Blog

Posted on

Confession is Amazing!

Going to Confession is one of the greatest sources of grace available to us in our Catholic faith. In this Sacrament, the Holy Spirit continues to work in us through conversion and forgiveness. We are enabled to grow in self-knowledge and humility. We begin to see our selfish habits with greater clarity, making it possible for us to correct them and root out sin. We purify our consciences, strengthen our wills, receive the grace to resist temptation, and advance in the spiritual life.

For these reasons—and many others—the Catholic Church takes this sacrament very seriously. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asks faithful Catholics in the United States to go to Confession at least once during Lent and once during Advent, but good priests and spiritual directors recommend a minimum of once a month. If we only go to Confession once a year (or less!) we will miss out on profound graces, and lose track of many transgressions—making it harder for us to recognize our patterns of sin.

Why Confession is Amazing

The saints, of course, recommended frequent confession. St. Francis de Sales, St. John Vianney, St. Padre Pio, and Pope St. John Paul II are among those who suggested going as often as possible. Pope St. John Paul II and St. Padre Pio went at least weekly to confession.

Even if a room is closed, it is necessary to dust it after a week.

St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Jesus spoke candidly to St. Faustina about Confession. She recorded His words in her Diary, and we’d like to share some of His words with you. These are comforting and beautiful words from Christ about the significance of Confession in the Catholic life. You can find them all in The Diary of St. Faustina: Divine Mercy in My Soul.

What Jesus told St. Faustina About Confession

Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy (the Sacrament of Confession). There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one’s misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late.

Jesus to St. Faustina (Diary, 1448)

Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls.

Jesus to St. Faustina (Diary, 1602)
Jesus will accept us in the Sacrament of Confession

My daughter, just as you prepare in My presence, so also you make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyse what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light.

Jesus to St. Faustina (Diary, 1725)

The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!

Jesus to St. Faustina (Diary, 1074)

So, Why Do We Still Need Reminding?

If each of us sat beneath a crucifix and meditated intently on the greatest act of mercy and love the world has ever known we would, perhaps, run straight to Confession. Not out of fear of hell, but out of such great love for Jesus, who washed away our sins in His own blood.

Il ritorno, the return crucifix

But the world has always pulled away from the cross. Meditating on the Crucified Redeemer is not common in the world. It is not even something most people would seek to do or understand. Once again, as in ancient history, we have forsaken the cross—we have, like Adam and Eve, chosen the forbidden tree and its fruits.

We don’t want to be told “Thou shalt not.” We want to do as we please. The world has fully accommodated us by tempting us with great allure and then absolving us with all kinds of excuses.

Yet Holy Mother Church loves her children so completely that she wants us to abide by the moral absolutes given to us by God. The Church is the firm but quiet voice entreating us to resist the noise of the world. She invites us to Confession at least once a year, but we really should go more frequently. Making use of the sacrament regularly—monthly or even more often—is commonly recommended as a path to peace, healing, pardon, and spiritual growth.

Persisting in sin and not working to eradicate it from our lives removes us from the Merciful Heart of God, which is our true home. It also separates us from communion with the Body of Christ. But the rays of His Divine Mercy call us back to His Heart and to communion with one another. We return there by way of the Confessional.

Concluding Thoughts

In the Diary of St. Faustina, Jesus implores sinners to come to the font of His mercy, so that He might pour out unimaginable graces upon us all. Through His Passion, Christ brought redemption to a fallen world. Through the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, He brings it—over and over again—to your heart and mine.

Confession is important to our spiritual progress in any liturgical season or any season of our lives. It is especially powerful during Lent. Reconciliation and the Lenten season go hand-in-hand. Since Lent is a season of reflection and repentance, Confession is one of the greatest means to enter deeply into this penitential season.

In the wisdom of the Church, the season of Lent exists not only for reflection and repentance, but to build up the body of Christ in anticipation of Easter. What better way to enter into the true spirit of these forty days—and prepare for Easter—than by going to the cross in Confession, casting off our sins, and rising again with Christ?

