Humble yourselves to God and Cast your Anxieties on Him

1 Peter 5: 5 - 14
5	Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
6	Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.
7	Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
8	Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.
9	Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.
10	And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.
11	To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

James 4:10 

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Psalms 37:5 

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Jeremiah 1:8

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,� declares the Lord.

Why and when to pray?

As written in the scriptures.

Acts 6:4

4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.�

John 14:12-14

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Philippians 4:6

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Ephesians 6:18

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord�s people.

Romans 12:1-2

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God�s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God�this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God�s will is�his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Seven Hour of Prayers

"Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws." 

Psalm 119:164

6:00 am - First Hour

Psalm 5

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

1 Listen to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.

2 Hear my cry for help,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.

4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;

with you, evil people are not welcome.

5 The arrogant cannot stand

in your presence.

You hate all who do wrong;

6 you destroy those who tell lies.

The bloodthirsty and deceitful

you, Lord, detest.

7 But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence I bow down

toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies�

make your way straight before me.

9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;

with their tongues they tell lies.

10 Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,

for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

9:00 am - Third Hour

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,

On Earth, as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, Forever and ever. 

 Amen.

Noon Prayer - Sixth Hour

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name�s sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

3:00 pm - Ninth Hour 

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

2 For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

6:00 pm

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,

praise him with the strings and pipe,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

9:00 pm

Psalm 4

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and do not sin;

when you are on your beds,

search your hearts and be silent.

5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.

6 Many, Lord, are asking, �Who will bring us prosperity?�

Let the light of your face shine on us.

7 Fill my heart with joy

when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.

Midnight Prayer

Psalm 119:62

62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks

for your righteous laws.

Psalm 134

A song of ascents.

1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord

who minister by night in the house of the Lord.

2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

and praise the Lord.

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,

he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

Chaplet of the Precious Blood of Jesus

Chaplet 

of the 

Precious Blood of Jesus

* Each bead of the Precious Blood Chaplet is, as it were, a chalice filled with the Divine Blood of Jesus, uplifted by Our Lady to the Eternal Father, imploring every grace necessary for your soul and body. The seven mysteries in which we meditate on the seven principal blood-sheddings of of Jesus. The beads number thirty three in honor of the thirty three years the Precious Blood flowed in the veins of Jesus before it was all poured out on the Cross for our salvation. To pray this chaplet, recite the Our Father on each of the thirty-three beads, completing each of the seven groups with the Glory Be, as thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity for this great gift of the Precious Blood.

Oh Precious Blood of Jesus, infinite price of sinful man's redemption, both drink and laver of our souls, Thou who dost plead continually the cause of man before the throne of infinite mercy; from the depths of my heart, I adore Thee, and so far as I am able, I would requite Thee for the insults and outrages which Thou dost continually receive from human beings, and especially from those who rashly dare to blaspheme Thee. Who would not bless this Blood of infinite value? Who doth not feel within himself the fire and love of Jesus who shed it all for us? What would be my fate, had I not been redeemed by this divine Blood? Who hath drawn it from the veins of my Savior, even to the last drop? Ah, this surely was the work of love. O infinite love, grant that every heart and every tongue may be enabled to praise Thee, magnify Thee and give Thee thanks now and for evermore. Amen.

V. O God, come to my assistance!

R. Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Glory be to the Father...

R. As it was in the beginning...

1st Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood in the Circumcision

Let us ask for chastity of soul and body. 

Say the Our Father five times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

2nd Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood whilst praying in the Garden of Olives

Let us ask for the spirit of prayer. 

Say the Our Father five times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

3rd Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood in the scourging

Let us ask for the grace of mortification. 

Say the Our Father five times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

4th Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood in the crowning with thorns 

Let us ask for contempt of worldly honors. 

Say the Our Father five times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

5th Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood while carrying His cross

Let us ask for patience. 

Say the Our Father five times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

6th Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood in the crucifixion

Let us ask for contrition for our sins. 

Say the Our Father five times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

7th Mystery

Jesus shed His Blood and water when His side was pierced

Let us ask for the grace of perseverance. 

Say the Our Father three times then say: 

"Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me." 

Say one Glory Be, and complete the mystery by reciting: 

"We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou has redeemed by Thy Precious Blood."

Final prayer

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in satisfaction for my sins, for the needs of Holy Church and for the relief of the souls in purgatory.

Mercy triumphs over judgment

"Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13)

God of mercy and compassion, how blessed we are to be redeemed by your love. We failed you by our sinfulness and we failed you all the more by refusing to see your mercy that was ever reaching out to receive us. Today O God, we place into your hands, our lives, our failures and our endeavours to be right before you. Cover us in your love. Hold us close to your heart and bind our wounds of unfaithfulness and loneliness. As your love flows into our heart we commit ourselves to live this mercy, to bless those who broke and to bow down before those who trample us. For we know O God then shall your mission of defeating evil and saving this world shall be accomplished. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen.

by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran VC

Divine Retreat Centre

Muringoor