“ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE" (Ephesians 3:17)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

God has a dream for every human person. Right through the Scriptures, there are echoes expressing this great dream. The psalm offers us a picturesque expression of the dream of God, “A tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)  In the Heart of God, the human persons are envisioned as thriving and prosperous, with verdant foliage and abundant fruits. The roots are gone deep into the fertile field, watered by plentiful streams. We can recall the words of Jesus - “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” (John 15:8)

“Let Us Go Up To The Mountain Of The Lord” (Isaiah 2:3)

When we planned the International Youth Retreat, Power 2013 Conference, we felt directed to challenge the youth of today to rise up to take on this higher vision of God. Hence we chose for the theme the call of God to be “Rooted And Grounded In Love” (Ephesians 3:17). The youth came in big numbers from different parts of the world and various states of the country. As they came in, apart from the huge backpacks they were carrying, it was obvious that they were burdened with the cares of the world. Some of them looked angry, some looked weary and worn out. But in everyone’s eyes there was this unmistakable glow of expectation, hoping for something to happen in their lives. As days went by, God unveiled to them His dream - challenging them to rise above their problems and pains and reach out to the abundance of heavenly fruits. It was heartening to see many of them shedding their superficial and earth-bound views of life, ready and seeking to send the roots of their lives deep into the Love of God. They felt a surge of life in their hearts bearing fruit as a new joy to commit their life totally to the Lord.

­­­In this Year of Faith, the Power Conference became a memorable experience of total surrender to God for the youth participants. Inaugurating the Conference, His Grace Archbishop Andrews Thazhath challenged the youth to show the courage to place their lives in the Hands of God - for Him to plant them in the fertile soil of the Word of God and of the Sacraments of the Church, as a sapling to be rooted and grounded in the Love of God. He explained to them that in a world that flashes fascinating lights to distract the youth to the way of evil, we need to be strong enough to stand our ground and remain close to God. This is possible if we find nourishment for our growth from the Word of God and the Teachings of the Church. The young people who had come from 25 countries of the world took the invitation of the Archbishop seriously.

“To Live Is Christ” (Philippians 1:21)

There was a mood all through the retreat of intense seeking - to grow in a deep rooted and meaningful commitment to God. Faith is not a mere intellectual assent to certain Divine teachings; rather it is a personal commitment of one’s life to God in such a way that God becomes the supreme value and greatest love in one’s life. This is conveyed in Simon Peter’s confession of faith, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (John 21:17) During the sessions of preaching, the youth were confronted with the same question that Jesus posed to Simon Peter - “Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15)  Their response was generous and could be called even radical. Charles Francis from UAE expressed this zeal for the Lord: “It was during the inner healing service that I realized that God never abandoned me. God will always love me. I must and will love Him back.”

For many of the youth, the retreat was a special occasion when their faith came alive as an experience that filled them and changed them. Jessica from Malaysia writes in her comments, “Before coming for this retreat, I used to believe that there is a God but never had faith in Him. But now I know that Jesus is Alive and I am very happy to be His child.” Similarly Ashwin from Secunderabad shares, “Before coming here I did not know the meaning of God, but now I have experienced Him very closely.” What they had already learned as doctrines and remained in their heads as ideas became a life-transforming experience for them. A youngster told me that she always knew she had to forgive those who offended her. The prayer of Jesus forgiving His torturers was a great inspiration for her but when she was confronted with a situation demanding forgiveness in her own life, she found it almost impossible to respond as Christ required her to. When the faces of those who hurt her came before her, she murmured to herself that there was no way she could let the hurts go. But during the Adoration service it resurfaced as an urgent compulsion to pray for them and forgive them. At one moment she burst out in prayer asking God to bless those who hurt her. Here she describes about how amazing it felt when this great love filled her heart. Geraldine from Chennai writes - “It was so difficult when Father asked us to forgive our enemies, but after I forgave so much happiness engulfed my heart.”

“When You Seek Me, I Will Let You Find Me” (Jeremiah 29:13)

In a competitive world where everyone is striving to meet their professional targets and to perform better than others, knocking others down is not counted as something wrong. As long as one is able to rise above others, any means would be accepted as reasonable. In the process, people are hurt and they hurt others. Binding up the wounds of others is not considered a value anymore. For many of the young people it was an eye-opener that they had to consider relationships precious. When they forgave from the depths of their hearts, the joy and freedom that they experienced, revealed what they were missing in the rat race of life. Merilyn Fernandes from UAE was astounded that a whole-hearted forgiveness brought her the healing Touch of God. She describes her retreat experience - “Every moment was special, but falling at the feet of your enemy, seeking and granting forgiveness healed me.”