The Confession, by Giuseppe Molteni, 1838
The Confession, by Giuseppe Molteni, 1838

Through the sacramental ministry of the Church, we receive the grace to be more like our Redeemer. Make it a priority to go to Jesus in Confession regularly. Ask for the forgiveness He wants to give so generously. Receive His merciful and unconditional love. Restore your bond with the Lord, the Body of Christ, and the Church.

Be healed and set free, to rise again in Him.

A Prayer for the Courage to Return to Confession

Lord, You know how much I need You. You know my sinful nature and my weaknesses. You know my sincere but imperfect desire to love You and others better. I know that I cannot return to the grace of God except through You and Your sacrifice on the Cross, and through the font of grace that is Confession.

In Your Passion, You did not put limits on Your love. Help me to give You everything, even the ugliness of my sins, as I return to You in Confession. Help me never to despair because Your Divine Mercy and Your infinite love are my greatest hope and treasure. Help me see this as an opportunity to love You, grow in my love for You, and offer all my love to You.

I place my trust in Your infinite love and mercy, and I ask You for the courage to help me return to the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

//Good Catholic//

Posted on

Mother Teresa’s Humility List

Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

As we can see from this thought-provoking quote, Mother Teresa doesn’t see humility as the world sees it. The world sees it as blind self-neglect or a degrading regard for oneself. In contrast, her life shows us that she was a champion for the precious, God-given dignity of every single person. 

Her definition of humility stresses the down-to-earth, unattached nature of true humility. In practicing it, we have a clarity of sight that allows us to not be consumed by the standards and judgments of the world, whether those judgments place us in a positive or negative light. 

7/01/1988-Tijuana,Mexico - Mother Teresa, 77, praying during dedication ceremonies at her 400th world wide mission to care for the poor.
Mother Teresa praying during dedication ceremonies at her 400th world-wide mission to care for the poor. Mexico, 1988.

Here is her counter-cultural, inspiring, and challenging Humility List.

Mother Teresa’s Humility List

1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.

2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.

3. Avoid curiosity.

4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.

5. Accept small irritations with good humor.

6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.

7. Accept censures even if unmerited.

8. Give in to the will of others.

9. Accept insults and injuries.

10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.

11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.

12. Do not seek to be admired and loved.

13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.

14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.

15. Choose always the more difficult task.

Mother Teresa at prayer

Taking a Closer Look

At first glance, Mother Teresa’s “Humility List” appears to be a startling and even extreme guide to living the virtue of humility. 

However, if we look at the list with eyes of faith and thoughtful discernment, we’ll see that it is not “extreme”—it simply requires those two things: faith and discernment. 

Faith. These guidelines are not for the faint of heart or the weak-willed! They are challenging, and require the grace of God to sustain us and increase our stamina when we wish to fall back into our deep-rooted, prideful ways. So take heart—if God wishes us to live the virtues (which He does, of course) then we must trust that He will provide us with the means to fulfill His will. 

Discernment. Some of the points on the list can be taken to an unhealthy extreme: “Accept insults and injuries…” “Do not interfere in the affairs of others…” In some serious cases, it may end up being the virtuous response is to do the opposite of what she’s saying! Just remember that Mother Teresa’s list is not meant to be applied to situations in which we encounter immoral or unlawful behavior. Here is another clarification: when she says “Avoid curiosity,” she is not saying “Don’t be interested in others.” She wants us to avoid idle curiosity, which can lead us to sin. This list is for our daily sanctification. 

We invite you to take this list to prayer, and ask Our Lord and St. Mother Teresa to help you see how to make these important points a part of your daily growth in virtue!

Learn to be humble by doing all the humble work and doing it for Jesus. You cannot learn humility from books; you learn it by accepting humiliations. Humiliations are not meant to torture us; they are gifts from God. These little humiliations—if we accept them with joy—will help us to be holy, to have a meek and humble heart like Jesus.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

The saints give us powerful examples of virtuous lives. Better still, they are eager to help us grow in holiness. Are you interested in learning more about how the saints grew in virtue, and how you can, too? You will love the series Heroic Virtue: Let the saints guide you to an extraordinary life.

