“I am shutting so that i cannot escape”

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by Mary Pereira

We are in a period of isolation, imprisonment – those who are affected by Covid19 or those on whom the isolation is imposed by the Government and Health Authorities. We are in the QUARANTINE PERIOD. In Psalm 88.8, we read:
“You have caused my companions to shun me…. I am shut in so that i cannot escape.” 
The period when we are shut in is quarantine.
Who has allowed this? Bible gives an answer for this. When wickedness increased in the world ( Gen.6.5-7), God decided to cause a heavy flood upon the earth and told Noah to build an ark in order to save His just one/s (Gen.7.1-5). When Noah finished building the arc, he “went in as God had commanded him, AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN”(7.16). So too God has permitted us to be ‘indoors’ for a certain period of time.
What can we do during such a situation? Psalm 57.1 says:
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in thee my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings i will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”
Yes, till the storms of destruction pass by, let us take refuge in the shadow of His wings; even if it is imposed upon us or otherwise, let us not loose our faith and hope.
We may have many questions arising in our minds. The anxiety about our future, economic insecurity, ‘what shall we eat, drink, wear (Mt.6.31), fear about loosing our job, how to repay our loans etc etc may cripple us down. What message has God for us now? In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, we see Jesus asking the disciples to give food for the multitudes who gathered in the desert to listen to Him. “Lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a multitude was coming to Him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” This He said to test him, for he Himself knew what He would do” (5,6). Here we understand that before a crisis comes, in God’s mind there is an answer, a solution for it.God leads us through a crisis keeping in His mind a way out for it. If God permits us to go through a test, He will give us a solution also.This Covid 19 has a definite answer in the Wisdom of God, which is not comprehensible for our limited knowledge and wisdom now.
God has in His mind many mysterious plans about this Covid19. Let us blindly believe in His perfect plan and rely on Him all the more. God has an answer for all the questions, anxiety, worries that burden us now. Our God cannot commit an error. Till the storms of destruction pass by, let us take refuge in the shadow of His wings. Let us lean on to His chest,  as did St.John at the Last Supper.
There is yet another beautiful thing which can happen in our lives during this period of quarantine. In busy schedule of our lives, day and night we are often preoccupied with many things concerning our lives. But we failed to focus on certain important issues of our lives.  Seldom have to sit back and know who we are, where am i heading to, what is the meaning and purpose of our lives etc. Quarantine is the time to face ourselves, to look into our hearts, to evaluate and correct ourselves. It is not the time to look into the outside world through the open windows, but within the closed door and windows, to turn to our heart, a time to listen to our God, to realize what He wants of me, to check my paths  and to question why should fight with others, why to put down others, why to be proud and arrogant… There are many questions which we can ask ourselves, and be honest with God in His Presence. Within the closed doors, the Risen Savior appeared to the disciples and said to them: “Peace be with you”(In. 20.19). The Lord who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Help.13.8), will fill our hearts with His Peace.
We all know about the period of ‘hibernation’ which some living creatures, butterfly for example, go through. It is a period of no activity in a resting place, but they come out of it with more life and vigour. So too we are in a phase of hibernation. Let us positively make use of the time, get more strength from the Lord AND ALSO PRAY FOR ALL WHO AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE, WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITALS, WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET TREATMENT, WHO HAVE NO SHELTER AND FOOD… MAY WE HOLD ALL OF THEM IN OUR HEARTS AND PLEAD FOR THE MERCY OF THE LORD.
INDEBTED TO A MESSAGE FROM FR. DANIEL POOVANNATHIL,
DIRECTOR, CARMEL RETREAT CENTRE, TRIVANDRUM
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What God says in our current situation with CoViD19

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Our God is a God of love and He does not punish us as people interpret the mishaps that occur in our lives. There is no evil in Him and He does not intent to do evil to anyone. But He may permit the evil doer to work/influence our lives in order to purify us.