In the Preaching of the Word and in the celebration of the Sacraments, the Person of Jesus came alive to many of the participants. Jesus was only a historical person as they imagined Him to be. They were amazed when they felt a Real Presence of Jesus gripping their hearts and filling them with a love that they had never experienced before. Prescilla Chermai from Malaysia shared, “The most special moment of this retreat was God’s affirmation for me through His own words saying He has a plan for me.” Selita Lorence from Karnataka shares her faith experience - “I understood that it is in the Sacrament of Confession that we receive the grand revelation that God is always on our side.”

Sonia Rodrigues from Mumbai, “When I was crying out to God to show me He exists, Father called out my name and said ‘God loves you’.” When the youth share such profoundly touching experiences, we begin to understand that Christianity is not so much a set of doctrines or a few practices but an encounter with the Living God that makes us surrender our lives totally to Him. This grace given to the youth has already laid a foundation for a mature Christian life in the future. Catherine from USA writes, “My special moment during the retreat was when I surrendered myself to God.” This reawakening of faith has given them the deep conviction for the need of restructuring their lives with a concrete plan of action to live out their faith experience in God. Michelle from USA has taken a clear decision about her future - “Jesus loves me and will never leave me and I am going to pray regularly and attend daily mass and adoration.” Maria from UK is convinced that the sure success for her future is to be rooted in prayer. She writes, “Jesus is my ‘everything’ and I have decided to read the Bible everyday and spend more time in prayer.”

Once they had touched the beauty of the Real Presence of Jesus their one seeking was to remain in that sweetness forever. They realized that this Divine experience brings a great joy that they have never felt in the pleasures of the world outside. This is where their value system is transformed. Koyal Kiran from Mysore writes, “This retreat has opened my eyes to my God. It showed me that my life is nothing without God.” One is reminded of the psalmist who proclaims - “Taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)  The psalmist adds, “For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)  This chorus is repeated by many of these youngsters when they shared their testimonies. Shilpa from Rajasthan shared, “The inner healing session was the most special moment of the retreat. I promise to remain in the Presence of the Lord and to bring others to His Presence.” Tony from Oman writes, “The Inner Healing session was a rich spiritual experience and I was filled with the zeal, enthusiasm and fire of the Holy Spirit. Jesus who was just in the back seat of my life will be in the driving seat from now onwards.”

“What You Hear Whispered, Proclaim Upon The Housetops” (Matthew 10:27)

The youth are generally blamed for a lack of orientation in life because of their impulsive drive to grab whatever pleases them. However such a deep experience of the reality and awesome Power of God imprints in them a mission in life and a definite orientation for the future. Rebecca from Canada writes enthusiastically about her newfound joy, “Jesus is my everything and I am going to tell my friends about how this retreat changed my life.” The experience of finding the fullness of life in Jesus is what Serena from Australia has to speak about, “I am going back filled with the Love of God to share the messages that I learnt with my family and friends.” Jesudoss Thomas from Vietnam is charged with a new mission as he writes - “Jesus is asking us to love others as He loved us. I will go and tell everyone the Good News of God.” In the gospels, we read that those who were touched by Jesus went everywhere declaring the Good News of Jesus in season and out of season. This was the chorus every heart was resounding with after the Power Conference. Joshua from UAE writes - “I am taking up the mission of telling my friends how amazing God’s love is.” St. John writes about the euphoria of having found the fullness of joy in Jesus in glowing terms, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life… we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us… We are writing this that our joy may be complete.” (1 John 1:1-4)  The fullness of joy experienced becomes contagious, spreading to everyone around. Alistair from Goa declares, “I received the Holy Spirit and He healed me and He wants me to preach the Word that He is alive.”

His Eminence Cardinal George Alenchery concluded the Conference with this exhortation: “In the past the youth were said to be the future of the Church. Pope John Paul II had said, “The youth are the present of the Church.” You have a mission to make Jesus and the Church present in your life situations.” This exhortation of the Cardinal struck a chord of consonance in the hearts of the youth. In the counselling sessions, many young people expressed their regret for having wasted their lives in useless entertainments and superficial relationships. They shared of their deep conviction of the mission for which they were sent to the world by God Himself. They were also convinced that with the Power of the Holy Spirit, they would find enough strength to resist the peer pressure that they anticipated to encounter and which was meant to lead them astray. Some of them who had come from the same parish or same educational institutions have decided to come together in prayer periodically to rekindle the zeal that quickened their hearts at the retreat. 