ByGretchen Filz, O.P.Published January 5, 2021 at 2:53pm

//Good Catholic//

Posted on

Reasons to Fast from Saint Thomas Aquinas

With Lent comes fasting—and fasting is, for most of us, the most challenging part of the Lenten season.

It’s not easy to persevere in our sacrifices and intensified prayer. But disciplining our appetite is especially difficult. Physical appetites are strong and we’re weak! 

We don’t have to let our failures get us down, however. We can petition God for His grace, seek inspiration through the writings of the saints and theologians of the Church, and try again.

The truth is, fasting has an irreplaceable role in the spiritual life. It brings about powerful spiritual growth. Jesus Himself told us that some demons could only be driven out by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). And yet fasting is something that we modern Catholics tend to struggle with. 

If we understand why fasting is so important, our will to do it can be strengthened. 

So, why is it important?

Three Reasons Why We Fast According to St. Thomas Aquinas

Portrait of St. Thomas by Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra
Portrait of St. Thomas

The glorious St. Thomas Aquinas gives us three important reasons for fasting from his Summa Theologica.

He begins by reminding us what defines a virtuous act:

An act is virtuous through being directed by reason to some virtuous good. Now this is consistent with fasting, because fasting is practiced for a threefold purpose.

And here are his three reasons:

1. To conquer lust.

Thomas is girded by angels with a mystical belt of purity after he conquers a temptation to unchastity

First, in order to bridle the lusts of the flesh, wherefore the Apostle says (2 Corinthians 6:5-6): “In fasting, in chastity,” since fasting is the guardian of chastity. For…lust is cooled by abstinence in meat and drink.

St. Thomas Aquinas

In other words, denying ourselves food and drink helps us to control our other appetites and passions. Practicing self-denial in one area helps us practice temperance in all areas.

2. To help our minds rise above material things and contemplate heavenly realities.

Detail from Valle Romita Polyptych by Gentile da Fabriano

Secondly, we have recourse to fasting in order that the mind may arise more freely to the contemplation of heavenly things: hence it is related of Daniel (Daniel 10) that he received a revelation from God after fasting for three weeks.

St. Thomas Aquinas

When we are not concerned with food and drink, or lulled into comfort by the effects of a good meal, we can more readily focus our entire attention on God.

3. To atone for our sins.

Thirdly, in order to satisfy for sins: wherefore it is written (Joel 2:12): “Be converted to Me with all your heart, in fasting and in weeping and in mourning.” The same is declared by Augustine in a sermon: “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.”

St. Thomas Aquinas

There are few better ways to offer repentance for our sins than by fasting. We take on discomfort and the pangs of hunger and give it all to Our Lord in sorrow for the ways in which we have turned against Him. 

Of course we need good, healthy food, and delicious food can be an incredible blessing and enjoyment. We should enjoy it! 

But at times it is good to free ourselves from our bodily appetites and offer them to God in prayer and repentance. The penitential seasons of Lent and Advent are set aside for this by Holy Mother Church,

As we move toward Lent, will you make fasting a key part of your Lenten plan?

Are you looking for the perfect Lenten devotional? Take a look at The Life of Christ, a new 40-day Lenten series from Good Catholic. It’s perfect for any Lenten plan. Sign up today and take the journey with us! 

ByGenevieve CunninghamPublished January 29, 2021 at 10:54 am Series

//Good Catholic//

Posted on

How to Prepare for Lent

Don’t blink. Lent will be here before you know it. In fact, Ash Wednesday is early this year: February 17th.

Isn’t that how it always is? The Christmas season is behind us and it feels like Ordinary Time has only just begun—

But suddenly it’s Ash Wednesday, and we’re scrambling to decide what we’re doing for Lent and wondering whether our choice of penance is too hard or too easy.

This year, don’t let Lent take you by surprise—have your Lenten plan in place.  

Here’s how.

How to Make a Plan for Lent

Make a Lent plan before Lent arrives.

