Sydney: Retreat by Rev. Dr. Fr. Augustine Vallooran

An Invitation to attend and experience Spiritual Renewal

"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (John 21:17)
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Prayer by Fr Augustine Vallooran

Let us pray

Lord Jesus we come to you with thanksgiving today for this marvelous gift of life. More precious for us O God is to know that in this life we are not alone. You are there with us to make life a celebration. Your life and death and resurrection has brought to us life, and life in all its fullness. Your love has transformed our life - making every moment a moment of blessing and grateful remembrance because by your presence with us you have turned all things for our good. We thank you for the Church, the community of love that you have placed us in. Here O Lord we have seen your mercy and power manifested. Here it is that you have called us to love and serve you and be channels of your loving presence.

Today as we come before you O God, we place everything in our life, our families and our work, our future and our past at your holy altar. May your purifying love remove from us every attitude and aspect of our living that does not glorify you. We live for you O Jesus for in you is life. May your glory be magnified by our life and our death. Amen.

Life After Death Experience of a Catholic Priest

Brief Background of Fr Jose 

I was born on July 16, 1949 in Kerala, India to my parents, Joseph and Theresa Maniyangat. I am the eldest of seven children: Jose, Mary, Theresa, Lissama, Zachariah, Valsa and Tom.

At the age of fourteen, I entered St. Mary’s minor seminary in Thiruvalla to begin my studies for the priesthood. Four years later I went to St. Joseph’s Pontifical Major Seminary in Alwaye, Kerala to continue my priestly formation. After completing the seven years of Philosophy and Theology I was ordained a priest on January 1, 1975 to serve as a missionary at the Diocese of Thiruvalla.

In 1978 while teaching at the St. Thomas minor seminary in Bathery, I became an active member of the Charismatic Renewal movement and began conducting charismatic retreats and conferences in Kerala.

Angel appears at the moment of Death

On Sunday April 14, 1985, the Feast of the Divine Mercy, I was going to celebrate Mass at a mission church in the north part of Kerala, and I had a fatal accident. I was riding a motorcycle when I was hit head-on by a jeep driven by a man who was intoxicated after a Hindu festival. I was rushed to a hospital about 35 miles away. On the way my soul came out from my body and I experienced death. Immediately I met my Guardian angel. I saw my body and the people who were carrying me to the hospital. I heard them crying and praying for me. At this time my angel told me: “I am going to take you to Heaven, the Lord wants to meet you and talk with you”. He also said that on the way he wanted to show me hell and purgatory.

Visit to Hell

First, the angel escorted me to hell. It was an awful sight! I saw Satan and the devils, an unquenchable fire of about 2,000 Fahrenheit degrees, worms crawling, people screaming and fighting, others being tortured by demons. The angel told me that all these sufferings were due to unrepented mortal sins. Then, I understood that there are seven degrees of suffering or levels according to the number and kinds of mortal sins committed in their earthly lives. The souls looked very ugly, cruel and horrific. It was a fearful experience. I saw people whom I knew but I am not allowed to reveal their identities. The sins that convicted them were mainly abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, hatefulness, unforgiveness and sacrilege. The angel told me that if they had repented they would have avoided hell and gone instead to purgatory. I also understood that some people who repent from these sins might be purified on earth through their sufferings. This way they can avoid purgatory and go straight to heaven.
 

I was surprised when I saw in hell even Priests and Bishops, some of whom I never expected to see. Many of them were there because they had misled the people with false teaching and bad example.


Visit to Purgatory

After the visit to hell, my Guardian angel escorted me to Purgatory. Here too, there are seven degrees of suffering and unquenchable fire. But it is far less intense than hell and there was neither quarreling nor fighting. The main suffering of these souls is their separation from God. Some of those who are in Purgatory committed numerous mortal sins; but they were reconciled with God before their death. Even though these souls are suffering, they enjoy peace and the knowledge that one day they will see God face to face.


Communication with souls in Purgatory

I had a chance to communicate with the souls in Purgatory. They asked me to pray for them and to tell the people to pray for them as well, so they can go to heaven quickly. When we pray for these souls we will receive their gratitude through their prayers and once they enter heaven their prayers become even more meritorious.

It is difficult for me to describe how beautiful my Guardian angel is. He is radiant and bright. He is my constant companion and helps me in all my ministries, especially my healing ministry. I experience his presence everywhere I go and I am grateful for his protection in my daily life.

