When we express it, we need to do so constructively and productively. If not it is going to be something evil and destructive to society.”

“If there is no anger, there is no possible development.  Mother Teresa started the Missionaries of charity because of her anger that no one was looking after the abandoned children on the streets.”

“Even Jesus got angry in the Jerusalem Temple out of zeal. Any anger that comes from zeal is good but anger out of passion without reason is evil. If anger is from zeal, it is controllable, reason can work, and it is under your control.”

Every occasion for anger is an occasion for virtue.”

Next Saturday, Rev. Fr. Augutine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India will be sharing the Word of God on how “TO BE ROOTED IN PRAYER TO GOD.”

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.3: “SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IS AN ACT OF SALVATION” by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Saturday on this Friends of Divine blog until Holy Week. The 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - is to help us search our hearts deeply as to how are we really living for God? Do we put Jesus as the centre of our life not just during the Holy Season of Lent but in our everyday living?  On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted. 

This is the third video of the 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES. At the top of this post is “SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IS AN ACT OF SALVATION” by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India. In this wisdom-filled episode of LIVING WATERS, Fr. Augustine exhorts the ultimate importance for every one of us to forgive and reconcile with each other.  

“The other who hurts me will be the sacred channel of higher graces for me.”

“We must not keep the torn memories of our past of what others have done to us; the torn blood-stained memories of our past. We are not allowed to keep them We must make a pilgrimage for the Holy Spirit to explode, an earthquake in our hearts. The Holy Spirit will make it happen. Let us be ready for this.

“If I am not ready, if I still want to cling to my hurt memories, to my wounded memories, not even God will be able to save me. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to shake us up today, that we will be able to make that pilgrimage of love in our heart to everyone who hurt us.”

Next Saturday, Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C., Associate Director of Divine Retreat Centre Ramsgate, Kent, UK will be sharing the Word of God on “EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS CONSTRUCTIVELY”.

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.2: "EVERY SIN IS AN INNER WOUND ”– By Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C.

As of today, a weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Saturday on this Friends of Divine blog until Holy Week. The 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - is to help us search our hearts deeply as to how are we really living  for God? Do we put Jesus as the centre of our life not just during the Holy Season of Lent but in our every day living?  On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted. 

This is the second video of the 7-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES. At the top of this post is "EVERY IN IS AN INNER WOUND" by Rev. Fr.Joseph Edattu V.C., Associate Director, Divine Retreat Centre, Ramsgate, Kent, UK. In this enlightening episode of Streams of Grace, Fr. Edattu articulately explains that every sin is an inner wound and the importance of inner healing in every person.

"What is an inner wound? If you are committing sins regularly, that means there is an inner wound inside you. If there is an inner wound inside, it will come out as sin"

"The most important sign of inner wound is sin. If you commit sin, it is the result of a wound - spiritual, mental or physical."

Next Saturday, Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India will be sharing the Word of God on the “SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IS AN ACT OF SALVATION”.

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.1: “ASH WEDNESDAY: ITS TRUE MEANING TO OUR LIFE ”– By Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C.

The Holy Season of Lent began this year today  06 March 2019 - ASH WEDNESDAY. 

Why are we on this earth? God has a mission or each of us.  The sacred season of Lent is a holy time of grace for every Catholic to look deep into our hearts - what is the state of our heart for Jesus to live in us?

As of today, a weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Saturday on this Friends of Divine blog until Holy Week. The 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - is to help us search our hearts deeply as to how are we really living  for God? Do we put Jesus as the centre of our life not just during the Holy Season of Lent but in our every day living?  On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted.  

The first video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2019 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is "ASH WEDNESDAY: ITS TRUE MEANING TO OUR LIFE" by Rev. Fr.Michael Payyapilly V.C.This STREAMS OF GRACE episode broadcast last year is timeless and a beautiful reminder to every Catholic never to take our life on earth for granted.

Fr. Michael reminds us that "On Ash Wednesday, the ash is proclaiming, 'Life is far more than what we make it out to be.' It isn't about our body."

"We are going to be searching this whole season of Lent for the 'bodily goodness', for that godliness within us and holiness that lives in us. That is what Jesus wants of us - what Jesus wants to see."

"Our life here is not the destination.Our life here is just the journey. We are moving towards the destination. That is the truth about who we are - who we are supposed to be."

"This Ash Wednesday as the ash is placed on our forehead, let us remind ourselves of what wonderful human beings God has made us. We are truly miracles - amazing miracles of God. It is so striking that from dust, from nothingness, He would create someone so beautiful as you and me."

Next Saturday, Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C., Associate Director of Divine Retreat Centre Ramsgate, Kent, UK will be sharing the Word of God on  “EVERY SIN IS AN INNER WOUND."

