We are having a 30 Day Retreat for a Pentecost Renewal, beginning on 1 May and culminating on Pentecost Sunday 30 May. The Holy Spirit will give new life to each of us and to this dying earth - “Send forth your spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:30). Please try not to miss a session. God does not ration out His Spirit and desires us to live in the fullness of the anointing.
Please note that on Divine Retreat Centre Goodness TV YouTube channel isaccessible on this link below
Please join Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. and renowned preachers for this special month-long PENTECOST BLAZE RETREAT as we wait and pray for the precious Power of the Holy Spirit.
Are these the end times? There are many messages and prophetic predictions being circulated on social media. As a Catholic, what am I to believe? How can I discern correctly? What is God trying to tell His people? In this final episode of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES - Episode 3 Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director - Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, India shares with holy wisdom how we, as people of God, should discern the predictions and prophecies based on the one Truth - God's Word.. Fr. Augustine gives his insight on the following questions that millions of people are seeking answers for: What should we make of the PREDICTIONS and PROPHECIES being circulated? How can we differentiate between TRUE and FALSE PROPHETS? How do we READ THE SIGNS OF OUR TIMES right? SIGNS OF THE TIMESthe three (3) 35-minutes episodes began (Saturday, 25 April 2020) until today, Monday (27 April 2020). Episode 3 will premiere today Monday (27 April 2020) on Divine Retreat Centre Goodness TV YouTube Channel at the timings listed below by region.
The Premiere of SIGNS OF THE TIMES Episode 3 (27 Aoril 2020) on YouTube starts at
7.00 p.m. IST
11.30 p.m. AEST
9.30 p.m. SGT
5.30 p.m. GST
2.30 p.m. BST
9.30 a.m. EDT
We must have a new approach to face this pandemic that has affected the very way we live in a drastic way. As Catholics, the way we live with hope, joy and peace of Jesus by helping others and being rooted in Christ is the key to make a difference in our world today. Let us always remember what Pope Francis implored us to do for ALL of God's Creation - the survival of our earth depends on each one of us - how the whole humankind chooses to live.
Are these the end times? What is God trying to tell His people? How do we understand these dramatic times? t Join Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director - Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, India for SIGNS OF THE TIMES - Episode 2 as he discusses the following questions: ONLINE MASS - Is it valid? What is the CHURCH? Is the church just a BUILDING? How are we dealing with the CHURCH AUTHORITIES errors? SIGNS OF THE TIMESthe three (3) 35-minutes episodes began yesterday (Saturday, 25 April 2020) until Monday (27 April 2020). Episode 2 will premiere today Sunday (26 April 2020) on Divine Retreat Centre Goodness TV YouTube Channel at the timings listed below by region.
Are these the end times? What is God trying to tell His people? How do we understand these dramatic times? Join us as we seek together to interpret the SIGNS OF THE TIMESthrough three (3) 35-minutes episodes beginning today (Saturday, 25 April 2020), Sunday (26 April 2020), and Monday (27 April 2020) onDivine Retreat Centre Goodness TV YouTube Channel at the timings listed below by region
The Premiere of SIGNS OF THE TIMES of all 3 Episodes (25-27 Aoril 2020) on YouTube starts at
7.00 p.m. IST
11.30 p.m. AEST
9.30 p.m. SGT
5.30 p.m. GST
2.30 p.m. BST
9.30 a.m. EDT
There is much fear and anxiety among people of all nations in this extremely difficult Covid-19 pandemic that is sweeping swiftly across our world. Do join Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director - Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, India, as together as the people of God, we interpret with deep faith the Word of God, place our trust in Him and live according to His Will.
The Holy Season of Lent began this year today26 February 2020 - ASH WEDNESDAY.
The sacred season of Lent is a holy
time of grace for every Catholic to look deep into our hearts, It is a season of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. When I first started to seriously prepare my heart for Jesus 22 years ago, it began with abstaining from meat , not watching television for the entire Lenten season, daily Holy Mass, Friday Stations of the Cross, praying for an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament daily and to do acts of mercy.
PRAYER
Lenten season is a period of of great grace. Each of us need to be conscious that we are only pilgrims on earth. We must be ready for our final home - Heaven. Reconciling with Jesus is so crucial and to do so, we need to feed on God's Word and to transform our heart, mind and soul. It should not be just for Lenten Season only. Rather, I always try to make a distinct change from Lenten season onward for the rest of my life. It is very difficult. It takes time and self-awareness and willingness to take positive action. It is having to learn to surrender to God and to live the Word - "He must increase; I must decrease." (John 3:30) I am always a work-in-progress. Jesus is ever patient and loving.