Nothing happens without the knowledge and permission of God. We need to be humble to recognise and acknowledge our faults, rather than questioning or blaming God for the mishaps. King David said, ‘ You are right in judging me; You are justified in condemning me’ (Ps.51.4).

God delivered Israelites from the slavery of Egypt so that they could worship the Lord (Exodus 7.16). Let us ‘test and examine our ways’ (Lam.3.40) to see whether we give this WORSHIP to our Creator God. Do we have time and space for God in our daily lives? Do we honour Him through our lives? Nowadays people have no time for God. Day and night they are so busy with many things for amassing more and more wealth, or to enjoy worldly pleasures.

Now because of this corona virus spreading, we are forced to stay at home. We are made to bend our knees for God to do a miracle. Covid 19, in a way is a blessing in disguise. More people are praying; they have time to read the Word of God and claim His promises; we are made to realize our total dependence on God. It is time to shed off all our pride, arrogance, self-sufficient thinking that we achieve many things in our lives through our power and might of our hand (Deut. 8.17).

God told Prophet Zechariah:

“I will be to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory within her”.

Acknowledging our faults, seeking God’s mercy, promising to renew our lives in Him,  let us plead with the Lord to protect us with the Fire of the Holy Spirit and with the Power of the Precious Blood of Jesus (Ref. Rev.12.11).

Let us also take all the precautions given to us by our authorities.

“In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love i will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your redeemer”. (Is 54, 8)

P.S.: Let us also REMEMBER the POWER of HOLY ROSARY.

Saint Padre Pio said:
ALWAYS hold
THE WEAPON of ROSARY
in YOUR HAND.
It WILL BRING VICTORY
over your Enemy.” 
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The Nativity of our Blessed Virgin Mary

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The Nativity of our Blessed Virgin Mary

The Nativity of our Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother is celebrated universally by the Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches and Anglican Churches on the 8th of September. The Birthday of the Mother of Jesus is very special for us because she has been chosen to be the Mother of our Savior by God Almighty who deigned her to be conceived without original sin. We read in the book of Hebrews: “When Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God: —–You have prepared a body for me” (10.5).

Usually we plan to celebrate the birthdays of our dear ones, foreseeing the dates, planning to buy some gifts, search in the internet for a special gift, place the order before time so that we get it on time to be given to our dear ones on their birthday. Our Mother Church, in view of the celebration of the Birthday of our dear Mother, is starting a special prayer of Novena from 30th of August. We are privileged to join with the Universal Church in this Novena.

In this context, I am very happy to share with all, about the most favorite prayer which our Mother likes. It is nothing but the prayer: “Hail Mary, full of Grace; the Lord is with you”. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth with a message to Mary. So what the angel told her was exactly what the Heavenly Father asked the angel to tell Mary. (Lk. 1.26-28). The angel was only a messenger to carry out what was told her by the heavenly Father. So when we pray Hail Mary, we are addressing our Mother in the very words of our Heavenly Father. I am sure that our Heavenly Father is happy when we repeat His words devoutly.

When Mary visited Elisabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, Elisabeth said: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Lk. 1.41, 42). These words which came from her mouth was definitely being influenced, motivated and inspired by the Holy Spirit. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is only happy when we recite repeatedly these words with devotion.

In the second half of the prayer, ‘Hail Mary’, we boldly address her as the Mother of God, which again was said by Elisabeth when she was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Lk.  1.43). So we can be sure that the Holy Spirit is happy when we repeat these words with devotion.

Many Exorcists, including the Chief Exorcist of Vatican, Father Gabriel Amorth (May his soul rest in peace) have agreed with Mother Mary that the prayer of Rosary is a powerful weapon against our enemy, the Satan. From their experience in the Ministry, they say that each ‘Hail Mary’ is a deadly blow to Satan, like a nail hitting their forehead!