Before Ash Wednesday catches you unawares, make a point of sitting down—at the kitchen table, or at the chapel—and give some thought to how you want to spend this Lent.

If you have no idea where to begin, rest assured: there is a solid foundation to work from. The Church doesn’t leave us to figure things out ourselves.

There are three holy practices which Catholics are called to embrace in penitential seasons such as Lent and Advent. These three practices are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

When you make your Lenten plan, choose something specific from each category—and you’re all set for a grace-filled journey to Easter.

1. Prayer

Prayer: a conversation between lovers. Painting by Charles Bosseron Chambers.

Lent is the perfect time to build virtuous habits. It gives us the grace to tackle what we couldn’t otherwise.

Since daily prayer is difficult for anyone who isn’t a living saint, now is the time to counter this by developing consistent habits of prayer. 

Start by asking yourself: what are my prayer habits now? 

As Catholics, we ought to pray every day. Prayer is conversation and communion with the God who made us and loves us. No relationship would flourish if we failed to spend time in the presence of a loved one, conversing with them and offering them genuine attention.

If you are praying once a week at Sunday Mass or saying only a quick “Good morning, God!” as you head to work, make a simple commitment to daily prayer—and don’t overdo it, in case you set yourself up for failures and guilt trips.

How much time should we set aside for daily prayer? Holy priests and spiritual advisors say that fifteen minutes is the absolute minimum. That’s a solid goal for all of us.

Time spent in prayer should be adequate…A quarter of an hour is the absolute minimum, and anyone who is able should not hesitate to spend an hour on prayer, or even more every day…[But] A relatively short time (twenty minutes or half an hour), spent faithfully on mental prayer every day, is better than two hours now and then.

Fr. Jacques Philippe, Time for God

Prayer is not always easy. It can feel dry, distracted, or lonely. Don’t get discouraged—there are things that help inspire, nourish, and strengthen prayer. 

Find a really engrossing spiritual book (there are a ton here) or sign up for a devotional series such as The Life of Christ. These things can bring about spontaneous prayer from the depths of our souls.

In summary: This Lent, try spending at least fifteen minutes in prayer a day. If you already do this, make the Rosary a daily habit. If you already do that, maybe add a Divine Mercy chaplet or a Holy Hour before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Give it some thought, and write down your commitment.

2. Fasting

What is true fasting?

Fasting is largely misunderstood today. Most Catholics think that fasting is a broad category of abstinence that includes giving up social media, music while driving, Netflix, and so on. That’s not really fasting, however.

Now, don’t get me wrong: it’s important to practice discipline and self-control over the things mentioned above. When you do, you are strengthening your will and overcoming the desire for instant gratification and constant mind-numbing pleasure. Absolutely be encouraged to incorporate such disciplines into your life!

True fasting, however, relates to food—to our physical appetite—and cannot be replaced by anything. 

On all Fridays, Catholics are requested to abstain from meat. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 (with exceptions for expectant women, for example) are required to fast. We do this by having only one full meal that day and two smaller meals that, added together, do not amount to the full meal.

Of course, this itself is a moderate form of fasting. Fasting formerly meant taking no food. 

Due to our structure and habits of eating today, many of us find this practically impossible.

However: there is a way to build the ability to fast that is simpler than you might think. Not easy—it does take a firm decision—but simple, with the right help: Dr. Jay Richards wrote about it in his fascinating book Eat, Fast, Feast.

I sincerely recommend his book. I read Eat, Fast, Feast and used Dr. Richards’s guide for Lent last year. I discovered that it’s amazing what the human body is capable of when it comes to fasting—and the benefits are truly God-given.

As Mike Aquilina wrote in his article “Introduction to Lent: Why do Catholics have to fast?”:

The Bible spells out specific spiritual benefits of fasting. It produces humility (Ps 69:10). It shows our sorrow for our sins (1 Sam 7:6). It clears a path to God (Dan 9:3). It is a means of discerning God’s will (Ezr 8:21) and a powerful method of prayer (8:23). It’s a mark of true conversion (Jl 2:12).

