French Retreat with International Participants
September 24th – October 1st, 2022
The French TLIG Association organized a retreat that took place from the 24th of September to the 1st of October 2022 on the Island of Rhodes with 120 participants from all over the world (21 countries).
The retreat’s purpose was to reunite TLIG friends, after months of world-wide lockdowns, confinements, and border closures on a global scale. More specifically, the retreat had three main objectives : The first objective was for True Life in God readers to meet each other again, to see and talk to each other around a table and a smile, to start a new dynamic on projects that previously had to suffer slowdowns, and finally, to enable the participants to find a new inner, spiritual serenity and relaxation.
Theme of the Retreat
The theme of the retreat was : « How to Spread Prophetic Messages in Apocalyptic Times ».
The theme was imparted through presentations from several of the thirteen priests who attended the retreat, coming from various countries : USA, Italy, Togo, Congo, Romania, Sweden, France, Burkina Faso, and Czech Republic.
Among them, we were blessed to have with us Mgr. Athanasios, Metropolitan of the Coptic Orthodox Church of France.
The program was divided in three parts :
– The Workshops
– Excursions in Rhodes
– Spiritual enlightenment through group sessions, prayers and relaxation
Saturday Arrival and Vassula’s Welcome Speech
On Saturday, September 24th, participants were arriving to the retreat’s hotel from Rhodes airport throughout the day. Vassula Ryden and Nicolas Buchet (the host) gave a welcome speech in the evening.
Nicolas Buchet, representing the French TLIG National Association, thanked every participant who made the effort to come, especially those from various countries around the world. To facilitate, headsets and English translations were available for participants. Neil Labbé de Montais, the other host, explained the concept of the program and the sessions that would be taking place during the retreat. Finally, Vassula concluded the welcoming session, with a speech that in substance contained the following:
Vassula’s welcome speech
She thanked everyone for the efforts in spreading this « divine work » and also to the generous donors. She reminded us that Jesus wants « us humble of heart, effaced and willing. No one should work with a spirit of competition or conceit… ». She added also that « The Holy Spirit urges us to be steady in our work (…). To know that we have been called by God Himself, chosen from among so many others to share in this Work of Mercy that comes from the reserves of Heaven, is such a blessing that we should normally praise Him ceaselessly all day long. To have been undeservedly called to serve God is an immense blessing. » Vassula concluded her speech with the following reminder « The uniting of Christ’s Mystical Body “will be achieved by martyrdom”, nothing less. These are His own Words. But let us remember that Christ is our life, and with this we are encouraged. Without Him we are dead, even if we believe we are alive. So, let us look for those things that are above, where our Lord is.
Sooner than we think, the signal given by the voice of the Archangel, and the trumpet of God will be heard, and it will be the sign that the Lord Himself will come down from heaven…as He Himself said: « My return is imminent and sooner than you think… »
Vassula’s complete welcome speech can be found here on the True Life in God website
Vasssula’s speech in French is located on the French National Association Website
Sunday, September 25th, Consecrating the Day to the Lord
The entire day was consecrated to the Lord with Holy Mass, prayers – a complete Rosary -, adoration- with songs performed by Nathalie Patard, and a thematic meditation from Fr. Jean-Claude Doh, with a reading of a True Life in God prophetic message.
 Nicola, welcome the participants |
 Tlig International Choir |
The True Life in God prophetic message from March 13, 2020 was read by Vassula. Fr. Doh, spoke about, « A Synoptic Look at Prophetism ». This speech encompassed an introduction to what is prophetism, prophets in the Bible and in our time, and prophetic events that deserve our attention. It was important to think about these concepts at the beginning of our retreat. Fr Doh concluded his ‘meditation speech’ with the following : « The inspirations of True Life in God are not sad and catastrophic prophecies. God gives them to us in these times of Mercy to form us. They are a call from the Sublime Love of God. God does not want to allow us to offend His Holy Name forever. That is why He comes in His Mercy to give us many warnings. Moreover, Jesus gives us an inalienable criterion of discernment : ‘By their fruits you will know them. Shall we gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every good tree bears good fruit, and the tree that rots bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotting tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruit you will know them.’ (Mt 7 :16-20). Only through the many testimonies of the positive fruits from the lives of those who have read the True Life in God Messages are we able to recognize the gifts that the Lord gives us.