Visit to Heaven

Next, my angel escorted me to heaven passing through a big dazzling white tunnel. I never experienced this much peace and joy in my life. Then immediately the heaven opened up and I heard the most delightful music, which I never heard before. The angels were singing and praising God. I saw all the saints, especially the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, and many dedicated holy Bishops and Priests who were shining like stars. And when I appeared before the Lord, Jesus told me: “I want you to go back to the world. In your second life you will be an instrument of peace and healing to my people. You will walk in a foreign land and you will speak in a foreign tongue. Everything is possible for you with my grace”. After these words, the Blessed Mother told me: “Do whatever He tells you. I will help you in your ministries”.

Words can not express the beauty of heaven. There we find so much peace and happiness, which exceed a million times our imagination. Our Lord is far more beautiful than any image can convey. His face is radiant and luminous and more beautiful than a thousand rising suns. The pictures we see in the world are only a shadow of His magnificence. The Blessed Mother was next to Jesus; she was so beautiful and radiant. None of the images we see in this world can compare with her real beauty. Heaven is our real home, we are all created to reach heaven and enjoy God forever. Then, I came back to the world with my angel.


Back to Earth

While my body was at the hospital, the doctor completed all examinations and I was pronounced dead. The cause of death was bleeding. My family was notified and since they were far away, the hospital staff decided to move my dead body to the morgue. Because the hospital did not have air conditioners they were concerned that the body would decompose quickly. As they were moving my dead body to the morgue, my soul came back to the body. I felt an excruciating pain because of so many wounds and broken bones. I began to scream and then the people became frightened and ran away screaming. One of them approached the doctor and said: “the dead body is screaming”. The doctor came to examine the body and found that I was alive. So he said: “Father is alive, it is a miracle, take him back to the hospital”.

Now, back at the hospital, they gave me blood transfusions and I was taken to surgery to repair the broken bones. They worked on my lower jaw, ribs, pelvic bone, wrists, and right leg. After two months, I was released from the hospital, but my orthopedic doctor said that I would never walk again. I then said to him: “ the Lord who gave me my life back and sent me back to the world will heal me”. Once at home we were all praying for a miracle. Still after a month and with the casts removed I was not able to move. But one day while praying I felt an extraordinary pain in my pelvic area. After a short while the pain disappeared completely and I heard a voice saying: “You are healed. Get up and walk”. I felt the peace and healing power on my body. I immediately got up and walked. I praised and thanked God for the miracle.


Conversion of the Doctor

I reached my doctor with the news of my healing and he was amazed. He said: “your God is the true God. I must follow your God”. The doctor was Hindu and he asked me to teach him about our Church. After studying the faith, I baptized him and he became Catholic.

Following the message from my Guardian angel, I came to the United States on November 10, 1986 as a missionary Priest. First, I worked in the Diocese of Boise, Idaho from 1987 to 1989 and then became the Director of Prison Ministry in the Diocese of Orlando, Florida from 1989 to 1992.


Mission assigned by Jesus

In 1992, I came to the Diocese of St. Augustine where I was first assigned to St. Matthew's Parish in Jacksonville for two years. I was then appointed Parochial Vicar of Assumption Church from 1994 to 1999. In 1997 I was incardinated as a permanent member of the Diocese. Since June 1999, I have been pastor of St. Mary's Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Macclenny, Florida. I also serve as the Catholic Chaplain for Florida State Prison in Starke, Union Correctional Institution in Raiford and Northeast Florida State Hospital in Macclenny. I am also the Diocesan Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary.

On the first Saturday of each month I conduct a Eucharistic and charismatic-healing ministry in my Parish, St. Mary Mother of Mercy. People come from all over the diocese, many parts of Florida and even from out of the state. I have been invited to conduct the healing ministry in other major cities of the United States including: New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, San Jose, Dallas, Chicago, Birmingham, Denver, Boise, Idaho Falls, Hawaii, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Poolsville; and many other countries: Ireland, Spain, Czech Republic, India, France, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Cayman Island, and Ontario.


Eucharistic-healing ministry
 

Through this Eucharistic-healing ministry I have seen many people healed physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. People with various illnesses such as: cancer, AIDs, arthritis, heart conditions, eye problems, emphysema, asthma, back pains, bad hearing and many others have been healed completely. In addition, several times during the year I conduct a special healing service for the healing of the family tree, in which the effects from ancestral sins are blocked and the person receives complete healing. Scripture says that the effects from family sins can linger around for three to five generations (Exodus Chapter 34 verse 7). So, in many cases we need generational healing.

Doctors and medicines do not help to heal certain sicknesses caused by our family tree.