Fasting has its health benefits, but it’s not the same as dieting. Fasting is something spiritual and far more positive. Fasting is a spiritual feast. It does for the soul what food does for the body.

If fasting still sounds intimidating, be encouraged. Keep yourself going strong all forty days by not fasting on the Sundays of Lent. In fact, Sundays in Lent are not officially part of the forty days. (If they were, Lent would be forty-six days long.)

In summary: Consider taking on some hard-core fasting. Maybe pick a few more days during Lent to practice the Ash Wednesday/Good Friday fast. Maybe have one or two meals a day on one particular day of the week. Some people manage to do a bread-and-water fast at least once a week. If all this sounds too overwhelming this year, never fear! You can simply stick to the requirements of the Church as mentioned above and do them well—with your whole heart and soul. 

Give this it thought, and write down your commitment.

3. Almsgiving

What is almsgiving?

In all the excitement over fasting and giving things up, almsgiving is often forgotten. Yet almsgiving is a crucial work of charity that we Christians are called to participate in. 

Jesus praised the poor widow who gave “all she had” to the temple treasury (Luke 21:1-4). St. James reminded us that faith must go hand-in-hand with good works, such as care for the poor:

What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?

James 2:14-16

Lent is an important time for almsgiving, and each of us must give according to our situation. I was reminded by my parish priest that almsgiving is not the tithing you’re already doing—it’s giving above and beyond what you normally give. It is a true penance.

This isn’t easy to say (God give you and I grace to receive!) but when we give alms, we are supposed to give not merely from our “plenty,” but enough to make it hurt—or at least pinch.

St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul, Apostle of the Poor

But who to give to? Do you have trouble finding trustworthy causes? 

When it comes to monetary gifts, we do have to be cautious about where our funds go. Some organizations support things that contradict Church teaching and harm souls—and some are not transparent about their use of funds. 

Thankfully, the Lepanto Institute has created an incredibly helpful report on trustworthy causes. I have found it to be extremely helpful.

The Knights of Columbus give 100% of your donation to charity—they cover their own fees! You can specify which cause you want your money to go to, or leave it to them to put towards the cause that is most in need at the moment.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Elizabeth of Hungary caring for the poor

I have had the joy of knowing some of the women who work at Be Not Afraid—a non-profit that provides total support to parents whose unborn child has received a prenatal diagnosis. These can be the most forgotten families, whose babies are often denied proper care by doctors. Any amount we can give them is a huge gift.

For those who can’t give money, we can seek to give our talent (making baby blankets for Be Not Afraid, as one lady does) or our time (volunteering at a homeless shelter or pregnancy center).

In summary: Pray about what alms you can give and to who. Discuss it with Jesus. “Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

Give it some thought, and write down your commitment.

Be Encouraged

Jesus and St. John at the Last Supper
St. John the Apostle, teach us to love Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s going to be a fruitful Lent. When we’re mentally and spiritually prepared, it’s easier to stick with our resolutions. 

Do things that help you. If you need visual reminders, consider making some for yourself. Many people benefit from the “note-on-the-bathroom-mirror” tactic. Choose a Bible verse for Lent and stay inspired that way. 

And let’s pray for each other.  

Finally, I’d love to know—do you have suggestions for Lent? Have you found particular things to be helpful for you? Don’t hold back—share with us in the comments below!

The new Good Catholic series The Life of Christ is perfect for Lent. It’s a 40-day devotional series (containing video and fascinating articles) that will deepen your knowledge of, and love for, the Son of God. Sign up and take the journey with us!

//Good Catholic//

Posted on

Lies the Devil Wants Us To Believe

Ever since Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, Satan has been harassing us. The efforts of the Father of Lies to distort the truth—and his attempts at convincing us to question God’s word—have not ceased, and neither should our efforts to combat him.

It has been said that the devil will use ninety-nine percent of the truth to float one lie. This is true because he cannot create, which leaves him only with the ability to twist what has already been created. He is a master at this and we need to be on guard against it.

