Saturday, November 22, 2003 11:15 AM
TLIG Retreat in Bühl, Germany
International True Life in God Retreat in Hotel Sands, Bühl, Germany 5th – 11th of September, 2003
“He equipped these fortresses, stationing commanders in them, with supplies of food, oil and wine, and shields and spears in each of these towns, making them extremely strong?” (2 Chr. 11, 11)
Yes, that is exactly what had happened in those days!
Our food was the Word of the Lord so richly and impressive given by all the splendid speakers. They were like a bunch of flowers: in wonderful but different colours: charismatic and ?non charismatic’ (of course all of them had a charisma!); protestant and catholic and orthodox; priests and lay preacher, each one filled and guided by the Holy Spirit! So different they were so much varied und rich were their talks and their subjects as well: Sanctification and Holiness, Personal Prayer, Our Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit, Orthodox traditions, Unity, Discernment, Holy Eucharist and the Real Presence of the Lord, Virtues of the Saints, Healing, the primitive church and the renewal of the church. We attended a lot of beautiful orthodox services and could experience the richness of the Eastern Church: Artoklasia – Blessing of the Bread; Liturgy for the Deceased; Anointment with Blessed Oil and Celebration of Holy Water.
The oil was the overwhelming anointing by the Holy Spirit! From the very beginning we could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in this meeting. For us – the lay people – it was so encouraging and moving to see all these different ?apostles’ of the three churches around one altar together in prayer, in humility and in real love. On the last day after teaching and praying for the anointment by the Holy Spirit the ministers and priests gathered together laying their arms on their neighbours’ shoulders thus forming a circle. Then they bowed their heads together ?like the three bars! -, they prayed and then each one of them blessed each one of the participants. Yes, they were like brothers united by the Fire of Love – the Holy Spirit.
And He came upon us as generously as the heavenly Father has promised in the message of 15th/17th July 1996 with countless graces and physical and mental healings! Thanks to the Lord for ever and ever!
And the wine? Of course that was Our gracious Lord Himself coming to each soul in the Holy Eucharist. He even proofed it in this Eucharistic Miracle which was witnessed in the forum weeks ago; He took away the veil to let us see! He came to sit on His throne in our hearts, to take over His dwelling place in us. Each evening we had an hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament passing into a voluntary nocturnal adoration. A lot of people took this blessed opportunity to live in a wonderful sweet intimacy with the Lord.
Shields and spears: All the outstanding talks given in both English and German were recorded on CD and cassettes. Every participant could take them freely by giving a donation. As there were many talks the participants are now provided with a big supply of spiritual teachings and knowledge. It will take a lot of time to recognize all what the Lord has given to us?Now it is up to us to work further on with the bible, with the messages and the cassettes that the seeds, which were sown so richly will fall on rich soil to bring fruit in reality.
“For from the heavens I will pour out on you My gifts and My favours”
Thanks to the Generosity of Our Lord!
for the German team
Barbara Sierp-Karasch
Some personal testimonies:
“During the preparation whenever I lost my confidence in Him (and I must admit it was rather often?, sad to say) the Lord encouraged me gently, often and very patiently through His messages. One day He said in a message:”Are your worries more important than My Presence?”?
From that moment on I could stop this bad way of distrustful thinking and peace came into my heart?
We had a lot of unemployed people or students who wanted to attend but they couldn’t pay the whole price or even nothing. When I wondered how we will cover the costs. He gave me the multiplication of the bread in the scriptures. I understood: ?everything, what is passing through My hands I can multiply, and you: don’t keep anything back’ Right away I stood up, caught my money pocket and laid it in front of His cross: “All is Yours, now it is up to You?!” And in fact in the end we had enough and even a bit more and nobody had to be rejected?
It was on Tuesday: Fr. Eugene from the Orthodox Church has been asked to lead the
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and without any hesitating he said “Yes”. After he had
said the prayer for all nations, a prayer for unity (8th April 91), he asked Fr. John to
expose the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. Fr. Eugene knelt before Our Lord. When he
started praying the rosary, first in English then in Greek, I felt as if we were kneeling
in front of Jesus in the stable of Bethlehem and we were covered by His and His mother’s
tremendous love. I never have had this very deep and strong experience before. But I felt
this would not have happened if Fr. Eugene had not humbly agreed to do it? despite all
catholic strangeness?Unity comes through love and humility that is the truth!”
Barbara Sierp-Karasch
“Our time together was very blessed by the Lord and His Mother. The prayer times, the teachings and sharing of our faith with one another as followers of the Truth was truly inspiring. Although I was tired after all our conferences I went away so filled and eager open my heart and let the messages reach the very most inner part of my being. I was also so pleased with how the participants opened up to the work of the Holy Spirit. This will be very important for the own personal walk in sanctity, but also for the good of the entire Body of Christ for it is the Holy Spirit who is making us one. I want to commend all those who helped organize this special moment. Now that we have come down from Mount Tabor for we are asked by Jesus to “get to work evangelizing”, I hope that others may participate in future spiritual encounters. God bless all the members of the True Life in God.”
Fr. Daniel Gagnon, Kath., Mexico
“I learnt so much more about my faith. And I felt spiritually renewed and now ready to face whatever comes.”
Fred King, Spain
“It was an extraordinary spiritual and divine instructive retreat. For myself it opened many doors to grow to a deeper spiritual and holy life.”
Marlène Baeten, Belgium
“The retreat was really a great experience for me. Of course I was happy to have the opportunity to read the messages from TLIG about S. Mary and about the future of the Church?. it really gave the opportunity to go on working with collecting messages and trying to find out “the Mariology and Ecclesiology of TLIG”. I must confess: to begin with I was a little reserved to the very charismatic teaching of Thomas Paul and Fr. Daniel Gagnon, but after some time I realized it was true and very good and I really learnt a lot. It was great to meet so many devoted Brothers and Sisters and anticipating the unity that will come.”
Reverend Sverker Tronêt, Lutheran, Sweden
“It was really a new experience for me. The most things impressed me was the healing of the sick. Many were cured from their sickness and they gave also the testimony. I also personally felt the real presence of God. I felt many time as God is touching me with His own hands. I have received many graces and blessings from our Lord. This Retreat brought great change with in me. I thank my Lord for this wonderful experience we had in Baden-Baden. Now I am going to start a new Charismatic group in my parish, where we will experience the True Life in God.”
Fr. Waseem Walter, Kath. Parish priest, Pakistan
“Thank you once again for the wonderful and also fruitful Retreat! I am glad for the CDs so I am able to listen to the whole Retreat again and again! Also some friends of mine are interested, so we shall copy them for those who were not able to join us.”
Maria Vukic, Croatia
“My experience and memories of the T.L.I.G Germany meeting have left an indelible, inspirational and Spirit filled mark on my soul. The abundance of Grace to over-flowing that was showered upon all the T.L.I.G participants was evident visibly and invisibly by the fellowship of reconciliation between people of sixteen nations. The Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth penetrated the hearts of all of us, in particular the clergy who were often times moved to tears of joyous confession of faith and hope in the ultimate UNITY OF ALL! Blessings upon all the organizers of the ?German Black-Forest Experience’ that ignited a beacon of light deep in the woods of Schwarz-Wald! We anticipate another such event in the future be it God’s Will.”
Fr. Eugene Nicolau, Greek-Orth., USA
