Divine Experiences | Harison Xavier

Read this as if you are reading a fiction story. You do not have to believe this. 

 I am going to share about two experiences that I got which cannot be explained with any scientific evidence. These experience are so unreal I don't know if it is worth sharing. 

I grew up in a religiously strict family. My mom used to go to church everyday and she is very religious, she have the strongest belief in God our family, she never used to complain, she always depended on God for help for any troubles in life . As a custom she used to send me to retreat centers once or twice every year. It is was very important for her that I have a spiritual retreat and be close to God.  

I really didn't like it. I will have to go away from home and stay at a place for a week and pray continuously, it was boring.

 

First experience - Angel Valley

Source : Google Maps

I was 11 or 12 of age when visited Angel valley for first time. I liked this place very much away from the city, so silent and lot of trees around and great climate. I was here with mom and my brother. Lot of people came to attend the retreat, all of the age group of 40's or 50's and there were only a few kids of my age group, we all became friends on the first day. I started getting to like this place, away from home with new friends. As the program started the director of the retreat center put forward their rules. These rules are to be followed strictly. I'm just 11 do you thing I am listening to any of this? 

One of the most important and dreadful rule is to spend every minute  at the retreat center in silence. Whenever I have to talk something to my new friends I was told to be silent by the staff of the center. I can't do this, it is madness. Still I used to talk out loud and I was giving my mom a hard time. My energy level never kept me silent. The first two days was the toughest I talked, I walked, I was enjoying my time. 

Slowly the rules got into me. I started becoming one of them. A zombie who follow rules. The reason that we must spend time in silence and prayer is because God speaks to us when we are in silence. ( I am 11, I am supposed to be playing outside). The prayer meetings went on for hours. Long speeches, prayers, songs, loud praises.  It was a jail, I complained to my mom, I want to go home. I troubled my mom a lot, now I wish I could take it back.

On the fourth day of retreat, the priest gives a long speech on God and mother Mary. Since there were stories in this speech it was kind of interesting else I wouldn't have listened. He explained about people who have witnessed mother Mary in real life. He said mother Mary have a scent of Jasmine flower. Sounds interesting.  As he spoke his face changed, he took a deep breath and asked are you getting the scent of jasmine ? 

 There was a sudden an astonishment of people around everyone could experience the scent of Jasmine. Even I got the aroma of Jasmine. I didn't know what to do, I stood up and praised the God along with others. I felt so happy, I was able to experience something divine. All that time I was thinking I was a bad boy and God will never love me.

 

The scent of jasmine was felt for one to two minutes, we praised for a long time. That was the happiest day for everyone, we got to experience something special. 

Second Experience - Mother Home 

Source : Google Maps

The experience I got from mother home retreat center is much vivid, it was a time when I saw myself a failure and I was going through a very tough time. I came here with a very heavy heart. I was 23 at the time and I needed some peace of mind. The retreat program was okay to me as I got used to the rules and routine going to different retreats.  This time I was much motivated to pray and be close to God. 

I participated in all prayer meetings with at most devotion. I joined volunteer teams to help with different services at the center. I was very silent all day. I prayed, I was hoping to find strength to overcome all my hardship through prayer. My intentions was very clear, I knew what I wanted.

One evening right after our dinner, I thought to spend a bit more time praying because I have not got an answer yet, I hoped if I give my all so that I will be blessed and my sins will be forgiven. 

I walked to the garden which is near to the center, there is a tall 

statue of mother Mary. It is of at least 15 ft high from the ground. (shown in the picture below)

Picture source : Google Maps 

 

     It was about 9:30 pm, and everyone is getting ready for bed, the place was still lit up. I kneed down near to it and started praying, after a while when I looked up, I see that the lips of mother Mary was moving and I could see her blinking. As if she is praying with me. I couldn't understand what is going on. I though maybe it would be the effect of the lights, but there was no light pointed at her face. This phenomenon carried on I though to my self let me go closer and look. I stood up and went closer there was not movement. I went back to the spot I was kneeing and started praying again. There was a women who was praying near to this statue but I did dare ask her, I don't want to disturb her. 

After a while the lip movement started again and she started blinking. I must be dreaming, or a hallucination? I can't explain what I saw. There is no proof or evidence that this happened. I didn't tell anyone either as I have a doubt what if it was just feeling as I was praying hard all these days. ( a very good-nice-kind-sugar-boy like me can be easily be fooled by some feelings. I was so nice to everyone and so obedient mama's boy- and that was a big disaster) . 

Anyway I was happy I could see something that cannot be explained with words. I felt so thankful and happy inside. I left to my room in peace.