In Ephesians 6:11 it says,

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Here are six lies the devil tells us and ways in which we can combat them.

Lie #1: You don’t have time to pray.

Girl Praying, by Roberto Ferruzzi

The devil hates prayer. In the Manual for Spiritual Warfare (MSW), author Paul Thigpen says,

“We can see how much the Devil fears those who pray, since there’s not a moment of the day when he tempts us more than when we’re at prayer. He does everything he possibly can to prevent us from praying. When the Devil wants to make someone lose his soul, he starts out by inspiring in him a profound distaste for prayer. However good a Christian he may be, if the Devil succeeds in making him either say his prayers badly or neglect them altogether, he’s certain to have that person for himself.”

In our busy lives we can easily fall into the trap of believing that “we don’t have time to pray.”

However, the Bible does not give us an excuse, but a command regarding prayer:  “Pray unceasingly” (Eph. 6:18). Jesus implores His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Rise and pray, that you should not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:46).

The Rosary is a prayer the devil hates. Pray the Rosary!

Shorter prayers are also important. By learning certain “ejaculatory prayers,” we can offer a quick response when we feel tempted during the day.

An ejaculatory prayer is a secret and sudden lifting up of the soul’s desires to God during any emergency that may occur. One may engage in this prayer by a simple thought directed to heaven. The devil would like us to not use this method of prayer. He knows the power that these prayers have because they reveal the faith of the one praying.

The following are a few ejaculatory prayers to remember:

  1. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, be my Salvation.
  2. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Known as “The Jesus Prayer”)
  3. My God & my all!
  4. Jesus, Mary, I love You. Save souls.
  5. O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. (From the Divine Office)
  6. May the Holy Cross be my light. (Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict)

Lie #2: You aren’t good enough.

This common lie is an easy one to fall for, regardless of our vocation. As a mother of nine, I can feel overwhelmed and sometimes doubt my competency. This is exacerbated further when I see other mothers accomplishing so much with ease. I can quickly become frustrated with myself and become envious or—worse—despairing. When we feel unworthy, we can falsely imagine that God does not love us; that He is not here for us. That is exactly what the devil wants us to believe.

Today, with the easy access to social media and the constant barrage of images and snapshots into people’s lives, we can become even more susceptible to the belief that we are not good enough. We see images on social media and think, “Look how happy or how successful they are. I’m not as successful…I’m not as good as they are.”

If I can feel that way as a fifty-year-old mother, how do my teenagers feel?

Sharon Johnston, a friend of mine who has led a Bible study for young women and young mothers for ten years, suggests occasional “fasts” from social media. She tells the women she counsels that time away from social media with the purpose of spending that time with God in prayer is helpful to combat the noise that fills our heads.

She is wise. Time away from the noise and bombardment of pressures to live or act a certain way is a good way to bring our attention back to the One who gave us life and Who sustains us.

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” To counter the lie that we are unworthy, author Paul Thigpen suggests that we get to know the saints. Especially those who shared our vocation or those who shared our struggles. 2 Corinthians 12:9

For instance, as a mother who worries or grows anxious about my children’s faith, I can look to Saint Monica who cried out to God for years in agony over her lost son.

If someone struggles with lust or the things of the flesh, they can turn to Saint Augustine who struggled as a young man with those sins.  The following prayer is a good way to turn away from thoughts of unworthiness and ask God for help through his saints:

Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. [name] protect us, through Christ Our Lord.

Lie #3: Be anxious, for there is much to worry about.

Woman Praying, by Gaetano Esposito

Satan wants us to look at our problems instead of looking at God. He knows that the ultimate answer to our problems can only come from God and so he wants our minds to be preoccupied with those things that keep us from thinking about God.