That is why the season of Lent is the perfect opportunity to reach out to Jesus in prayer and reflection. In our busy lives, it is very important to spend time in silence and train our mind and heart to not keep racing to all the things we need to do or our worries. Learning to silence our heart and mind for Jesus is a necessity. Only then can you and I be open to the guidance of Jesus in our lives. In our time of quiet, silent reflection, the Holy Spirit will speak to us through God's Word, the Holy Bible. Lenten Season is a perfect time to pray and start a Prayer Journal.
I often have had people tell me, they just cannot pray. Well, there are so many resources on social media and internet to help every Catholic grow closer to God. It is no longer an excuse that a religious television /radio programme is over. Now we can choose to watch or listen via our mobile phones, iPads, laptops and PCs whenever or wherever we are at the tip of our fingers.
Some of the CATHOLIC APPS I would like to suggest for this sacred Lenten season are:
FORMED
Many parishes have paid for their parishioners to be able to subscribe to FORMED. There is a daily Lenten Reflection starting from Ash Wednesday. The video productions are top quality and deeply informative. For those of you who are signed up or if your parish has got this resource, please do not waste this God-given opportunity, I watched a FORMED video, THE LAST DAYS, a couple of days back. I felt this is a video EVERY Catholic should watch at the start of Lent. Then we will not waste a moment of our lives. Neither will we have fear of Purgatory. Rather, every Catholic will live with joy as pilgrims on earth waiting to reach our Heavenly home.
REGNUM CHRISTI (RC) Spirituality
I just love the daily meditations which is about 6-8 minutes. It is only a few days ago that I was told about this app by my sister. Th meditations have touched me deeply. There is an app for iPhone users called RC Spirituality. For Android users like me, Please click on this link for the RC Daily Meditations.
PRAY AS YOU GO
This is a Jesuit App available of iPhone and Android mobiles which gives us no excuse of not knowing how to pray. There are Prayer Tools which includes Preparing for Prayer: Breathing and Preparing for Prayer:Body to start off. It is a gentle way to be ready in the Presence of God. There is a choice of Retreats and Series. This is a wonderful app of what the Ignatian Spirituality is famous for - making us aware of the Presence of God every moment of our life.
YOUTUBE CHANNELS:
The video above,ENTERING THE DESERT OF LENT isby Bishop Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Barron explains with blessed wisdom what the sacred Season of Lent is all about. He is the founder of Word On Fire CatholicMinistries. Bishop Barron is now the most watched Catholic bishop and theologian on social media and YouTube. His zeal for New Evangelization initiatives is setting the world on fire for Jesus. Just click on this link Bishop Barron's Word of FireYouTube channel.
Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.
Now for blessed news that
every Friend of Divine will be overjoyed to know! There is a YOUTUBE playlist
on GOODNESS TV channel link, LIVING WATERS: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY with Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor, Kerala, India.
There are over 400 videos for each of you to have a special Divine experience
once again.
FASTING
Over the years, I
have realized that fasting for me, was more than abstaining from meat, it was
about abstaining from things that I
really enjoyed. Abstaining from meat is not difficult for me now. Today,
giving up ice-cream is difficult for me as it is extremely hot in India currently
and I find it hard having spicy Indian food! So
it is no ice cream and snacks this Lent. I like to snack as I work. I have fasted on the virtues of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Needles to say, I was always tested on Day 1. However, I know Jesus has made positive changes in my life over the years. Fasting to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (1 virtue per Lenten season) was the most difficult type of fast to do for me.
ALMSGIVING
As
we pray and fast to have a deeper spiritual experience with Jesus, my hope is
that as our hearts are moulded to love as Jesus does, you and I will do acts of
love every day of our lives being compassionate and generous in our almsgiving. It is not just money. it is our time, our patience, our care, our words of friendship and comfort to family, friends and any one we know in need of love and kindness. As Bishop
Barron said so eloquently, let us not judge if a person comes up to us seeking a little financial help. Rather, we should have small change with us to
help whoever comes up to us. Almsgiving is what makes all our prayers and
fasting bear real fruit in our Lenten 2020 Journey with Jesus.
"But
whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and
closes
his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
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
hidingthis from the wise and the
learnedand 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
givena 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.
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 servantsand 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,
Indiawill 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.