“The Ransomed Of The Lord Shall Return Singing” (Isaiah 51:11)

As the youth were leaving the Retreat Centre campus in groups over the next two days, we could see great joy on their faces. Any priest or preacher they met on the way, they would rush to, enthusiastically, to share what God had done for them. In every one of them there is a determination to make Jesus known. Lorett from Kuwait exclaims, “Awesome retreat! It was a heaven on earth experience.” Indeed the youth of the Power Conference are the hope and the promise of a heaven on earth.

After the months of intense prayer and preparation for the Conference, there was a great satisfaction in the heart of everyone that the grand promise of the Revelation was being fulfilled: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, I make all things new’ ” (Rev 21:1-5).

Let Us Pray:

Heavenly Father, You brought Your children from different parts of the world into Your Loving Presence. You spoke Your Word to them. You set them free from the stranglehold of sin. You filled their hearts with Your Love. You have moulded their lives according to the image of Your Son. We pray to You, O God. Hold them close to Your Heart always. Do not ever leave them alone lest they should be plundered by the forces of evil hovering about them in the world they live in. Complete in their lives what You have started in them powerfully that they may be Your witnesses in a world where the culture of death is eager to devour them. Let them be Your witnesses, ushering in your Kingdom in the lives of everyone around.

Amen. 

WE ARE CALLED TO BE MISSIONARIES!

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

The Grace of Our Lord be upon you and your family.

We celebrate World Mission Sunday today (20 October 2013). It is a day to remember the new command and the last command that Jesus gave to His Disciples... and to each and every one of us - "But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

What did Jesus mean? Jerusalem means  our hometown / parish / our family; Judea is our province / state; Samaria means our neighbouring provice / state; to the ends of the earth. That means wherever we are, whatever we must be doing, whomever we are talking to, we should have a mission. By nature, by call, by commission, we are MISSIONARIES! A missionary is a person who has a mission. We are people with a mission!

We are called to shine as the Apostles in the Kingdom of God - as missionaries, as witnesses for Jesus. Our life with Jesus begins right here on earth.

Let us not be filled with darkness. Let us be filled with Light, with Power, with Love. We are not helpless in the presence of darkness. We have the Power, the Light, the Word to CHANGE the whole world. We need to have the confidence in our hearts - CONFIDENCE TO BE MISSIONARIES - to be Christ''s Light to the ends of the earth!

Pope Francis during his weekly Wednesday General Audience on 16 October 2013 asks all of us to reflect on what it means for each of us to be a missionary and witness of Christ - so that our Church will truly be an Apostolic Church.

"This is what Jesus told us to do! I insist on this aspect of missionary activity, because Christ invites all to “go” and meet others, he sends us, he asks us to move to take the joy of the Gospel! Once again we ask ourselves: are we missionaries with our word and above all with our Christian life, with our witness? Or are we Christians that are closed in our hearts and in our churches, ‘sacristy christians’? Christians only by word but that live like pagans? We should ask ourselves these questions, which are not a rebuke. I too tell myself the same: how am I a Christian, with a true witness?" - Pope Francis

On behalf of the Vincentian Fathers of Divine Retreat Centre, we humbly ask for your prayers for the extensive charitable annd evangelization works that God has placed in our hands.

My prayer for you and your loved ones on World Mission Sunday 2013 is that "You will be the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) and "Lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).  Every act we do should be an act of love for Jesus.

Above is a Divine TV music video reflection - MISSION QUOTES BY HOLY MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD. 

"So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up,

the time will come when we will reap the harvest."

(Galatians 6:9)

Yours  in Christ+
Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

Director - Divine Retreat Centre

 

LIVING WATERS: "FAITH - GOD'S TIME IS THE BEST TIME FOR ME" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

In this episode of LIVING WATERS, "FAITH -GOD'S TIME IS THE BEST TIME FOR ME", Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. highlights a prayer petition we often cry out to God. 

"Often I want my way. I want God to respect my timetable. Often we wonder why God is not answering because in my plan for my life, I must get this now! How do I know that is the best thing for me? How do I know my plan is the right thing for me?"

"There is a way God makes us mature in our faith. Waiting always makes us mature and that is why St. Paul in Romans Chapter 5 says, 'Waiting and suffering will lead us to endurance; endurance to character; character to hope' - a Hope that will never disappoint us! We need to be mature in our faith so that our lives will be totally concentrated on God, totally surrendered to God, totally focussed on God - believing God's Time is the BEST time for me."

LIVING WATERS is a 30-minute daily Divine TV programme of anointed sharing of God's Word by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C, Director -- Divine Retreat Centre. It is the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world.