During the Healing ministry, many people rest in the spirit before the Blessed Sacrament and some experience renewal of the soul and healing of the body.




Source: http://frmaniyangathealingministry.com/story.html

Website address of Fr Jose - www.frmaniyangathealingministry.com


Healings and prayers answered - www.frmaniyangathealingministry.com/thanks_list.aspx


Effective Friday, July 1st 2011 Rev. Father Jose Maniyangat will be transferred to St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church
 
St.Catherine's Catholic Church   
1649 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida 32073 
Church Office (904) 264-0577
 
Father Jose email : frmaniyangathealingministry@hotmail.com
 

Let's pray with Mary - Rosary

Why Pray with Mary, Mother of God?

1) Why Mary ?

2) Spiritual Profits of Rosary

3) Medjugorje

Why is the importance given to Rosary and why together with Mary?

I believe there is a very special reason for this. The Rosary is at the same time a contemplative prayer and a vocal prayer. We pray vocally, and as we pray vocally, we contemplate the mysteries of our own salvation.
The mystery of salvation is divided into the four sets of Mysteries:
the Joyful Mysteries,
the Luminous Mysteries,
the Sorrowful Mysteries,
the Glorious Mysteries.

In fact, through these four sets of Mysteries, the Church sets before us the whole mystery of salvation. And we contemplate this mystery of salvation together with Mother Mary.

Now, you might wonder, why together with Mother Mary?
It is because Mother Mary is the one who understood the mystery of salvation the best way.
Why?
Because it is she who accepted this mystery - the mystery of salvation in the best way.

Whom did God turn to when He wanted to save the world?
God turned to Mary, the virgin girl from Nazareth. God sent his angel. God asked for her consent to become the mother of the Redeemer.

With her, we contemplate the mysteries of salvation. But then, in our daily routine, when we are busy with a lot of things in our lives, we are not able to concentrate on our contemplation all the time. We need help to concentrate on our contemplation on the mystery of salvation and for that we pray vocally.

And what are we praying vocally?
We are praying in the first part of the Hail Mary, the Word of God. "Hail Mary! Full of grace, The Lord is with you." It is all the Word of God as mentioned in Luke 1:28. It is what the Angel Gabriel said. "Hail Mary!" greeting Mary. "Full of grace" - there was no sin in her. She was all the time full of God's favour and full of God's grace. There was not a single moment in her life when she rebelled against God. No! In every moment, she was the handmaid of the Lord. That is why the angel said "full of grace" - a greeting so true and so inspiring that when we say that in "Hail Mary! Full of grace," we understand how sinful we are and we repent over our sins. We ask God for the grace to remain full of grace - never to rebel against God. Therefore, at the beginning of our prayer, we keep Mother Mary before us. We want to be like Mother Mary - always, always as the handmaid of the Lord. Never to rebel against God's Word. So with that spirit of repentance, we begin our prayer, asking for God's pardon and before we lost the grace of our God.

When we recite the Rosary, and when we say "Blessed are you among women," we want to understand this blessedness came to her because she believed. She believed as Elizabeth said in Luke 1:46, "Blessed are you because you believed." And Jesus also said it. Jesus knew his mother so well. And so when we pray the Rosary, we make a decision. We make a decision t o become blessed like Mother Mary To become blessed by doing God's Will at all times.

This word "Blessed woman" is to be taken in the background of what happened to Eve, the first mother. She was a cursed woman. She brought a curse to the whole of humankind because she disobeyed God's Word. And now here stands a Mother - a Mother that making our lives blessed by obeying God's Word totally.

Let us pray together:
O God, we thank you for giving us such a wonderful Mother.
A Mother to understand us. A Mother to be with us.
A Mother to take all our tears, all our problems, all our sins, all our sufferings to Jesus.
Mother Mary, pray for us at all times.
And together with you, Mother, we want to go to Jesus. Amen

Why pray with Mary

Mary - Mother of God

Mary – Mother of God – What a wonderful title for such a humble person – the humble handmade of the Lord. Certain groups of people cannot accept it as they put forward many reasons. They say that Mary did not carry God in her womb, but only carried Christ’s human nature. A woman does not give birth of human nature alone but she gives birth to a whole person. Mary thus gave birth to the person of Jesus Christ and the person she gave birth to was God. Since Mary is Jesus ‘s mother, it must be concluded that she is the Mother God for Jesus Christ in God in the flesh (2 Jn 7) Even Protestant Reformers recognized Mary’s divine maternity. Although Mary is the mother of God, she is not his mother in the sense that she is older than God or the source of her son’s divinity.