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2019 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

HEALING ADORATION: "JESUS: ''I WILL COMFORT YOU'" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

In this grace-filled Healing Adoration, “JESUS: "I WILL COMFORT YOU'" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director of Divine Retreat Centre, we experience the Merciful and Compassionate Love of Jesus - our Divine Healer!

Fr. Augustine prayerfully leads everyone into the Presence of Jesus.

"My dear sisters and brothers, in this hour, we hear the Voice of God inviting every one of us 'Come to Me! -  Come to me you  who are tired and burdened. There is a burden on our body - a burden of our aches, our ailments, burdens on our mind, all the distress, all the frears and anxieties and above all - all the painful memories of our past."

"Let us bring it all to Jesus today and claim the Promise of the Lord - 'I will conmfort you.'"

Fr. Augustine exhorts every one of us to proclaim - 'I believe in the Power of Jesus.'"

"HEALING ADORATION" is a weekly 60-minute TV programme conducted by the Director or Asst. Director of Divine Retreat Centre and produced by Divine Vision - the media wing of Divine Television Ministry.

For the past 10 years Divine Television has been telecasting 24 hours of commercial-free Catholic Gospel programmes in UK, Europe, the Middle East, USA, Canada and in India through Goodness TV., It is available on the Internet as DVNOnline TV in EVERY country around the world.

Divine's HEALING ADORATION can be viewed online weekly on www.dvnonline.org

Divine Retreat Centre is the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world. Retreats are held every week of the year in English and 6 Indian languages.

Over 10 million people have attended retreats here since the Divine-Potta ministry by the Fathers of Vincentian Congregation of India opened Divine Retreat Centre in late December 1989.

DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.6: “AM I REALLY LIVING FOR JESUS?” by Rev. Fr.Augustine Vallooran V.C.

The final video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director, Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India who speaks on a soul searching topic - "AM I REALLY LIVING FOR JESUS?”

In this heart-provoking sharing, Fr. Augustine challenges every Catholic – “We should really be searching our souls and ask, ‘Am I really alive? Am I really living or vegetating like trees and animals? Am I really alive with the Power of the Holy Spirit?

“I have come to give you life – life in all its fullness” (cf. John 10:10)

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

“I give you peace, not as the world gives you.” (John 14:27)

“Life in the full; joy in the full, peace in  the full, love in the full. That is what our birthright is as we are reborn in Baptism – being united with our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“How real is God in your life? If God is real in your life, in my life, in our lives, then the Peace of the Lord, the Joy of the Lord, the Love of the Lord, the Life of the Lord, the Power of the Lord will flow into us. What is needed is to remain in Jesus.”

“We cannot be living for ourselves. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, like the Apostles, we will go and proclaim His Word to the ends of the earth wherever we are. We are people with a Message to this world. We are people with a mission to everyone who comes to me. I shall look at every person as a son/daughter of God the Father whom God the Father has brought to me to give him / her Jesus. We have a message of “Life in the Full…a life bubbling with the Power of  the Holy Spirit.”

On Maundy Thursday. a Healing Adoration Service video by Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. will be posted to guide us to continue to open our hearts unconditionally for Jesus.

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2018 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.5: “ASK FOR THE FULLNESS OF HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU” by Rev. Fr.Mathew Naickomparambil V.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Sunday on this Friends of Divine blog until Palm Sunday - the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - so that every one of us will seek to live for Jesus with no self-willed barriers in our hearts and mind but to proclaim the Glory of God.

The fifth video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is "“ASK FOR THE FULLNESS OF HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU” by Rev. Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C., Spearhead of Divine-Potta Ministry.

In this Spirit-filled sharing, Fr. Matthew exhorts every Catholic to lead Spirit=filled lives. “Much of our sorrow, sadness, guilt feelings and negative thinking disappear when we are washed in the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Moreover, whenever we hear the Word of God, there is the descent of the Holy Spirit coming upon us and we are filled with Joy, Peace, Love and all the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.”

Fr. Mathew shares his first experience when the Lord spoke to him at the age of 20 in the month of July 1966 - “‘Ask and you shall receive the Holy Spirit.’  This is a message for everyone who believes in Jesus. There is a great provision for you according to the Will of God that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit to the level of overflowing from you to others.”

“What is the Good News of Salvation? ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, you and your family will be saved.’ (Acts 16:31) Jesus is in control of everything. All we have to do is pray in the Name of Jesus over all our difficult situations.”

“The word ‘Alleluia’ is from the Bible. It is used in Heaven to praise, thank, glorify and rejoice in the Almighty God. Whenever we say this word of praise, we get a new anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit coming upon us and consequently we are delivered from many bondages and afflictions.”