The complete meditation speech can be found in French and English on the French TLIG National Association website at : https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Dimanche -> Fr Doh)
Monday, September 26th, A Day for Discovering and Relaxing
The day’s excursions encompassed a visit to Lindos, the Church of St Mary, the Church of Tsambika, and the sandy beach of Tsambika in the afternoon. After our evening Mass, a True Life in God prophetic message Vassula read – ATLIG Message from April 10th 2019.
Lindos
Subsequently, Vassula presented a thematic speech concerning prophecies. She first pointed out that « many prophecies have been accomplished and just as many still have not. All the TLIG messages are in the category of prophecies. »
She added : « Some people sometimes ask me, “What does Jesus say these days?” I feel like telling them, “Do you know what Jesus has been saying these past 37 years?”.
The participants listening Vassula’s speech
Vassula reminds us that God « As a loving Father, warns us, warns the world to change heart and return to Him ; otherwise only disasters will befall on us. » Moreover, we need to carry on God’s work ; reading the True Life in God Messages is one essential work : « Do not allow your heart,” says the Lord, become like a cracked cistern. Jesus states in the TLIG Messages : « you have become like leaking cisterns hold no water ; many have abandoned me, and the heaven stands against this rebellion ; I had filled your heart at birth with the fountain of living water; I had filled your heart with My Presence; now, like a cracked cistern, you have run dry; you are hollow;” (True Life in God Messages, May 31, 2003)
But,Vassula continued, let us be alert to God’s call and learn through His words of knowledge, so that we can perfume the world with His sweet odor, transforming the deserts into fields of knowledge. » Vassula invited participants to this mission saying : « I invite you today to learn and follow in the footsteps of the ancient prophets ; to open a wide path in your mind and in your heart to see how they maintained the perfect faithfulness which they had towards God when He called to reveal His purposes to them: Let us learn from them and meditate on how they passed through these arid lands, these spiritual deserts. » Vassula concluded « If all the religions of the world responded to God’s call for reconciliation, all men and women would already recognize each other as brothers and sisters, descending from a single Source. And if everyone realized that we are living in the End of Times, of which God is renewing everything in full power, we would never stop praising God night and day and our hearts would become a blazing fire of zeal! » Vassula’s complete allocution can be found here : https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Lundi -> Thématique – VASSULA) in French and English.
Tuesday, September 27th, the Core of the Retreat : The Workshops
Tuesday was an essential day, a main core in the retreat. After Holy Mass and confessions in the morning, three main workshops took place in the afternoon with participants dispatched according to their feelings and their desire to know and practice more on specific subjects. The first workshop was dedicated to newcomers and was conducted by Yolla Bechara who is an official speaker for True Life in God in the French Association. The idea of this workshop was to provide care and information for those who were newcomers to TLIG, or who were participating in a TLIG retreat for the first time. The idea behind this workshop was to strengthen the experience for those discovering the True Life in God Messages for the first time through testimonies and filial love. This workshop was a huge success and contained a third of the overall participants.
A second workshop was dedicated to the revival of prayer groups in France, and the discovery of the « Brazilian example » ; meaning, a presentation of the description on how the TLIG Brazilian National Association manages and succeeds in continually growing its prayer groups. This workshop was given by Paul Henriques and Anne-Marie Gouvernet who spent a lot of time communicating with the Brazilians, and obtaining videos from them that explain their ‘secret’ along with their evangelizing tools. These videos were made in three parts by TLIG Brazilian members who exerted tremendous effort towards making and sharing the videos, along with the printed materials needed for this workshop. The workshop was a huge success, and the biggest in terms of participants. All participants interacted with Paul and Anne-Marie, bringing them ideas from their respective countries. The ‘Brazilian’ videos are available on the Brazilian Youtube Channel. Links can be found here : https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Ateliers (Workshops) – Prayer Groups Revival).