Once a Benedictine Brother asked his Rector permission to join for the supper little late. This Brother had the habit of completing a full Rosary – the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries- (Luminous was not formulated that time) every day before dinner. Because he could not complete it that day he went to his room. Since he did not come back after some time, the Rector sent another Seminarian to bring him. When he went to the other Brother’s room, he found it closed and he could hear some melodious voice from inside. He peeped through the key hole. He found the Brother inside, kneeling before a statue of Mother Mary, looking at her face and devoutly praying the Rosary. Each Hail Mary was turning into a beautiful Rose and was being added to the crown of Mother Mary. Fascinated by this sight, he stood there looking at it. When the second Brother also did not return, the Rector himself got up to go to the room and he too eye witnessed the fact!

Recently, when I was in Fatima for preaching a retreat along with Fr.James Mariakumar, we were in the convent chapel where we were staying on the 14th of Aug, the Eve of the Feast of Assumption of our Lady. That night we were completing our 33 days Novena for our Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mother Mary. With the joy of doing the Consecration on the following day, which was the Feast day of our Mother, as we were in the chapel for some time, I strongly felt the fragrance of Roses. I realized that our Mother has blessed  us with her Presence, for there were no roses in that chapel with such fragrance. The next day when I shared my experience with one of our friends, she asked me: “Was it not the fragrance of Lily?” Yes, usually people get fragrance of Lily, but I realized that our Mother gave me the fragrance of Roses, because I share the experience of this Benedictine Brother in my classes on Mother Mary or on Rosary.

Dear friends, let us also devoutly pray ‘Hail Mary’s and add Roses to her crown. Especially in these Novena days let us pray a full Rosary or few ‘Hail Mary’s with this intention: ‘Dear Mother, I want to give a Beautiful bouquet of Roses on your Birthday’. Let us pray the prayer which is very dearest to her heart with much love and devotion. And we can take this bouquet on 8th Sept. when we go to church to celebrate her Birthday and joyously present it to her while attending the Holy Eucharist or while participating in the Procession.

May our dear Mother cover all of us – the whole world- within her Mantle and take us safely closer and closer to her dear Son, our Saviour and Lord Jesus.

Mary Pereira.

 

 

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Pentecost 2019

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Pentecost 2019

Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, by proclaiming ,‘‘open the windows and let in the fresh air“. Yes, he hoped and prayed for a New Pentecost to dawn in the Church.

We all need a revival of the Pentecost experience every day of our lives. St. Paul says in his second letter to Timothy: “I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands’’ (1.6). The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift of God which Jesus came to give us. The first mission of Jesus was to forgive us our sins. The angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph in a dream and removed his doubt about Virgin Mary’s conception by telling: “do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt.1.21). So the primary mission for which God the Father sent Jesus was to save people from the bondage of sin. He came not only for that, but to teach us how to live as the children of God. But that is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit. “What is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is spirit” (Jn.3.6). That is why Jesus told Nicodemus: “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kindom of God without being born of water and the Spirit” (Jn.3.5). But God is all holy and His Spirit cannot enter into us unless we are sanctified. So Jesus had to accomplish His first task of purifying the humanity through His Passion, Death and Resurrection. God “has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col.1.13).

John the Baptist tells about the second mission of Jesus. He introduced Jesus by saying: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Mt.3.11; Mk.1.8; Lk.3.16; Jn.1.33). Jesus did promise the gift of Holy Spirit to His disciples who would thirst for the Spirit and who would believe in Him (Jn.7.37-39). But the Holy Spirit then made the truth clear for the evangelist: “As yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (Jn.7.39 b). At the last discourse with His disciples Jesus said: “I tell you the truth: it is for your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (Jn.16.7). After His death and Resurrection, Jesus made the truth clear again: “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts.1.5).

