guidlines for spritual retreat?

Meditation, Contemplation, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament aer very good exercises at any time. Considering the Text of your Music can be a Meditation and being "immersed" in your Music as a means of uniting with God can be a form of Contemplation

You really need to check out "The Depth Factor" meditation program, it's the best, it's been voted as the number 1 meditation program made so far. Here is their official web-site: http://www.thedepthfactor.net/

It combines binaural beats and ancient meditation techniques to deliver the best meditation experience. This is perfect course for a beginner or an intermediate. Good luck!

Dear Member of the Roman Catholic Church,

The Roman Catholic Church says it never changes; yet, it invents new doctrines which are contrary to the Bible, and has practiced rites and ceremonies taken bodily from paganism. Some scholar has found that 75% of the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Church are of pagan origin.

The Sign of the Cross, the use of wax candles, incense and holy water, praying to angels and deceased saints, the false doctrine of purgatory (established by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century) and praying for the dead are all rooted in paganism and were adopted into the R.C. Church centuries after the death of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly tells us that souls who have passed on go either to eternal paradise or to eternal torment (Matthew 25:46), so praying for the dead does not help them.

The Papacy is of pagan origin and the title of “pope” which means “father” is given to the bishop of Rome who is the leader of the worldwide R.C. Church. In Matthew 23:9, the Lord Jesus Christ warns that giving the title of “father” to human spiritual teachers is a sin because we are to look only to our Heavenly Father for ultimate truth and power.

Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any such notion. (Read Luke 22:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1st Corinthians 3:11). There is no mention in Scripture or history that Peter ever was in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that "there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome."

The kissing of the Pope's feet was adopted in the 8th century. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of God forbids such practices. (Read Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10; 22:9).

Canonization of dead saints was first established by Pope John XV in 993. Every believer and follower of Christ is called saint in the Bible. (Read Romans 1:7; 1st Colossians 1:2).

In the 11th century, Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII was the first pope in centuries to rigorously enforce the Roman Church’s ancient policy of celibacy of the priesthood. Jesus imposed no such rule, nor did any of the apostles. On the contrary, St. Peter was a married man, and St. Paul says that bishops were to have wife and children. (Read 1st Timothy 3:2, 5, and 12; Matthew 8:14-15).

In the 13th century, the adoration of the wafer (Host) was decreed by Pope Honorius. So the Roman Church worships a God made by human hands. This is plain idolatry and absolutely contrary to the spirit of the Gospel. (Read John 4:24).

A few years later, the Bible was forbidden to laymen and placed in the Index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia. Jesus commanded that the Scriptures should be read by all. (Read John 5:39; 1st Timothy 3:15-17).

In the 15th century the Roman Catholic Church forbade also the cup to the laity. The Bible commands us to celebrate the Lord's Supper with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. (Read Matthew 26:27; 1st Corinthians 11:26-29).

The Creed of Pope Pius IV was imposed as the official creed 1560 years after Christ and the apostles. True Christians retain the Holy Scriptures as their creed – which is 1500 years older than the creed of Roman Catholics. (Read Galatians 1:8).

In the year 1870 after Christ, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of PAPAL INFALLIBILITY. This is a blasphemy and the sign of the apostasy and of the Antichrist predicted by St. Paul. (Read 2nd Thessalonians 2:2-12; Revelation 17:1-9; 13:5-8, 18). Many Bible scholars see the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), 666 in the Roman letters of the Pope's title: "VICARIVS FILII DEI."

In the 19th century, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX. The Bible states that all men, with the sole exception of Christ, are sinners. Mary herself had need of a Savior. (Read Romans 3:23; 5:12; Psalm 51:5; Luke 1:30, 46, 47).

In the year 1950 Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Centuries ago, titles used for Isis (the pagan deity of darkness, witchcraft and chaos) by her devotees such as “Mother of God”, “Queen of Heaven” and “Ocean Star” were given to Mary, and Isis and Horus temples were converted to Mary and Jesus temples.

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?” (Jeremiah 7:18-19).

The Queen of Heaven is mentioned four times in Jeremiah 44 and this chapter tells us that God’s wrath and punishment fell on the Israelites because they were worshipping the Queen of Heaven as well as other gods.

“Queen of Heaven”, “Ocean Star”, “Mother of God” and “Star of the Sea” are titles given to the demon Isis by her devotees. “Mediatrix of All Graces”, “Queen of Peace” and “Queen of the Rosary” are also false titles for Mary and if you call her by these titles you will upset her and provoke God.

As for the entity who appeared to the visionaries in Medjugorje and claimed to be a protector and mediator between persons and God, and requested Feast Days to be held in her honour and the daily chanting of the Rosary, it could have never been Mary the humble and blessed servant of God who birthed our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us that evil spirits can appear as benevolent beings.

The Rosary was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in the year 1090. This has been copied from Hindus and Mohammedans. The counting of prayers is a pagan practice and is expressly condemned by Christ (Matthew 6:5-13). Also, Mary is not the mediator between people and God. The Lord Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity is the true mediator between human beings and God.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5).

The following verses show that the Lord Jesus Christ does the will of God and not the will of Mary.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:46-50).

In the above verses we see that although Mary wanted to see Jesus, He didn't go to her right away but continued preaching. It is plain to see that the Lord Jesus Christ does the will of God and not the will of Mary. Also, Lord Jesus who is the second person of the Godhead (the Holy Trinity) points out that He has several mothers, sisters and brothers. Lord Jesus is related to all those who do the will of God. So, are you part of God’s family or are you incurring God’s wrath through false beliefs and sinful practices?

HERESIES are those doctrines and practices which are contrary to the Bible. They are also called "human traditions" or "doctrines of men". Both Peter and Paul predicted and warned that in the later times "false teachers" would rise within the Church and bring in "damnable heresies" and "doctrines of devils". (Read 2nd Peter 2:1-3, and 1st Timothy 3:2-5). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, for they transgressed the commandments of God by keeping their traditions. “in vain,” He said, "they worship me by keeping for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9).

BRETHREN! The Word of God commands us to get out of Babylon, saying: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4). All true Christians will remain faithful to the religion of Christ as taught in the Bible, and heed the warning of the Apostle Paul, who said: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8).

With Love,

Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