A third workshop, was presented by Magda Skalova, who is the official TLIG Video Working Group Coordinator. Magda explained the new guidelines of the TLIG Video Working Groups, and interactively gave « how-to » examples of TLIG video-making. Alongside conducting this workshop, Magda was also videotaping the retreat. These videos shall become available soon.
Tuesday evening ended with meditations from Fr Vincent, and a reading of a True Life in God prophetic message from February 13th 2016.
Fr Vincent’s meditation speech was entitled : « Justice Is Divine Mercy ». He emphasized that « the theme of justice is eminently biblical. The Book of Revelation, one of the books of the Bible, more than any other book of the New Testament, emphasizes the « judgment » of God. It is a book that could give us the impression that God and His justice, in wanting to punish His enemies, contradicts the merciful teaching of Jesus… (see Rev 6 :9-10) »
Fr V. explained that « Theologians will speak of natural law as a law that must be obeyed. Be careful ; the True Life in God Messages specify that this duty must be above all, a duty done with love, or, as the Blessed Virgin says:
“accomplish all your other duties too with love, for love, for acts of love are what counts most for Him, no matter how little and insignificant they appear to you, they are of great value in His eyes and thus become great ;” (True Life in God Messages, February 19, 1987) « With love, for love »… an expression that appears in about thirty True Life in God Messages. « To give or give back to each one what is due to him » Fr V. concluded his meditation with a request : « Let us therefore ask the Lord that during this retreat, a hunger and thirst for Justice may increase in us, desiring to increase our conversion, desiring to participate in His salvific plan through His work of Mercy. Let us not hesitate to ask Him for a new resurrection of hearts: ”I have raised you to appease the Father’s Justice ; I have raised you to embellish My Church […] you are to relent the Father’s Justice by adoring Me, by praying, by penance, sacrifice, fasting and by reducing your size ; you have no merits but your humble plea can reach the Father” (March 4, 1992). » The complete meditation speech can be found in French and English at: https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Mardi-> Thematique – Fr. V.) )
Wednesday, September 28th, Excursion to Rhodes
Wednesday was an excursion day to Rhodes and the Monastery of Mount Filermos. After participants returned from the excursion, Holy Mass was provided along with a reading of the True Life in God prophetic message from May 15th 1990. This was followed by the meditations of Abba Athanasios.
Visiting religious sites
Mgr. Athanasios invited disciples to « arm themselves with the ardent desire to bring the most rebellious minds to the faith of the Gospel. » He noted that fear is now growing, but we shouldn’t be afraid. He asked :« …are we among the faint-hearted who believe and dare not confess their faith? Are we still among those who fear the opinions of men more than the judgments of God? ». He pointed to truth over fear. « Why should we fear the truth from the lips of the Son of God? We need it, and in all its fullness, so that it may make us happy. Truth and life are only to be found in the lessons of charity, piety, patience, humility and self-denial which Jesus has given us. » We are reminded of the ‘Apocalypse’ « A « revelation » that is by no means terrifying ; the Apocalypse is essentially the book of Hope, the true Theological hope that has God as its object, the hope that awaits with love the visible glorification of Our Lord Jesus Christ. » Mgr. Athanasios concluded with this phrase : « We must learn to struggle victoriously against sin and follow Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. » Mgr. Athanasios’s allocution is available here : https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Mercredi -> Thématique – Mgr ATHANASIOS) in French and English.
After his speech, Mgr. Athanasios celebrated a Vesper Service late night with beautiful songs performed by a group of singers. All participants were present.