After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples who were in a closed room for fear of the Jews. He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn.20.22). Even though Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit, their lives did not change. They were still living in fear and doubt, and wanted to go back to their former trade. (Jn.21.3; Lk.24.13-24). The Holy Spirit was in them, but dormant. They were not led to activate the Holy Spirit in them, to be led by the Holy Spirit, nor did they know how to live in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. After the Sacrament of Baptism, most of us also lead such lives without having a lively, daily communion with the Holy Spirit and hence we lead ‘frozen’ Christian lives. Because of our lack of knowledge of the Word of God (Mk.12.24), we have many misconceptions about the need and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Before His Ascension, Jesus told the disciples: “I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk. 24.49). Jesus knew that it is impossible for them to live what He preached them for 3 years without the help of the Holy Spirit. Through Prophet Ezekiel too, God foretold this truth. “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you…..I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statues and be careful to observe my ordinances” (36,25-27). So with a deep thirst for the Holy Spirit the disciples were praying earnestly for this Power from above. And the promise in Acts. 1.8 was fulfilled in them. They became powerful witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and in the ends of the earth. The Scriptural truth is that it is not enough that we receive the Holy Spirit at the Sacrament of Baptism and we become ‘the temples of the Holy Spirit’ (1Cor.3.16). We have to make the Power of God active in us through our cooperation with the Holy Spirit by our living in fellowship with him, often praying to the indwelling Divine Guest to rekindle His fire within us and ask him to help us always to live by the Spirit, walk by the Spirit, and be led by the Spirit (Gal.5.16, 25).

As we are preparing for the great Feast of Pentecost, let us be convinced that the gift of Anointing of the Holy Spirit is for all (Joel.2.28); for all who thirst for him, who believe in Jesus (Jn.7.37-39), who ask for the Spirit (Lk.11.13), who obey God’s commandments (Jn.14.15, 16; Acts 5.32), and who repent of their sins and be willing to change their lives (Acts.2.37-39; 3.19,20). In the Early Church those who came to faith were simple people, who fulfilled these requirements in their lives, and the Spirit of the Lord guided their lives and they were leading victorious Christian lives even at the face of persecution (Acts 6.8; 7.54-60 – just one example). Let us not ignore, neglect or bypass the Divine Guest within. It is He who will teach us to pray (Rom8.26),  fill us with the Father’s love (Rom.5.5), who will bring us to the filial relationship with God the Father (Rom.8.14-16), who will bring us to greater intimacy with Jesus and help us to surrender our lives to Him (1 Cor.12.3), who will make the Word of God come alive in our lives, who will convict us of our sins (Jn. 16.8), who will make our lives fruitful  (Gal.5.22,23), who will empower us with His gifts and charisms to make us effective instruments  in the kingdom of God (1 Cor.12.4-11), who will help us to accept sufferings with the joy of the Lord (1 Thess.1.6; Phil.4.4). In short, it is only when we are leading a life in the Spirit, without grieving him (Eph.4.30) through our sins, without quenching the fire of the Holy Spirit (1Thess.5.19) though our stubbornness and ‘stiff-neckedness’ (Acts.7.51), the Holy Spirit can fuel our lives with power, ignite our lives with the love, joy and peace of the Lord and help us to be the real catalysts of God’s Kingdom spreading the fragrance of Christ to those around (2 Cor.2.15). It is only Holy Spirit who can change our lukewarm, counter-witnessing Christian lives into lives like effective ‘living stones building up the kingdom of God’ (1 Pet.2.5).

When Prophet Samuel was anointing Saul to be the prince over the people of Israel, he said: “The Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you shall prophesy with them and be turned into another man” (1Sam.10.6). Let us really desire for a change of life from what we are to what we ought to be, what God intends and expects of us. Yes, in order to fulfill the dream of God about us, He has given us His own Spirit, Spirit of Christ who will help us to live like Christ. Let us not ‘resist the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 7.51); rather let us cooperate with the Spirit and yield our lives to his working, so that we will become changed persons and will be enabled to live by His word in our pilgrimage here.