DIVINE TELEVISION  (UK/Europe & Middle East) Is known as GOODNESS Channel in India & Asia-Pacific and DVN Network in USA/Canada.

It can also be viewed worldwide ONLINE at www.dvnonline.org

“AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME” (Matthew 25:40)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Last Supper, the Lord gave the disciples a clear way of Christian living - “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you… By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) The early Church was characterized by its heart for the needy. In a world where the trend is to accumulate, the call to be church is to give. A saint who brought the focus of the Church back to loving Christ in the least of the brethren is St. Vincent de Paul. His impression on the Church to make it a serving church remains to this day. 

“I Have Kept You And Given You As A Covenant To The People” (Isaiah 49:8)

St. Vincent de Paul is known as the heavenly patron of all charitable works in the Church. However as the saying goes, “He did not become a saint because of his adventurous charitable activities; rather he could commit himself to such voluminous charitable ventures because he was a saint.” His saintly heart could not remain indifferent to the miseries of the common people around him. It was his heart that was extraordinarily saintly and not merely the working of his hands. The Divine compassion of the Lord Jesus filled him and gripped him to such an extent that he could look at the abandoned and the downtrodden with the eyes of the Lord Jesus Himself and there followed in their lives and in the society and church at large, miracles that testify of his saintliness to every generation. The gospels tell us that when the Lord Jesus looked at a leper He was “moved with compassion” (Mark 1:41). Every miracle the Lord worked was the compassionate response to the cry of humankind.

History records that Vincent de Paul was not born a saint - neither were his intentions saintly when he opted for the priestly vocation. Priesthood was not so much a loving surrender to Godliness in those dark Middle Ages, rather, it was an option for easy and secured living from a very materialistic point of view. Radical changes came into his life due to the many adversities that moulded his heart after the very Heart of Jesus. While on a journey, his ship was taken over by ruthless Turkish pirates and he was taken as a slave to Tunis. On the ship, apart from the cruel lashings, he was chained to the gallows on the lower level of the ship and had to row the big ship together with other slaves. After two years of slavery, he returned to France. His sufferings were not over. He took very ill and was wrongly accused of having stolen a large sum of money!

Such traumatic twists in his life crushed his worldly spirit and in this furnace of humiliation, the dross was burnt out and the treasure of saintliness shone forth. We know well that adversity does not always bring out the best in the human spirit. If adversity did bring out the saint in him, it was because of his constant contemplation of the Cross of Christ that enabled him not to sink into despair but to fly above the thick dark clouds. The comfort seeking young Vincent learnt the futility of grabbing possessions, pleasures and securities of this world. He opted to give himself and found meaning in total self surrender to Jesus Christ in the person of His poor.

In these crucial years of trial a very clear conviction took shape in his heart and became the main spring of his spirituality moulding his entire life and ministry - ultimately etching its impact indelibly on the future of the Church and humankind at large. His heart warmed up with a lively compassion for the poor and the brokenhearted. He was able to see the face of the Crucified Lord in every suffering person. Vincent de Paul speaks about his experience, “The net result of my experience is the judgment I have formed, that true religion is to be found amongst the poor.”

“Pour Yourself Out For The Hungry” (Isaiah 58:10)

 

This deep religious experience moved him with an urgent necessity to serve the poor. He founded the Congregation of Mission for priests and the Daughters of Charity for women religious to commit their lives for the poor. He also founded an association of women lay helpers to find resources for the needy. The heart of this mission was clear – it was not meant to be like any other charitable organization doling out to the ‘less fortunate’. He clarified to them - “You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. But you will keep your gentleness and your smile. It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see. And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.”

The work that was done was extensive and seemingly unceasing. The Sisters once asked him whether they should go out to respond to a sick person who comes knocking at the door during their time of prayer. He explained to them that in fact in such instances they were leaving God’s presence to go to the presence of God - because it was God waiting for them in the person of poor. “When you are called from your prayers or the Eucharistic celebration to serve the poor, you lose nothing, since to serve the poor is to go to God. You must see God in the faces of the poor.” One cannot miss that their extensive services were all deeply rooted in a commitment to the love of God. “The poor are your masters. You are the servant. Cherish them since our Lord is in them, and they are in our Lord,” he explained.

As his spiritual services for the poor became widely known and accepted, he was also being identified by the royalty of France for his deep spirituality. He used his influence with the higher circles of society to sensitise them to their responsibility to the poor. “Go to the poor: you will find God,” was his bold directive to them. We need to remember that during this Dark Age in Europe, the poor were despised and exploited by the rich with no qualm of conscience. The feudal system in which the society was organized relegated the poor as the cursed. No one could even imagine taking up their cause. The poor had no role in decision making - not even in the local bodies of administration. The policies and regulations were made by the rich and powerful who with a firm determination kept the poor out of the mainstream of society. The poor had abandoned themselves to their wretched fate. It was at this juncture that God raised up Vincent de Paul to be the champion of the marginalized.  The poor got a new lease of hope for a human existence. He became a shining light that shone through the ages - a witness of love divine that no one could ignore or reject.

