Wash Yourselves Clean!

Wash yourselves clean!

Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.

Make justice your aim; redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.


Come now, let us set things right,
says the Lord:

Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool. Isaiah 1:16-18

Thank you Jesus for forgiving us our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation...

Posted by Kathy ~TOG

The Power of the Cross

The Transforming Power of the Cross
The Sunday Homily Written by Father James Farfaglia

"A man and a woman had a little daughter that they adored. Audrey was their only child. They lived their whole lives for their little child. When she became chronically ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best doctors, the parents became totally discouraged and inconsolable."

"Soon Audrey did not survive the illness and the parents were completely distressed. They became bitter recluses, shutting themselves off from their family and friends."

"But, one night the woman had a dream. She dreamt that she was in heaven. During her dream, she saw a long procession of little children processing like little angels before the throne of God. Every child was dressed in a dazzling white robe and they each held a lit candle. However, when the woman saw her Audrey, she noticed that her candle was not lit. The mother ran up to Audrey, embraced her in her arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked her how it was that her candle was the only one that was not lit. Audrey said, “Mother, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out”. Just at that moment the woman woke from her dream."

"The lesson was clear, and its effects were immediate."

"She immediately told the dream to her husband. They decided to embrace their loss with Christian hope, and that they would no longer extinguish Audrey’s little candle with their useless tears."

"This Sunday's liturgy provides motivation and inspiration for us to continue our Lenten program. It is not easy to die to self."

"However, the gospel account of the transfiguration of Jesus tells us that our cross will always lead to the transformation of our lives. "

"There are three transfigurations or transformations that take place in our journey towards eternity.

• The first change begins at Baptism. The immersion into the baptismal waters symbolizes death and rebirth. The sacrament of Baptism washes away original sin and we are re-created. We are transformed into new creatures. The old self dies, and the new person in Christ Jesus is born.Our new life, which begins at Baptism, is carried out through our daily living of the Gospel. This of course, demands a continual dying to self. Through self-denial, the image of Christ is made visible in our lives. The more we die to self, the more sanctifying grace can transform our lives. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it". (Matthew 10: 39)
• The second transformation takes place by our victory over the trials and tribulations of life. Every challenge, every difficulty, every moment of suffering, is an opportunity to grow. Transformation only takes place through suffering.A young friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer when he was nineteen years old. He died two years latter. Nevertheless, his acceptance of this challenge and the manner in which he embraced his daily suffering not only transformed his life, but it transformed the lives of those who were closest to him.One day after he returned from a long week of treatments at the hospital, his dad suggested that before returning home, they stop by their parish and pray the Stations of the Cross together. The father told his son that contemplating how much Jesus had suffered for them would be important, particularly in their present trial. Both father and son had understood the transforming power of the Cross of Jesus.The third transformation takes place at death. The suffering that the final moment brings upon us makes way for an amazing transformation. Eternal life in heaven, perhaps after a period of further transformation in purgatory, is granted to those who have been found worthy.
• The last transformation or transfiguration is completed at the Second Coming when our body is reunited with our soul. What awaits us is beyond anything that we can imagine. "Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, 'new heavens and a new earth'. It will be the definitive realization of God's plan to bring under a single head all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth. The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, so that the world itself, restored to its original state, facing no further obstacles, should be at the service of the just, sharing their glorification in the risen Jesus Christ". (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1043, 1047)"

"When we consider the eschatological teachings of the Catholic Church, we can understand why the Easter liturgy cries out "O felix culpa". "O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer" (Exsúlet – The Easter Proclamation from the Easter Vigil Liturgy) The transfiguration of the Lord reminds us of the outcome of the cross."

"Suffering brings about transformation when we carry the cross like true disciples of Jesus.Each of us has a cross to carry."

"We must all identify our crosses and carry them with patience, joy and love. Why complain about something which is our means to gain eternal life?"

"As Thomas a' Kempis reminds us, "The cross, therefore, is always ready; it awaits you everywhere. No matter where you may go, you cannot escape it, for wherever you go you take yourself with you and shall always find yourself. Turn where you will --above, below, without, or within -- you will find a cross in everything, and everywhere you must have patience if you would have peace within and merit an eternal crown. If you carry the cross willingly, it will carry and lead you to the desired goal where indeed there shall be no more suffering, but here there shall be. If you carry it unwillingly, you create a burden for yourself and increase the load, though still you have to bear it. If you cast away one cross, you will find another and perhaps a heavier one" (The Imitation of Christ, Book II, chapter 12)."