Wish all the readers the special Anointing and Empowerment of the forthcoming Feast of Pentecost

Fr.James Mariakumar SVD

Mary Pereira

 

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A SINCERE APOLOGY

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Dear friends,

we apologise you for cancelling our retreats in Europe after 19th august 2019. Since there is a problem of extending our Residential Permit in Germany which expires on 19.08.19, we are not able to take up assignments we had agreed upon. Also my Indian Provincial has told me not to take up new assignments for retreats in Europe as I am aged.

In this context I would like to extent my sincere thanks to all those who have associated with us in our mission in Europe from the year 2000. I and my Retreat team member Miss Mary Pereira owe much to Sr. Margareta Valappila who was instrumental in our mission in Europe. Though there are a lot of dear ones whose cooperation and benevolence made our retreats for the past 20 years a success in different countries, a few need to be thanked very specially. That doesn’t mean others are insignificant……..

We are very grateful to late Countess Feliciatas Piccolomini who had been organizing, translating, helping us to get our Visa/ Residential Permit, providing us accommodation, seeing to our transportation for the past 15 years with the cooperation of her husband Giorg Piccolomini who also has been a great support for us. Thanks to Doblehoff of Sonntagsberg, who welcomed our retreats in his retreat center in Austria for quite a few years and also for arranging Austrian Visa for us during that period. I thank my German, Austrian, Swiss, Slovak and Hungarian SVD Provncials for giving me No-objection Letters and for guiding our ministry; Fr. Buob (who gave official sponsorship to Mary) and Barbara of Hochaltingen; Fr.Martin Ramosar who encouraged our Deliverance Ministry in retreats at his place Reisbach; Fr.Dietrich and Fr. Ludwig of Heroldsbach; Fr.Robert Maria of Waghausel; Fr.Ludwig, Rosevita and Maria Zehetgruber of Gundersdorf, Austria; Hans Schroeder, Sofie and their team; Beatrix of Mirian Verlag; Margaret Bartle; Cornelia; Rafi Francis; Marion Rist; Christina Bucher, Monica and Gabi of Axam; Eugen and Maria Malovecký who were instrumental for our mission in Slovakia, Miriam and Dr.Roman, Alica Prokopova, Lucia Palusova, Ferdinand and Iveta, Josef Macovich, Monika Komova and Marta Pincelova, Ladislav Madzova and Maria Madzova of Slovakia; Kristina Drungyte, Laima and Kristina Jureviciute of Lithuania; Arnaldo Paixao and Claudina of Fatima; Eniko and Peter Rumzauer of Hungary. Also we remember with gratitude Conrad and Wendy who took us first to Lithuania.

With regard to our website, it was the initiative of Eugen Malovecky who opened one for us free of cost and was working on it for quite a long time. Thereafter Branko Rabora of Slovakia offered us a free website and Jozef Danko and Lukas Vaník were willing to help us with it. We are very thankful to them for their selfless service in our ministry, all for the glory of God.

We are equally thankful to all the local organisers of our retreats in different places and translators in different countries and all those who have provided accommodation for us and seen to our transportation (very grateful to Wolfgang who was ever ready for it). Yes, the list of names of all whom we remember as our well wishers continues……We join with St. Paul and say sincerely: “We do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in our prayers” (Eph.1.16), not only those who are enlisted here, but many more who are in our hearts…..

Big thanks to Barbara Larumbe who welcomed us and arranged for our accommodation after the demise of Fella and also translated our retreats in her free time. So also Lucy Pregel who has been associating with our ministry as a translator and took up the organization of our retreats after Fella. Thanks to her husband Hans who cooperated with her and worked as a team with us in our ministry wherever he could come.

We are also grateful to Matthew Perukarote and family of Vienna who have helped us in many ways.

Last but not the least, we thank all the retreatants for their cooperation and acceptance of the message of the Lord, ‘for receiving the Word of God which they heard from us, accepting it not as the word of men but as what it really is, THE WORD OF GOD’ (1 Thess.2.13). We give all glory to God for the fruits we could see in the lives of many—a real life changing effect of God’s Word.