It is recorded in history that when the French Revolution broke out, the mobs went all over France breaking down every symbol and structure of power and authority. The Church was not spared in anyway. Building and statues were broken into pieces. When such a vandalizing mob came past a statue of St. Vincent de Paul and were about to break it in their frenzy, one among them indentified it to be the Great Apostle of Charity and they immediately drew back in reverence for one whom they could identify as the Saint of Compassion to the Poor.  

“He Has Anointed Me To Preach Good News To The Poor” (Luke 4:18)

St. Vincent de Paul insisted that his followers should not imagine themselves as mere philanthropists, going about doing works of charity. They should most importantly sit at the Feet of the Lord to recapture their love and commitment for God. This experience of compassion was clearly to be recognized as the fruit of their relationship with God. The work of the Congregation increased and multiplied until it seemed almost too much for human capacity. But Vincent knew therein lay the strength of the Mission Priests. "How may we hope to do our work?" he would ask. "How can we lead souls to God? How can we stem the tide of wickedness among the people? Let us realize that this is not man's work at all, it is God's. Human energy will only hinder it unless directed by God. The most important point of all is that we should be in touch with our Lord in prayer."

This ‘Great Apostle of Charity’ knew in the intense moments of his prayer that his call was not only to care for the material needs of the poor. In order to bring about total wellbeing to their lives, one’s spiritual life was to be renewed in the Love of God. The saint was once called to the bedside of a dying person. St. Vincent realized that this man was tormented by guilt and fear about the sinful past. He had never experienced the liberating Love of the Lord that the soul had always been crying for. A cry that was more intense than any cry of hunger or physical pain. This man had wasted his life satiating the needs of his flesh with no consideration for the deeper longings of the soul. Now he was dying in despair, still dissatisfied, filled with regrets and above all with a deep fear and insecurity for his failure to God and to his soul. Vincent de Paul led him to open his heart in prayer seeking the Mercy of God in the Sacrament of Confession - assuring him of the God’s compassionate response. Looking at the face of this dying man, Vincent de Paul heard the Call of God to lead the people to the experience of Forgiving Love of the Lord. With this, Vincent launched the great ministry of preaching. He trained the priests of his Congregation for the special ministry of the Word which he called as the Popular Mission. The name is significant because it required that those in the Word ministry be charged with the mission of proclaiming the Mercy of the Lord to all - rich and poor, thus bringing about a conversion of the heart. Moreover the timings of the retreats were to be such that even the common people of the working class will be able to participate. He also insisted that the style of the preaching must be simple and straightforward so that even the poor and illiterate should be touched and converted. "Our sermons must go straight to the point," he would say, "so that the humblest of our hearers may understand; our language must be clear and unaffected." The love of virtue and the hatred of evil were the points to be insisted on; the people were to be shown where virtue lay and how to attain it. For "fine sermons" Vincent had the greatest contempt; he would use his merry wit to make fun of the pompous preachers whose only thought was to impress their audience with an idea of their own eloquence.

 

 

Because of his intense love for God, his heart went out to those living in the misery of sin - unable to open their heart to the Infinite Mercy of God waiting to save them. Even in his frailty and old age, Vincent had a strong sense of obligation to preach the Word of God reaching out to those living in the slavery of ignorance. “In spite of my age (79), I tell you before God that I do not feel excused from the responsibility of working for the salvation of the poor. For what could really get in the way of my doing that now? If I cannot preach every day, all right, I'll preach twice a week. If I cannot preach more important sermons, I will preach less important ones. If the congregation cannot hear me at a distance, what is to prevent me from speaking in an informal, more familiar way to those poor just as I am speaking to you right now? What is to hinder me from gathering them near me just as you are sitting around me now?” One is reminded of the famous cry of St. Paul, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)

“You Shall Raise Up The Foundations Of Many Generations” (Isaiah 58:12)

Vincent’s zeal for souls would have great impact. It is described that even in his first appointment as parish priest - In him the sick and the infirm found a friend such as they had never dreamed of and any son of poor parents who showed a vocation for the priesthood was taken into the presbytery and taught by Vincent himself. The parish church, which was in great disrepair, was rebuilt; old, standing quarrels were made up; men who had not been to the Sacraments for years came back to God. Such was the influence of the Curé of Clichy that priests from the neighbouring parishes came to learn the secret of his success and to ask his advice.