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them” (Mark 9: 2-3).

"The transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor tells us that the glory of the resurrection will only take place through the sufferings of Good Friday."

"The transfiguration of Jesus teaches us that the experience of the cross is necessary in order for Easter to take place."

"However, too many of our contemporaries are like those who stood at the foot of the Cross and cried out to Jesus that he should come down from the Cross. Many would like to have a Christianity without self-denial, discipline, and renunciation. However, Christianity without the Cross is not Christianity at all."

"What is your cross?"

"Maybe you have many crosses to carry. How do you carry your cross? Do you complain? Are you discouraged? Do you run away from the cross?"

"There is only one way to carry your cross. Carry your cross with generosity. Carry your cross with patience, love, and joy. See in your cross your sanctification, your eternal salvation."

"Understand that with your cross, united to the cross of Jesus, you have a continual opportunity to save souls and make reparation for so many sins."

Written by Fr. James Farfaglia

Posted by Kathy ~TOG (Thank you Fr. James!)

Destroying Sin

Destroying Sin
(Taken from Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.)

"Jesus, our Head, invites us, His members, to unite with Him in His work of destroying sin: to destroy it in ourselves down to the very roots, that is, in our evil inclinations, and to destroy it likewise in His other members by allowing Him to work in us."

"This is the law of solidarity, for the misfortune of one is the misfortune of the others; each sin is a burden on the whole world and disturbs the equilibrium of God's plan."

"Therefore, every Christian, and more especially, every soul consecrated to God, must throw himself ardently into the battle against sin and fight it with the proper weapons: penance, expiatory prayer, and most of all...love."

"When the love of charity is perfect, it destroys sin more efficaciously than the fire of purgatory."

"In this we see why the saints were able to convert so many souls. God used the fire of their charity to do away with sin in sinners."

Divine Intimacy pg. 295

Posted by Kathy ~ TOG

Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone

The Sunday Homily

By Father James Farfaglia

Satan’s greatest triumph is that he has caused many people to no longer believe that he really exists. Jesus tells us who he is when he said: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10: 18).

My dear friends, Satan is real and his actions in the world are very real. The Second Vatican Council made this point very clear when it said, “The whole of man’s history has been the story of our combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity” (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, 37.2).

As the holy season of Lent begins, this Sunday’s liturgy reminds us that we are engaged in a daily and dramatic battle between Christ and Satan, between good and evil. What is at stake in this battle is our eternal salvation. Satan will do all that he can do separate us from Christ. Jesus described him as the father of lies. “He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8: 14).

Today’s gospel relates that in the desert, Satan tempted Jesus three times. Satan launched three attacks against our Lord. Now that we are beginning our Lenten practices, we might consider taking a closer look at the nature of the first temptation.

What human failing does it address?

And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread’. But he answered, ‘It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4: 3-4).

We all know that one of the toughest problems that we must face as a nation is materialism. It is difficult to live as true disciples of Jesus in a materialistic society. Every day we are bombarded with materialism. Our market driven society urges us to possess more and more things. Given this all- pervasive temptation we must always remember that “man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. Let’s take a practical look at how we can fight against the temptation of materialism.

How can we use the things of this world correctly and keep our focus on the things of eternity?

The first practical step is to live within our means. Most people probably receive three or four invitations a week to sign up for another credit card. This is the trap. Advertisements from credit card companies give us the impression that we can spend without any financial consequences at all. We need to discipline ourselves by living debt free. Excessive use of credit cards only foments greed and irresponsibility. One credit card for emergencies or a frequent flyer miles program is enough.

The second practical step we must take to avoid materialism is to understand that work is only a means to provide what is necessary for our families and ourselves. Many feel that their work is the most important aspect of their lives. When people put too much emphasis on their career, family life suffers and marriages flounder.

In conversations with my friends from Spain or Mexico, inevitably we wind up discussing the differences between our respective countries and cultures. My friends have often told me that the difference between their countries and ours is that in their countries they work in order to live while here we live only to work. Simple words, but they express a lot of truth.