In 1992 and 1993, the Lord gave me a prophetic message through Sr. Elcius of Marian (Nirmala) retreat center, Kulathuvayal, Kerala, that I would be preaching retreats for Europeans in the years to come. The loving Lord fulfilled this message in the Jubilee Year 2000. He did everything to accomplish His Plans through me and Miss Mary Pereira. Please join with us to thank the Lord for all that He did through us.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayers with joy, thanking for your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now” (Phil.1.3).

Father James Mariakumar SVD and Mary Pereira

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Devotion to the Prayer of Rosary

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Devotion to the Prayer of Rosary

Pope Leo XIII experienced in his life-time the power of Rosary as a mighty weapon to fight against the powers of darkness. He started a special devotion for this prayer dedicating the month of October as the month of Rosary.

The Rosary was given to Saint Dominic in an apparition by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1214. The Blessed Virgin Mary promised to Saint Dominic that “Whatever you ask in the Rosary will be granted”. 15 promises were imparted to Saint Dominic for those who devoutly pray the Rosary.

  • Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
  • I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
  • The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
  • The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!
  • The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.
  • Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
  • Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
  • Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
  • I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
  • The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
  • You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary
  • All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
  • I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
  • All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.
  • Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

You may read an article on the ‘Weapon of Rosary’ in the page ‘Catechesis’

Mary Pereira

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In tribute to Fella Piccolomini

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God has called home our dear Fella Piccolomini on 17 th August 2018 who was the organizer of our Retreats in Europe for the past eighteen years. Even though she was quite busy with her work of translation, as she was a simultaneous translator to different languages like English, German, French, Spanish and Italian, she always made use of her talent and the opportunity to translate in different places. Based on our retreats she has written small booklets on various topics which are found very useful for people. A voracious reader that she was, she had an in depth knowledge of Church history and
Theology.
In 1999, she accompanied a group of 45 Germans who came to India to attend our retreat in Kerala, brought by Sr. Margareta Valapila, and she was one of the translators. Thereafter she said: “I want my German-speaking people to experience this retreat”. So very enthusiastically she took up the work of organizing our retreats from the hands of Sr. Margareta Valapila, who had organized our retreats for the first three years. She was very patient and compassionate with the counselees who sought our help and was ever ready to sacrifice her time to bring people to the healing love of the Lord.
I can only thank the Lord for the gift of Fella for our ministry in Europe. Her house was a second home for us in Europe. She was seeing to all our travel details, within and outside Germany, booking our tickets and making sure that we are safe and sound. Even though her physical health was deteriorating since few months, she was very alert in her brain and mind and undertook all arrangements of our retreats till the last moment.
May her soul rest in peace and may she intercede for our ministry sitting in the glorious Presence of the Lord.
The funeral of the dear departed will be on the 27th of August at 11 at Sandkirche statt, Schlitz, Grabenberg.

Father James Mariakumar

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I Firmly Confess and Believe