Vincent was well aware that God’s Love will reach every broken heart only through the zealous ministry of the clergy. Unfortunately the spiritual and intellectual standards of the priests of the time were not worth any mention. The clergy had become servants of the rich catering to their needs as they were offered a comfortable life. With the consent of the higher authorities, both in the Church and in the State, Vincent set out on a fervent trail of the renewal of the clergy. His zeal for the sanctity and intellectual formation of the clergy attracted the attention of the authorities. He was appointed to head the Committee to select candidates for the bishopric, depending solely on their holiness and commitment to the poor. There were many pressures on him to select unworthy candidates for such a holy position but he never gave in.  A high society woman slapped him on his face with her footwear for not considering her son as candidate for Bishop. Vincent was not grieved but admired the great love of a mother, “See how much she loves her son.” Vincent de Paul took special care in the formation of the priests of his own congregation and he took many measures to improve the spiritual and intellectual calibre of the diocesan clergy as well. He prescribed as one of the aims of the Congregation a sincere attempt to help the diocesan clergy in their formation.

 

Always committed to the cause of the poor, St. Vincent de Paul was a man of voluminous action and intelligent planning. It is said about him that in his lifetime he has contributed to the Church what a dozen saints would have achieved. However,   when we study his life closely, we understand that all his activities flowed out of an intimate and vibrant relationship with God. Bérulle, a reputed orator-priest of the time and spiritual guide of St. Vincent de Paul remarked in the early days of Vincent’s priestly ministry that “This humble priest will render great service to the Church and will work much for God's glory.” St. Francis de Sales, a contemporary of St. Vincent de Paul spoke in awe of him - “He will be the holiest priest of his time.”

The one longing of the Saint was to be united with God in every decision and in all actions. The invitation of the Lord to be one with Him resounded in his heart always - leading him to see the Face of Christ in every broken person. His zealous ministry for the poor was the fruit that was borne in his life being united with the Lord. St. Vincent de Paul has a message to the men and women who want to make a good difference in the world. Take the heartbeat of Jesus expressed in the Last Supper, “You abide in me and I will abide in you… thus you will bear fruit.” (John Chapter 15)  Every activity of the ministry of the Lord must be not merely an action or a piety but a flow out of our intimacy with the Lord reaching the least of our brethren. 

Let Us Pray:

Lord God, You are Love. We praise You that Your Love saves us from every need. We thank You for the gift of St. Vincent de Paul who reflected this love so tremendously - leading us to understand that You care for the poor and the forgotten. No one is hidden from You, O God. Today as we come to You, Jesus, we offer our hearts to You. Transform us in the Fire of the Holy Spirit that we may long for all that You long for. As we follow St. Vincent de Paul, may our hearts be drawn to loving You more dearly and to honour and serve others more sincerely. Then will our lives be the blessing that You need us to be.

Amen.

 

LIVING WATERS VIDEO" "MARY OUR MOTHER - GIFT OF GOD TO US" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

In this episode of LIVING WATERS, "MARY OUR MOTHER - GIFT OF GOD TO US", Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.  enlightens every Christian why God's full glory was was given to Mother Mary as a gift upon her birth when she was born without sin. Today on 08 September, the Catholic Church worldwide celebrates the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"We are born with a purpose connected to Jesus. Our glory is proportionate to the way we carry out our purpose for God. It is in this context we must understand the Glory of Mother Mary. Mother Mary had a unique role to play - a precious mission to fulfill on this earth. Today (08 September 2013) we have a great reason to rejoice - She is our Mother whom Jesus gave to you and me!"

LIVING WATERS is a 30-minute daily Divine TV programme of anointed sharing of God's Word by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C, Director -- Divine Retreat Centre. It is the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world.

DIVINE TELEVISION  (UK/Europe & Middle East) Is known as GOODNESS Channel in India & Asia-Pacific and DVN Network in USA/Canada.

It can also be viewed worldwide ONLINE at www.dvnonline.org

“HE ADORNS THE HUMBLE WITH VICTORY” (Psalm 149:4)

Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

One question that recurs tormenting the heart of many is "Why me?" An unexpected turn of events in life shatters one’s entire self confidence. The individual looking around gets the impression that for all others’ life goes on smoothly and so begins to feel isolated in his or her unfortunate predicament. An educated person who has to support the family, on losing his job suddenly, would be shaken up and finds the entire future bleak. A caring mother who comes to know that her son is having an unholy relationship will be totally broken - wondering where she failed for this unspeakable tragedy to take place. A loving wife on hearing that her husband is affected by cancer would be struck down by grief and incomprehension. A student who fails to get the results he worked hard for loses all hope and interest for the future. A religiously devout couple meeting with a financial breakdown in their business could get upset that God has let them down. We hear of such situations all the time and the secret prayer in every heart is that one should be shielded from any such mishap. On the other hand, anything going wrong with our life will trigger off torrents of fear that had been accumulated in our hearts over the years.