Thursday, A Day of Sharing
Thursday was a day of sharing, a day of joy with the Greek TLIG members in Rhodes. After Holy Mass and a reading from True Life in God : the prophetic message from – February 3rd 2003 – we spent the morning engaged in « Healing prayer and a Healing Service ». After a buffet lunch, all participants engaged themselve in a subsequent time of prayer. After that, Fr I. provided meditations concerning « Divine Nuptials in the True Life in God Messages ». Fr I explained that « The idea that runs all through Scriptures is “Nuptials.” God’s Covenant with mankind is based on nuptials. There are the nuptials of man and woman in the Garden of Eden ; there are nuptials of divinity and humanity in the womb of the Blessed Mother ; there are nuptials of Israel and God in the Old Testament » He concluded with this remark : « God wishes to espouse us, the members of his body in a manner that St. Paul describes, i.e., as a bride “without spot or wrinkle” so that we as a whole may appear “as a bride adorned for her husband” or as the “spouse of the Lamb” (Eph. 5 :27 ; Rev. 21 :2, 9 ; 22:17). »
After hearing and contemplating on Father I’s words, we all enthused ourselves in a raffle with beautiful prizes : icons blessed by Jesus, rosaries blessed by the pope, and three magnificent reproduction paintings of Jesus in the Garden, drawn by Vassula. The raffle was very funny, and we could see God’s hand in attributing the prizes. It was definitely a happy and joyful moment spent with the Greeks. Thursday ended with adoration and confessions.
Friday, A Day of Excursion to Panormitis
The last excursion day was spent in Panormitis, with free time in Rhodes in the afternoon. Upon our return to the hotel, we attended Holy Mass and listened to the reading of the TLIG prophetic message from December 13th 1993.
Leaving Rhodes for the monastery of Archangel Michael of Panormitis
On the way to St. Michael Monastery, by boat
The icon of St. Michael the Archangel in Panormitis Monastery
Afterwards, Fr. Vianney spoke on the following subject : « Healing, Proclamation of the Gospel and the End of Times in the « True Life in God Messages ».
Fr. Vianney started his meditation with an interesting question : « « When God builds a church, the devil builds a chapel next door. » These words from Martin Luther can help us ask ourselves some questions : Can we spread the messages of True Life in God while ignoring the presence of the devil? » Fr. Vianney stated that the TLIG Messages are for the healing and liberation of God’s children « If the purpose of Jesus’ miracles is human salvation, the purpose of the True Life in God Messages is an invitation to live in love and unity in Jesus Christ. Today, the Lord invites us to fight against all forms of darkness in a world immersed in sin. » Fr. Vianney further remarked : « Healing and deliverance are also central to the True Life in God Messages. In the message of November 13, 2006, the Lord inspires Vassula to pray a prayer of repentance, healing and deliverance. This one should be recited with a sincere heart. » He concluded by exclaiming the need for faith in Jesus Christ : « In the end, man can fight against Satan’s malice by fighting against his unbelief ; that is, by developing an unshakeable faith in God. Jesus invites Vassula to believe: « Faith, daughter, tell Me that you have put your faith in Me, in all its fullness and I will tell you that your soul shall be rewarded; have faith and exalt Me by offering it to Me ; » (True Life in God Messges, February 4, 1991) May the Virgin intercede for the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. » Fr. Vianney’s complete meditation speech can be downloaded here: https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Vendredi -> Thématique – Fr VIANNEY)
Concluding and Closing Speeches of the Retreat
Vassula thanked all participants, stating that this retreat was a kick-off for more upcoming retreats. She concluded with the following speech inviting participants to « never lose courage in evangelizing the Messages. Yes, it is not easy in a rationalized world and there are those who will always be scandalised when you tell them that God is alive and still speaks to us today through a human being. ». She advised everybody to «let our doctrinal dialogues begin with the Holy Spirit. Let Him be the one who leads us by the sleeve to show us in our hearts that the essence of doctrine must be based on love and humility which is the key to Unity. » She concluded her speech with the following : « Renew yourselves in God, in His Love, and learn to love one another: be good and holy! Do not lie to yourselves, little children, by following illusory desires: « LOVE, is to live in the Truth; »(True Life in God Messages, December 6, 1993)
The whole allocution is available here : https://tlig.fr/rhodes2022/ (Discours de clôture (Closing speech) – VASSULA) in French and English.
Here is a link to the entire retreat album of photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAzsoh
Paris, 1er janvier, 2023
Nicolas BUCHET and Jean-Louis DELEBECQ