In the final video of the Divine Lenten 2018 Reflection series next Sunday, Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director, Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India speaks on a soul searching topic - "AM I REALLY LIVING?”

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2018 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.4: “THE IMPORTANCE OF A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL LIFE” by Rev. Fr. Jacob Arimpur V.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Sunday on this Friends of Divine blog until Palm Sunday - the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - so that every one of us will seek to live for Jesus with no self-willed barriers in our hearts and mind but to proclaim the Glory of God.

The fourth video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is “THE IMPORTANCE OF A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL LIFE” by Rev. Fr. Jacob Arimpur V.C., Assistant Director, Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India.

In this heart-provoking sharing of the Word Of God, Fr. Jacob explains with great clarity an issue many Catholics often seek to understand:

“What do we have to do in order to grow our spiritual life?”

Fr. Jacob points out two very important aspects of Jesus’ life:

•     Jesus obeyed the rules, regulations,, customs and tradition of the Jewish life
•     Jesus was  thoroughly disciplined in His Spiritual life.

“We are living in a world where we are taught that we must be doing what we like doing. We must be going to places that we like to go. We should not be restricted  by any rules or regulations. So it is all about ‘I, Me , and Myself’!”

“We have to learn to submit and surrender ourselves. If we are not interested in bringing order to our spiritual life, let us forget about the Holy Spirit. Or let us forget about all the desire that we are having for a spiritual life.”

“1 Corinthian 14:33 – ‘Our God is not a god of disorder.” When there is no order in our life, when there is no discipline in our lives, we experience death in our spiritual life. We do not experience the Power of God in our spiritual life. We become dead from within.”

Next Sunday, Rev. Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C., Spearhead of Divine-Potta Ministry, Kerala, India will be sharing the Word of God on an uplifting topic- “ASK FOR THE FULLNESS OF HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU”.

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2018 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.3: "EVERY CATHOLIC IS CALLED TO HOLINESS" by Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Sunday on this Friends of Divine blog until Palm Sunday - the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - so that every one of us will seek to live for Jesus with no self-willed barriers in our hearts and mind but to proclaim the Glory of God.

Due a problem with my eyes, this week there will be two videos – Sunday’s post (04 March) and the 3^rd weekly video posted today (Wednesday, 07 March) to get back to the proper schedule.

The third video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is “EVERY CATHOLIC IS CALLED TO HOLINESS” by Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C., Associate Director –Divine Retreat Centre, Ramsgate, Kent, UK

In this enlightening sharing of the Word Of God, Fr. Joseph compares the sins committed by St. Peter, who was the 1^st Pope to the sins we are committing in our daily lives today.

“'The Catechism of the Catholic Church make it very clear what is the aim of every Catholic – ‘Everyone is called to holiness’. Some people believe holiness are only meant for nuns and priests. No! Every person is called to holiness whether you are married or single.”

Fr. Joseph explains the three categories of sins which prevent us from being holy:

1.   Keeping a distance from Jesus
2.   Bad Company / Wrong Relationships
3.   Search for momentary pleasure

“Many people say that the more they pray and get closer to God, the more their sufferings increases. So it is better to not get too close to God. This kind of attitude is not from God but from evil. Evil is putting you into a comfort zone an dis not allowing you to welcome the Heavenly Father.”

Next Sunday, Rev. Fr. Jacob Arimpur V.C., Assistant Director, Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India will be sharing the Word of God on an integral necessity of our faith journey – “THE IMPORTANCE OF A PERSONAL  SPIRITUAL LIFE”.

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2018 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.2: "WHY CONFESSING TO A PRIEST MATTERS" by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C.

My apologies that I could not post the 2^nd weekly video of the 6-part Divine Lenten 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES last Sunday (26 Feb 2018) due a painful problem with my eyes. Hence this week there will be two videos –today’s post and the 3^rd weekly video will be posted on Wednesday (7 March 2018) to get back to the proper schedule.

A weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Sunday on this Friends of Divine blog until Palm Sunday - the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - so that every one of us will seek to live for Jesus with no self-willed barriers in our hearts and mind but to proclaim the Glory of God.

The second video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is "WHY CONFESSING TO A PRIEST MATTERS" by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C., Director – Tabor Divine Retreat Centre, Kalyan. Mumbai India

In this heart provoking homily, Fr. Michael explains with great clarity that each of us need to change and repent -then “You and and your family  will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) 

There are two types of repentance

•       Godly repentance
•      Worldly repentance

"Peter and Judas both sinned. The difference was that when Peter repented, he turned and looked at Jesus. That is godly repentance. What did Judas do? He looked at the 30 silver coins and went to a garden where he saw a tree and hung himself – worldly repentance leads us to death.”