Recently Christians have been unanimous in proclaiming Mary as Mother of God. The Church fathers of course agreed and the following passages witness in their lively recognition of the sacred truth and great gift of divine maternity that was betoved upon Mary – the humble handmade of the Lord.

Irenaeus
“The Virgin Mary, being obedient to his word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God” (Against Heresies, 5:19:1 [A.D. 189])

Peter of Alexandira
“They came to the church of the most blessed Mother of God, and ever-virgin Mary, which, as we began to say, he had constructed in the western quarter, in a suburb, for a cemetery of the martyrs” (The Genuine Acts of Peter of Alexandia [A.D. 305])

“We acknowledge the resurrection of the dead, of which Jesus Christ our Lord became the firstling; he bore a body not in appearance but in truth derived from Mary the Mother of God” (Letter to all non-Egyptian Bishops 12 [A.D. 324])

Ambrose of Milan
“The first thing which kindles ardor in learning is the greatness of the teacher. What is greater than the Mother of God? What more glorious than she whom Glory itself chose?” (The Virgins 2:2[7] [A.D. 377])

Let us reflect on the life of Mother Mary

Let us reflect on the life of Mother Mary who lived her life doing God's Will - she is the best example for us to truly be a disciple of Jesus. When God wanted to save the world, it was to Mother Mary that God turned to because as soon as man and woman sinned in Paradise and Paradise was lost.

God spoke to Mother Mary and she accepted God's Word. The Word revealed to her that she was to conceive and bear a son. She did not understand much. How could a village girl from Nazareth understand the great wisdom of the mind of God? And she said it in so many words, "How can this be? How can I bear a son?" and the Angel said two things. Firstly, the Angel said this was God's plan for the salvation of humankind. Secondly, the Plan of God would be done in the Power of the Holy Spirit. That was enough for Mother Mary! She said if this was God's Plan and the plan was done through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, "Here, I am, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to Thy Word."(Luke 1:38) It was at that moment that salvation began!

The Church has promulgated TWO beautiful dogmas of Mother Mary - the dogma of "Immaculate Conception" and the "Assumption into Heaven" - that Mother Mary was conceived without sin. Because of the merits of the redemption of Jesus, her Son, she was preserved from all sins even from the first moment of her conception. At the end of her sojourn on earth, she was taken up to heaven, body and soul. She was not corrupted in the mud of the earth. In fact, it is sin that corrupts. In Mother Mary, there is no sin at all! There is nothing corrupted in her body and mind. She was a woman full of grace - that is the way the Angel addressed her, "Hail Mary, full of grace!" (Luke1:28) At no time in her existence, was she under the slavery of satan. At no time in her life, has she ever consented to sin. So she was full of grace - her body and mind was filled with grace. As the poet, Woodsworth said, "A solitary boast of a tainted nature". Human nature was tainted by sin but Mother Mary was not - she was taken up to heaven, This is our Mother - a Star of discipleship!

"The Lord Is With You And Has Greatly Blessed You" (Luke 1:28) Why do we call Mother Mary the Star of Discipleship? Firstly, Mother Mary is the one who teaches us how to be disciples. Let us see what Jesus Himself said about His Mother - an event recorded in all the three Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. In Luke 8:19-21, "Then his mother and his brethren came to Him but they could not reach him for the crowd. And He was told, ‘Your Mother and brethren are standing outside desiring to see You', but he said to them, ‘My Mother and brethren are those who hear the Word of God and do it.'"

Mother Mary shows us the way in our moments of sufferings - to become like Her beneath the Cross, co-saviours of Jesus, completing what is lacking in the suffering of Jesus through our sufferings. Thus she became ‘Blessed' and that is what Elizabeth told her, "Blessed are you because you believe!"(Luke 1:45) This word "Blessed woman" is to be taken in the background of what happened to Eve, the first mother. She was a cursed woman. She brought a curse to the whole of humankind because she disobeyed God's Word. And now here stands a Mother - a Mother that making our lives blessed by obeying God's Word totally.

This is our Mother - a Mother who teaches us how to be a disciple; how to hear God's Word; how to obey God's Word; how to wait upon God for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and how to accept our sufferings and become co-saviours with Jesus, our Saviour. 

Related Links on Mother Mary

Why pray the Rosary with Mary
http://christtotheworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/lets-pray-with-mary-rosary.html  

Spiritual profits of praying the Rosary

http://christtotheworld.blogspot.com/2009/08/indulgences-for-praying-rosary.html