“You Have Found Favour With God” (Luke 1:30)

The New Testament is inaugurated by a bold young woman who opens our eyes to the revelation that an untoward event could have the Hand of God behind it. Mary, the young virgin from Nazareth, whom God chose to be the mother of the Redeemer, enters the history of Salvation at a very difficult moment in her personal life. She is betrothed to a young carpenter from the same village. The course of life seems already marked out and clear. At this juncture, there is a heavenly intervention in her life. She is called to conceive in her womb the Saviour of the world. The gospel describes that she was greatly troubled. Not only was the message beyond her comprehension but the call seemed to demand from her what was beyond human strength! For one thing, she did not understand the relevance of this message in her context. For a second thing, she knew it was impossible for her to conceive and bear a son because she was a virgin. For a third thing, she was greatly distressed and frightened at what was the natural consequence of her becoming pregnant outside of marriage. The future looked very bleak and fearsome because the great possibility was that she could be stoned to death. This was the punishment prescribed by the law of the religion - to be meted out to the woman unfaithful to the man she was betrothed to. Therefore “How can this be?” was the sigh of pain arising from her heart that was riddled by many difficult questions. The assurance the angel offered was that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her. This offer settled all her fears and doubts. With great trust Mary surrenders herself to the Will of God in total obedience “Here am I, your handmaid; let it be done to me according to your word. “(Luke 1:38)

The greatness of this young lady of Nazareth is that in a moment of distress, she was able to look beyond and perceive that God was greater than her problem. This surrender was praised by Elizabeth, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)  In this faith, she stands in sharp contrast to the first woman Eve. Eve was also disturbed when she was tempted to reject God’s offer of life and accept satan’s offer of sin. At this moment of confusion, she made the mistake of not turning to God. In that failure she opened her life to disaster. This is what happens when we fail to perceive the Call of God in the difficult moments of our life. What could be a point of entry into an exalted and celebrated existence in the history of salvation, we despise and reject - dragging ourselves down to destruction.

Mother Mary teaches us how the Holy Spirit works on us. Though she was unable to figure out how she could conceive and bear the Son of God, the Spirit of God reveals to her that this was God’s Plan. Hence she was able to understand and accept her pregnancy as an unfolding of the Plan of God for the history of the salvation of man. She was also able to realize that nothing was impossible to God. Though she was a virgin, in the Power of the Holy Spirit she would be able to conceive. Once this realization dawned on her, all the fears vanished and she was able to rejoice and sing to the Lord, “My soul rejoices in God my Saviour… the Almighty has done great things for me.” (Luke 1:46-49)

“I Will Not Leave You Desolate” (John 14:18)

 In fact Jesus has revealed to us the nature of the Holy Spirit and how He functions in our day to day life. Jesus gives three titles to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and as such He leads us to the whole truth - “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)  The whole truth of an event in our life is its relevance in the Plan of God. St. Paul tells us, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)  When Mary received the revelation that she would conceive and bear a son, she waited in prayer to understand the meaning of her pregnancy in the Light of God’s Plan for her. She opened her heart to what the angel said to her that her son would be the Messiah promised from all eternity to save humankind - “You shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

Jesus also refers to the Holy Spirit as “Power from Above” (Luke 24:49). Because of this Heavenly Power, the angel assured Mary, “With God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)  She believed that her virginity will flower into motherhood in the action of the Holy Spirit. She also believed that her pregnancy will be shielded from the dreadful fate of death by stoning.

The third title that Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit is ‘the Comforter’. “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.” (John 14:16)  Though humanly speaking she had all the reasons to be tormented by fear and anxiety, as she was anointed by the Comforter and she was able to rejoice and praise God for His working in her life.