The third practical step we must take is to work at being content with what we have. Is new furniture really necessary? Is it necessary to move into a nicer neighborhood? Is it necessary to build a new house? Is it really necessary to re-decorate, re-do the kitchen once more, or install new carpeting or tile? When does it stop? Why do we hunger for novelty? Why do we rationalize that we are improving the quality of family life? Why are we spending all that money when we already have nice homes with everything that is necessary for a comfortable life? Spending money, particularly spending money painlessly, using the magic of plastic, the credit or debit card can easily become an addictive behavior. Buying, spending, possessing all provide that rush of adrenaline, the feeling of power. We need to be very cautious about all of this. Satan will do everything that he can do to confuse and distract us.

Materialism pulls us away from God and the spiritual care of our souls.

The constant temptation to buy and possess more and more things pulls us away from the essential things of life. If we were to care for our souls the way we care for our material things, many of us would soon be saints.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.

Written by Fr. James Farfaglia

Posted by Kathy ~ TOG

Getting Ready for Lent

The Sunday Homily
By Fr. James Farfaglia

Getting Ready for Lent

Every car or truck carries in the glove compartment a maintenance schedule. Having your oil changed, your tires rotated and balanced, and the rest of the engine checked keeps your vehicle in excellent shape.

This Wednesday, we begin one of the most practical times of the Catholic liturgical year.

Lent provides us an opportunity to open our personal maintenance schedule and take a close look at ourselves as we journey towards eternal life.

The spiritual life is not an easy endeavor because of our wounded human nature. True, Baptism washes away original sin, but we do not have complete control over ourselves. St. Paul brilliantly describes this continual battle. He portrays this conflict as an inward struggle (Romans 7: 14-25), a treasure in a vessel of clay (2 Corinthians 4: 7-18), and a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10). Because of original sin, an inner force will always move us in the wrong direction.

Continual effort is necessary to control the inner movement of our ego, and allow the presence of grace to take control of our thoughts, desires and actions.

The battle of the spiritual life is like walking in a river against the current. If we do not continue to walk or grab on to a rock, the current will carry us in the opposite direction. Lent provides us with an excellent opportunity to strengthen ourselves so that we can keep walking against the current.

A successful Lent requires us to develop a serious plan of action. Our program should consist of both the general practices that the Catholic Church requires of everyone, and our own particular Lenten program.As a general practice for all Catholics, the Church requires that we fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
We are also asked to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent.

Aside from what the Church law of fast and abstinence requires of us, we should come up with a personal program for spiritual growth. This is our personal maintenance program. I have always recommended that we come up with something negative and something positive.

By something negative, I mean that each person should commit themselves to giving up something or a number of things. This sacrifice should be serious and demanding. The self-control that we exercise in giving up a legitimate pleasure strengthens our will and curbs the inclinations of our passions.

By something positive, I mean that each one should also do some kind of act that we would not normally do on a regular basis. Attending daily Mass, visiting the sick, volunteering time at the parish or praying a Sunday evening Rosary with the entire family are positive acts of virtue that have helped many people progress in their relationship with God.

Lenten practices of penance have great benefits for our spiritual lives.

A serious Lent will be like a spring cleaning which will purify the clutter that has accumulated in our souls. A serious commitment to penance will also help us to conquer addictions, obsessions and compulsive behavior. A serious Lent will purify our soul and allow us to experience a deeper interior freedom.

As we approach the beginning of another Lent, we should carefully examine our lives. Usually we focus on carefully examining our sins, but do we ever consider the sins of omission?

Do we honestly consider what we are not doing?

One way to break the cycle of apathy is to bring into your Lent an apostolic dimension.

This can be done by making two firm commitments:

• pray the Rosary at your local abortion clinic and
• target one person that does not have a church home.

Invite that person to your parish. Moreover, it would be very powerful if we would offer up our fast, abstinence, Lenten sacrifices and our weekly Stations of the Cross to the Lord as of way of ending abortion and bringing souls back to the Church.

Do not wait until Ash Wednesday to come up with your Lenten program. Decide today what you are going to do. Parents should sit down with their children and make sure that they too have come up with a serious plan of action. Have a family meeting tonight and decide together to make this Lent the best Lent ever. Meet as a family every Sunday during Lent and review your program. Be accountable to each other.