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That “I am the child of God, (1 Jn. 3.1, Jn 1. 12)
 That “I am precious, honored, and loved by God” (Is. 43. 4)
 That “my God loves me with an everlasting love and he continues
his faithfulness to me” (Jer. 31.3)
 That “as a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has
compassion for those who fear him” (Ps.103. 13)
 That “as a mother comforts her child, so will my God comfort me”
(Is. 66.13)
 That “my body is meant for the Lord and the Lord for my body”
(1 Cor.6.13); therefore I am not my own.
 That “my body is the member of the body of Christ” and I am
called for resurrection (1 Cor. 6.14)
 That “I am called to be one spirit with Christ” (1 Cor.6 17)
 That “ I am bought with the Precious Blood of Jesus and I will
glorify God in my body” (1 Cor.6.20)
 That “I am called to set my mind on things above” (Col.3.2)
 That “I am called to have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor.2.16; Phil.
2.5)
 That “my citizenship is in heaven”(Phil. 3.20)
 That “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he
protects those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1.7)
 That “if I obey God’s voice and keep His covenant, I shall be his
treasured possession. (Ex. 19.5)
 That “my Lord will be a wall of fire all around me” (Zech. 2.5 That “the book of the law shall not depart out of my mouth; I shall
meditate on it day and night, so that I may be careful to act in
accordance with all that is written in it. Then I shall make my way
prosperous, and then I shall be successful” (Josh. 1.8)
 That “In all that I do, I will prosper, because my delight is in the
law of the Lord; I meditate on it day and night” (Ps. 1. 3. 2)
 That “my Lord is a shield around me, my glory, and the one who
lifts up my head” (Ps. 3.3)
 That “when the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues
them from all their troubles” (Ps. 34.17)
 That “if the glory of the Lord is my rear guard, when I call, the
Lord will answer; when I cry for help, he will say, Here I am” (Is.
58. 8,9)
 That “If God is for us, who is against us” (Rom. 8.31)
 That “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone
do to me?” (Heb. 13.6)
 That “all things work together for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8.28).
 That “if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will take me
up” (Ps.27.10)
 That “the Lord my God teaches me for my own good, and leads
me in the way I should go” (Is. 48.17)
 That “my God will instruct me and teach me the way I should go;
He will counsel me with his eye upon me” (Ps. 32.8)
 That “surely there is a future, and my hope will not be cut off”
(Prov. 23. 18) That “I will not be tested beyond my strength, but with every test
he will also provide the way out that I may be able to endure it” (1
Cor. 10.13)
 That “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing
with the glory about to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8.18)
 That ‘no one and nothing will separate me from the love of Christ’
(Rom. 8.35)
 That "Jesus Christ is my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and
redemption” (1 Cor.1.30)
 That “our pride is in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps.20. 7)
 That “in Jesus Christ every one of God’s promises is a Yes” for
me. (2 Cor.1.20)
 That “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4.13)
 That “I can lie down and sleep; I can wake again, for the Lord
sustains me.” (Ps. 3.5)
 That “I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for You alone,
make me lie down in safety.” (Ps. 4.8)s
 That “My God will fully satisfy every need of mine according to
his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4.19)
 That “my God will strengthen me, he will help me, he will uphold
me with his victorious right hand.” (Is. 41.10)
 That “my Lord has taken away the judgments against me, he has
turned away my enemies.” (Zeph. 3.15)
 That ‘Jesus has disarmed and defeated the powers of darkness
nailing them to the Cross’ (Col. 2.14,15)
 That “the one who is in me is greater than the one who is in the
world” (1 Jn.4.4)

 That “my Lord will strengthen the weak hands and make firm the
feeble knees” (Is. 35.4)
 That “I have no dread of my enemies, for the Lord my God, who
is present with me, is great and awesome God” (Deut. 7.21)
 That “my Lord will cause my enemies to be defeated before me”
(Deut. 28.7)
 That “I do not fear or be dismayed, for it is the Lord who goes
before me. He will be with me; he will not fail me or forsake me”
(Deut. 31.8)
 That “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and delivers them” (Ps. 34.7)
 That “a thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right
hand, but it will not come near me”(Ps. 91.7)
 That “in the shelter of Your presence you hide me from human
plots, you hold me safe under Your shelter from contentious
tongues” (Ps. 31.20)
 That “no evil shall befall me, no scourge come near my tent,
because I have made the Lord my refuge, the Most High my
dwelling place” (Ps. 91. 10,9)
 That “My God will command his angels to guard me in all my
ways” (Ps.91. 11)
 That “even if I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for
my God is with me and his rod and staff comfort me” (Ps.23.4)
 That “no weapon that is fashioned against me shall prosper” (Is.
54.17)
 That “we trust in the Almighty God, who is able with a single nod
to strike down those who are coming against us” (2 Macc. 8.18)