“Gold Is Tested In The Fire” (Sirach 2:5)

The strife of Mary did not end with the Magnificat song. Much more was at hand. At the time of the delivery of her first born, she did not have the comfort of family around her. She had not even a secure place to give birth to the child! After a long strenuous journey, she reached Bethlehem to find every door slamming on her face. She had no choice but to opt for the unthinkable - a stable where the animals were kept. Chosen by God yet rejected by humanity, the Holy Family was no stranger to homelessness. In this hidden cave, they would receive guests from afar and near - wise kings and simple shepherds - all narrating the glorious visions that guided them to worship the Messiah. Everything happening was beyond comprehension. On the one hand, the young couple in great need would only meet with the coldest and most unfeeling rejection from human beings. On the other hand, there was a tremendous overflow of love from Heaven with the Promises being fulfilled and the great mission being confirmed and reconfirmed through the most unlikely visitations. Renewing her commitment to God, “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

Hunted by a furious king, where did this poor family stand a chance? They flee their homeland through a long desert journey of cold nights and scorching hot days. What lay ahead was not very hopeful - their lot being of refugees in a pagan country. Their unquestioning obedience continued even as they were asked to return and live in uneventful oblivion. Jesus behaved like any other boy, with no indication of Messianic destiny. At the age of twelve, however, He stayed back in the temple without informing His parents or anyone in the caravan. Mary and Joseph found their son missing from the caravan. They rushed back to Jerusalem and searched through the crowded city for three long days in what must have been the most harrowing time of their life yet! On finding Him, the response of the boy was still more unnerving, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” Unprepared for such a response Mary “kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)  The heart is where the Holy Spirit dwells. That is where she turned to at this difficult hour to make sense of God’s Plan for her.

The years of His glorious ministry had its own shadows. There was much exhilarating news of the many healings, good works and compassion He radiated, heralding the Kingdom of God and giving great hope to an enslaved nation. There was also much animosity from the religious leaders and fearful opposition which would ultimately see Mary at the foot of the Cross. In the shadow of condemnation could this mother see the promise of salvation? She offered up her Son back to the Father, accepting the whole of humankind as Her children from the Cross, to continue forever what she did at Cana - bringing to her Son the needs and tears of a suffering humanity.

“My Grace Is Sufficient For You, For My Power Is Made Perfect In Weakness."  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Mother Mary reveals to us what the Holy Spirit does in our lives when we open our heart for Him to dwell in us. We will not be the victims of the slavery to partial truths that the intellect can afford to offer. Our achievements will not be confined by our limited capabilities. We will not be subjected to any sort of emotional distress that unfortunate situations will bring. Our total surrender of whatever happens to us will give us a Heavenly Joy of being supple instruments in the Hands of God for His grand design for the salvation of this world.

It is in this anointing of the Holy Spirit that. St Paul was able to say - “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel… my imprisonment is for Christ; most of the brethren because of my imprisonment… are much more bold to speak the word of God.” (Philippians 1:12-14)  Paul is not bitter about his sufferings; rather he is able to see God’s superior plan getting furthered through his torturous circumstances. St. Peter, though he was publicly humiliated and flogged, he did not grudge his pain but was found “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” and continued zealously to proclaim Jesus. (Acts 5:41)

I remember meeting a man who came to me carrying his son who was affected by cerebral palsy. The boy had to be personally cared for always. The father was a school teacher. His wife died at the birth of this boy. His elderly mother would look after the boy when he was away in the school. With great love, he cared for every need of the boy. He told me that the death of his wife was a great blow to him. But he never regretted being given the responsibility of this child. I asked him whether he would have been happier if he had a normal and healthy child. With a smile he replied that this option did not exist in the mind of God. He said he was always conscious of the special call he received as he said, “God wanted to give me a special child as God gave Mother Mary a special child who God knew would die a brutal death at a young age.” What impressed me was the calm manner with which he had accepted this unfortunate situation. He could understand in prayer his role in the Plan of God to bring up this child - who would never be like all the other children he would constantly be in touch with as a teacher. His vision of life was centered on God alone.

Mother Mary by her faith commitment to God became the most “blessed” (Luke 1:42) and “highly favoured in the eyes of God” (Luke 1:30)  Her assumption to heaven was a gift God gave to her and an inspiration to everyone in the path of faith to be always faithful to God.

Let Us Pray

O God of Glory before whom no shadow of pain and failure can linger, we praise You for the gift of Mother Mary to guide us in our lives. You have exalted her that we may walk through the valley of shadows in the courage and wisdom She offers. We bring to You, O God, every disappointment in our life that has been and that is to come. We grieved over these losses and gave up on life and on a future. Yet O God, Your Spirit reveals that every such painful moment is a seed of glory planted in our life. Anoint us O God with Your Spirit that we, Your servants and handmaids, may walk in the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit as our Mother did. We thank You, Lord, for Your Plan for our life and that this Plan is so much superior to our own little ideas and calculations. May Your Will be done in us and may we glorify You at all times.

Amen.