If you make this a great Lent you will notice the difference on Easter Sunday.

Written by Fr. James Farfaglia

Posted by Kathy ~ TOG (Thank you Fr. James!)

Prayer of St. Catherine of Siena

"O omnipotent Father, God of truth, God of love, permit me to enter into the cell of self-knowledge. I admit that of myself I am nothing, but that all being and goodness in me comes solely from You. Show me my faults, that I may detest my malice, and thus I shall flee from self-love and find myself clothed again in the nuptial robe of divine charity, which I must have in order to be admitted to the nuptials of life eternal."
St Catherine of Siena

Jesus Can Heal Us

The Sunday Homily
By Father James Farfaglia

Sunday, February 8th


Jesus Can Heal Us

"As I pointed out last week, Satan has deceived the world to believe that he does not exist, that there is no sin and that there is no hell. Nevertheless, Jesus tells us something to the contrary.Once again, let us remember these words from our Lord: “I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10: 18). He was a murderer from the start; he was never grounded in the truth; there is no truth in him at all: when he lies he is drawing on his own store, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8: 44)."

"This Sunday’s Gospel passage is another example where Jesus not only confronts Satan, but he is victorious over him. “When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.”

"Our personal struggle with Satan and with evil is very real indeed. As we considered last week, Saint Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians how we are to fight this battle.“Put God’s armor on so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness of this world, the spiritual army of evil in the heavens. That is why you must rely on God’s armor, or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens, or have enough resources to hold your ground” (Ephesians 6: 1-13).

"And what is God’s armor for you?"

"Remember what I told you last week. We have to get out of our spiritual nursery school. We have to develop a very serious spiritual life and make frequent use of the Sacrament of Confession. We have to avoid moral relativism when it comes to the formation of our conscience and we have to remove from our soul any manifestation of sloth and spiritual tepidity."

"Only by putting on God’s armor will we be able to persevere in this time of trial, tribulation and uncertainty."

"Aside from the real spiritual warfare that we experience with Satan, he can also make havoc on our weaknesses and wounds that we colloquially call our own personal demons.Last Sunday’s homily generated a lot of interest in the theme of personal healing.Again, let us be aware of the damage that dysfunctional families make on the individual is astounding. Modern psychology recognizes that traumatic events that are too agonizing to deal with can be buried in our unconscious as a way of coping with the pain that the event or events may cause us. It is true that these buried emotions will affect our behavior unless we deal with them properly. Bitterness, anger, resentment and discouragement can be healed."

"Jesus will heal us if we turn to him."

"If we want to experience peace and happiness in our lives we need to turn to the Lord. However, too many times we escape from the pain caused by our personal demons, wounds, weaknesses and addictions by turning to sexual sin, drugs, excessive alcohol and over eating. Sometimes we seek escapes in excessive work, sports, entertainment and even shopping."

"Jesus will bring about profound healing in our lives if we were to do three things every day:"

1) spend 20 – 30 minutes each day in silent contemplative prayer;
2) go to Mass every day; and
3) pray the Rosary every day.

"These three moments of peaceful prayer will allow the Holy Spirit to enter into the deep recesses of our soul and heal us with his loving presence.It is true that God can heal people through extraordinary means such as laying on of hands. But, I am very suspect about charismatic healing services. Emotionalism makes me nervous. It is better that we get back to the traditional means of healing that I have already mentioned. I do not doubt that God can act outside of these traditional means, but these traditional means are valid and should not be neglected." “Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted” (Psalm147).

"Accompanied by a deep spiritual life where we experience God on an intimate level, spiritual guidance by a qualified spiritual director is an important tool in our journey towards inner healing. Sometimes it may be useful for spiritual direction to be accompanied by therapy from a qualified psychologist who can complement the work of the spiritual director for an adequate period of time. However, as someone pointed out to me last week, it is true that when someone seeks the help of a psychologist, one has to make sure that the psychologist is well trained and competent. A bad psychologist can do a lot of damage. So can a bad spiritual director."

"Openness is essential."

"It is important that we do not live in denial or find relief by complaining to our friends about our personal problems. We need to deal with our personal demons that cause us suffering and pain."

“When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.”

Father James

Posted by Kathy ~ TOG (Thank you Fr. James!)