 That “there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against
Israel” (Num. 23.23)
 That “I am not afraid, I will stand firm, and see the deliverance
that the Lord will accomplish for me today. For the Lord will fight
for me” (Ex. 14.13,14)
 That “the God of peace will shortly crush Satan under my feet”
(Rom. 16.20)
 That “I take the shield of faith to quench all the flaming arrows of
the evil one” (Eph.6.16)
 That “I am born of God and by my faith I have victory that
conquers the world” (1 Jn. 5. 4)
 That “God forgives all my iniquity and heals all my diseases” (Ps.
103.3)
 That “By the wounds of Jesus I am healed” (Is. 53.5; 1 Pet.2.24)
 That “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the
Lord” (Ps.118. 17)
 That “My God will sprinkle clean water upon me, and cleanse me
from all my uncleanness; He will give me a new heart and put a
new spirit within me” (Ezk. 36.26)
 That “The blood of Jesus cleanses me from all (my) sin” (1 Jn. 1.7)
 That “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will
forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all (our) unrighteousness”
(1 Jn. 1.9)
 That “though my sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as
snow”(Is. 1.18)
 That “my God will again have compassion on me; he will tread my
iniquities under foot. He will cast all my sins into the depths of the
sea” (Micah 7.9)

 That “I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my
strength and my might; he has become my salvation” (Is. 12.2)
 That “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus” (Rom.8.1)
 That “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation : everything
old has passed away; everything has become new” (2 Cor. 5.17)
 That “what is impossible for me is possible for God” (Lk. 18.27)
 That “I am God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in me” (1
Cor. 3.16)
 That “the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me,
he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to my mortal body
also” (Rom. 8.11)
 That “by the power at work within me, God is able to accomplish
abundantly far more than all I can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3.20)
 That “the Holy Spirit will convict me of my sins” (Jn.16.8)
 That “the Holy spirit will lead me to the fullness of truth” (Jn.
16.13)
 That “the Holy Spirit will teach me everything and remind me of
all that Jesus has said” (Jn. 14.26)
 That ‘the Holy Spirit helps me to understand Divine Mysteries’
(1 Cor.2.11)
 That ‘by the power of the Holy Spirit I can “put to death the deeds
of the body (Rom 8.13)
 That ‘by the power of the Holy Spirit I can accept sufferings
joyfully (Rom 5.3-5; 1 Pet 4.12,13)

Mary Pereira

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(Slovenčina) Príď, Duchu Svätý, naplň naše srdcia a zapáľ nás ohňom svojej lásky

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Prayer to the Holy Spirit

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Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, enkindle in us, the fire of your love.

Come Holy Spirit, teach me to pray unceasingly (Eph. 6.18)

Come Holy Spirit, give me thirst for the Divine Word.

 Come Holy Spirit, fill me with wisdom and enlighten my mind to understand the Divine Word.

Come Holy Spirit, deepen my faith in God and in His Word.

Come Holy Spirit, convict me of my sins and lead me to repentance where I fail to conform my life according to God’s word.

Come Holy Spirit, renew my mind according to God’s word; let it penetrate my whole being and transform me.

Come Holy Spirit, give me courage and fortitude to live the values of the Kingdom of God, in thought, word and deed.

Come Holy Spirit, give me an intense thirst for a holy life.

Come Holy Spirit, help me to grow in your fruits (Gal.5.22, 23) so that I may become true witness of Christ.

Come Holy Spirit, help me to accept sufferings in the spirit of Christ with joy.

Come Holy Spirit, increase in me the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love

Come Holy Spirit, give me the gifts (Is. 11.2) and the charisms (1 Cor. 12.4-10) to make me and others true disciples of Christ.    

Come Holy Spirit, help me to focus my gaze on heaven while journeying through this pilgrim land.

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