“Today God is inviting us to a godly repentance. A godly repentance is made through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) – to confess our sins and to show we are genuinely sorry for what we have done. We have all sinned. God our Father embraces us despite our sins. But are we reconciled with our Father? No! We have to confess our sins. We have to reach out to our Father. That is what Holy Confession is all about.”

• “Why do people feel bored, irritated, guilty and do not feel the Presence of God?”
• “When does the Mercy f God flows through our lives?”
• “When can you experience healings?”

 

“Jesus is asking you today – ‘Give me the burden of your sins.’ Do not be arrogant. Be humble and say to our Lord, ‘ Here is my burden of sin. Take it from me, Lord.’ This can only happen during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Find your freedom, be humble and do not be a slave to sin.”

“At the Confessional, you see a priest but you experience Jesus!”

Next Wednesday, Rev. Fr. Joseph Edattu V.C., Associate Director, Divine Retreat Centre, Ramsgate,, Kent, UK will be sharing the Word of God on a  Spirit-filled topic - "EVERY CATHOLIC IS CALLED TO HOLINESS".

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2018 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.

DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION NO.1: “REPENTANCE LEADS US TO LOVE OF GOD”– By Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

The Holy Season of Lent began this year on 14 February 2018 - ASH WEDNESDAY.

As of today, a weekly spiritual video talk will be posted every Sunday on this Friends of Divine blog until Palm Sunday - the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES - so that every one of us will seek to live for Jesus with no self-willed barriers in our hearts and mind but to proclaim the Glory of God.

On Holy Thursday, a Eucharistic Adoration service will be posted.

Let us open our hearts to the call of Pope Francis' LENTEN 2018 Message:

"By devoting more time to prayer, we enable our hearts to root out our secret lies and forms of self-deception, and then to find the consolation God offers. He is our Father and he wants us to live life well."

"Almsgiving sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone. How I would like almsgiving to become a genuine style of life for each of us! How I would like us, as Christians, to follow the example of the Apostles and see in the sharing of our possessions a tangible witness of the communion that is ours in the Church! For this reason, I echo Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians to take up a collection for the community of Jerusalem as something from which they themselves would benefit (cf. 2 Cor 8:10). This is all the more fitting during the Lenten season, when many groups take up collections to assist Churches and peoples in need. Yet I would also hope that, even in our daily encounters with those who beg for our assistance, we would see such requests as coming from God Himself. When we give alms, we share in God’s providential care for each of His children. If through me God helps someone today, will He not tomorrow provide for my own needs? For no one is more generous than God."

"Fasting weakens our tendency to violence; it disarms us and becomes an important opportunity for growth. On the one hand, it allows us to experience what the destitute and the starving have to endure. On the other hand, it expresses our own spiritual hunger and thirst for life in God. Fasting wakes us up. It makes us more attentive to God and our neighbour. It revives our desire to obey God, who alone is capable of satisfying our hunger."

The first video of the 6-part DIVINE LENTEN 2018 WEEKLY VIDEO REFLECTION SERIES at the top of this post is "REPENTANCE LEADS US TO THE LOVE OF GOD” by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director – Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor. Kerala. India

In this Spirit-filled homily, Fr. Augustine explains with insightful wisdom why  Jesus' first preaching, " 'Repent! The Kingdom of God is at Hand' (Matthew 4:17) is a message of great value for every one of us - a message of great hope! We know the prophets of the Old Testament came down to the people and often when they spoke , it was the language of fire and brimstone falling from Heaven to burn the human race. A God who was waiting to punish and eliminate the human race because of our sin."

 "But the tone of Jesus is altogether different -  a tone of God's Mercy and Forgiveness - giving you and me a great hope! We know how sinful we are. We know there is "'unfreedom' in the very centre of our hearts."

"What does it mean to repent? To repent means "I turn to God. I look at His Face. I turn away from my sins...I turn away from all that is captive in my heart. I turn to God and say, "I surrender! I place all the wretchedness in my heart in the Hands of God. That is what repentance means"

"Often people mistake repentance for guilt feelings. The two are very different. Repentance comes out of love. I know my God loves me. I know that He will forgive me. But guilt does not come from love. It comes from pride. Guilt feeling leads us to sadness but repentance leads us to love - to believe in the God who saves me."

Fr. Augustine explains with enlightening clarity why true repentance of a single person bring great rejoicing in Heaven!

Next Sunday, Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C., Director, Tabor Divine Retreat Centre, Mumbai, India will be sharing the Word of God on a  heart-provoking topic - "WHY CONFESSING TO A PRIEST MATTERS".

Please do share this Divine Lenten 2018 Weekly Video Reflection series with your loved ones, prayer groups and friends to make this sacred season of Lent a truly transforming experience in our Christian life.