Friday, November 24, 2017

Pope says 'the Poor are our Passport to Paradise': World Day of the Poor 19-11-17

(image courtesy: catholicnewsagency.com)


The Universal Catholic Church observed the 19th of November 2017 as the first 'World Day of the Poor'. Hereafter the 33rd Sunday in ordinary time is to be commemorated as 'International Day of the Poor'.

Speaking on the occasion, the Holy Father Pope Francis said that the poor people are our passport to get into Paradise. Hence they are a boon to all as they are instrumental to attain our eternal goal. While giving message he quoted the 1st letter of St John from the Bible chapter “Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth” (1 Jn 3:18). So to pave a shortcut way to the Paradise is very easy and it is at anyone's reach. Because more than half of the world's population are starving and about 80% of the global people are poor.

The Pope also said that it is not only the worldly bread that we must share with the poor but also the spiritual Word of God. The poor people represent the Lord Jesus Christ. Because HE left all His riches and was born as the poorest of the poor in this world. And the Good News of the Birth of the Saviour of the humanity was first made known to the poor people.
The Lord Jesus has categorically stated that it is very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Matt. 19:23). He has said that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3). Through His Holy Word, He is repeatedly issuing the warning message of possessing wealth and the dangers of having riches in the world. But many people including many chosen ones are seen amassing wealth which may be a dangerous hurdle for them to enter the heaven!

In the final judgement the Lord is going to reward only them those who rendered services to the needy with love and compassion. Like food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, accommodation for the homeless, company for the neglected, etc..

To get a passport to go to another country may be little difficult and expensive. But to get a passport to reach the Paradise in a shortcut route is very easy. One need to have only a liberal heart to share what one has with his needy neighbour. This act will take him to paradise as per the Word of Lord Jesus and His servant the Pope Francis!

Let us all strive hard to reach our ultimate goal, The Paradise!
God Bless you.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Miraculous St Anthony's Shrine Kottayam, Efficacious Novena Prayer

(image courtesy: holymassimages.blogspot.com)
There are many Christian Churches (mostly Catholic Shrines) in different parts of Kerala that are widely recognized by large number of people belonging to different religions, races, nationalities, and languages as the centers for occurrence of miracles especially that are impossible as per the human understanding. 

St Anthony's Shrine in Nagampadom of Kottayam in central Kerala of India is a sure spot for any devotee who approaches here with strong faith in the Almighty Lord God Jesus Christ and His Blessed Virgin Mother and His devoted servant St Anthony who lived in Padua of Portugal from 15-08-1195 to 13-06-1231 loving, pleasing, obeying and serving his Master with whole heart and strength. There are hundreds and thousands of people who share their testimonies of receiving  impossible matters or needs. Many of the miraculous favours received by the pilgrims from above are too good to believe for the medical science or the human imaginations.

All good things and blessing flow only from Lord Jesus Christ Who is True and only God and the fountain of all goodness. Some people may then ask, why should one approach His Holy Mother Mary or His Saints for intercession? Please be understood that it is the will of Lord Jesus to give glory to all His Faithful people who loved, served and glorified Him with their lives on this earth. He is very willing to glorify you and me too if we 'truly' love Him by keeping His Commands..!

St Anthony's Holy Shrine in Nagampadam is blessed to have the Holy Relic of St Anthony of Padua who is known as one of the greatest miracle-performer. Even though people visit this pilgrim center all days of the week, hundreds of thousands of devotees without any discrimination of caste, creed, religion or region throng this shrine every Tuesdays, being the special day of St Anthony. As it is located very closely just beside the Kottayam private bus stand at Nagambadom and near to the Railway station, it is very convenient for the devotees to visit from far off places also.

Holy Mass, Rosary, Benediction, Novena (services) timings:

Sundays:  

               4.15 pm Rosary of Divine Mercy, 
               4.30 pm Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mother, 
               5.00 pm Holy Mass 

Tuesdays:   

               5.15 am Rosary of Divine Mercy, 
               5.30 am Rosary of  Virgin Mother, 
               6.00 am Holy Mass, Blessing of the Holy Eucharist,
               8.00 am Holy Mass, Novena, Blessing of the Holy Eucharist,
              10.00 am Holy Mass, Novena, Blessing of the Holy Eucharist,
              12.00 noon Holy Mass, Novena, Blessing of the Holy Eucharist, 
               2.00 pm Holy Mass, Novena, Blessing of the Holy Eucharist, 
               4.15 pm Rosary of Divine Mercy, 
               4.30 pm Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mother, 
               5.00 pm Holy Mass, Eucharistic Procession, Eucharistic Adoration.

Fridays: 

               6.00 am to 5.00 pm Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.
               5.00 pm Holy Mass.

Saturdays: 

              4.15 pm Rosary of Divine Mercy, Holy Mass, Novena of Vimalagiri Matha

Note: Special Healing and intercessory miracle Prayers are held throughout all the spiritual services by the Spirit-filled Rector Rev Father Sebastian Poovathinkal...
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Efficacious and powerful Novena Prayer to St Anthony of Nagampadom, Kottayam, Kerala:
(to be prayed preferably holding a lighted candle in front of the statue of the saint for 9 consecutive Tuesdays. Most people get their prayers answered within 3 to 4 weeks prayers!)


Oh, merciful Saint Anthony, I, this humble devotee, offer you my soul, body and all I have for your complete protection. As an act of my full faith, I offer you this burning candle all these Tuesdays. Oh St Anthony, who never fails those who beseech you, console me, my family and my dear ones, from all sorrows and difficulties and protect us from all dangers, misfortunes and tribulations. Oh St Anthony I put all my trust in you and implore you for your endless mercy. I believe there is nothing impossible through your intercession. Oh St Anthony, good fiend of Child Jesus, be always our companion, intercessor and helper. I humbly plead you to get all the spiritual and earthly needs for me and my dear ones from the Almighty God, through your powerful intercession, specially our present and urgent needs (....mention your present/important needs here....). Please rescue me and my dear ones with compassion from all the sorrows, difficulties, troubles and tribulations that are surrounding us.

Pray the Lord Jesus' Prayer (3 times):

"Our Father in Heaven, Holy be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not in to temptations, But deliver us from all evil".

Prayer to the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus (3 times)

"Hail Mary, Full of Grace! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among  women, and Blessed is the fruit of your Womb Jesus;

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the time of our death, Amen".

Glory be to the Holy Trinity... (3 times)

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen".

St Anthony, pray for us (3 times)

[This Prayer was translated from Malayalam to English by a 3rd year B Tech student of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjrapally, Kottayam Dt]


Please watch the brief Biography of St Anthony here: 




*May God bless you abundantly through Mother Mary and St Anthony.
*Please share this for the benefit of others and honour of St Anthony.
*Please add your testimony below for the greater Glory of God.

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