Fear is one of Satan’s most useful tools. This is not simply because fear causes us to lose trust in God, it is also so that we do not have a proper “fear of the Lord.” Monsignor Charles Pope explains that the devil plays a game of diversion—hoping we will be drawn into anxieties and fears to divert our attention away from God:

“Anxieties and fears also cause us many distractions. And by these, the devil causes us to fixate on fears about passing things, and thereby not to have a proper fear of the judgment which awaits us. Jesus says Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt 10:28). In other words, we should have a holy reverence and fear directed towards the Lord, and in this way, many of our other fears will be seen in better perspective, or will go away altogether. But in this matter of fear, the devil says just the opposite: we should fear 10,000 things that might afflict us on this passing earth, and not think at all of the one most significant thing that awaits us, our judgment.  The Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is the most temporal part of time—for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays.”

We can also remember the words of Scripture which were the words John Paul II often reminded us of during his papacy: “I say to you who are My friends: Do not be afraid” (Luke 12:24).

Lie #4: You have plenty of time.

Portrait of a young lady holding a cat by Francesco Bacchiacca

I once heard a talk by a nun who said that one of the devil’s favorite lies is to convince us that we have more time.

In other words, “there is always time to get serious later.” Satan convinces us to delay something so that it never gets started or completed.

It is not difficult to see the power in this lie. Just as the devil plays a game of diversion with our fears and anxieties, he plays the same type of game with our sense of time. By convincing us that we have plenty of time to work on the spiritual side of our life, he also tells us that we should put those things off that will draw us closer to God. He convinces us that our sins aren’t that big of a deal; that we can attend to them later.

Yet Scripture says the opposite. The following are just a few of the verses from Scripture which warn us of this very lie and help us to remember to be awake and be ready.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
—Matthew 16:26

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”—Revelation 22:12-14

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
—Matthew 24:42-44

Saint John Bosco’s words are also helpful for us to remember:

“The principle trap that the devil sets for young people is idleness. This is a fatal source of all evil. Do not let there be any doubt in your mind that we are born to work and when we don’t we are out of our element and in great danger of offending God . . . First tell the devil to rest . . . then I’ll rest too!”

St. John Bosco

Lie #5: Your past is irredeemable.

The devil wants us to lose hope, to despair, and to place our trust in anything but God.

One way he does this is by using our past sins against us and convincing us that we cannot be redeemed. He nags us and tells us that our sins will always be our downfall and that we are powerless against them. Yet this is exactly the opposite of what Our Lord promises. By reading the Bible and listening to the words of Scripture at Mass, we can arm ourselves against the father of lies and know that God is our savior no matter what our past looks like.

Thigpen in the Manual For Spiritual Warfare says the way to combat this lie is to always keep close the second theological virtue: hope.

“The hope of salvation is a helmet, the Apostle Paul declares (1 Thes. 5:8). It’s essential for protecting the mind. The temptation to despair is a powerful tactic of the Enemy. If we lose hope for our salvation, we open our minds wide to all the poisonous thoughts that the enemy seeks to plant there. If we should conclude that we have no hope of winning the battle, why even fight? So we must never take off the helmet of hope if we hope to overcome the devil” (MSW page 58).

Scripture also reminds us that God never forsakes those who turn to him and who are truly repentant:

“I give them everlasting life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.”
—John 10:28

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?…In all these things we overcome because of Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 8:35-39

“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”
—2 Cor. 5:17

Lie #6: You don’t have to worry about the devil—he isn’t real.

The devil wants us to believe he is not real. His work in this world is much easier if we think he does not exist. After all, how could we fight an adversary if we don’t even know he exists?

Yet as Thigpen writes,

“The reality of demonic powers has been a constant doctrine of the Catholic Church ever since it was founded by Christ through his apostles. They and their ancestors spoke and wrote about Satan repeatedly.  Through the centuries, the great teachers of the Church have consistently affirmed that Satan is real” (MSW page 6).

There are many references to the devil in scripture. The following are just a few:

“Be sober, be watchful! For your adversary, the Devil, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist Him, steadfast in the faith.”—1 Peter 5:8-9

“Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of the light.”
—2 Cor.11:14

“But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his guile, so your minds may be corrupted and fall from a pure devotion to Christ.”
—2 Cor. 11:3

“Indeed what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—I have done for your sakes, in the person of Christ, so that we may not be defeated by Satan; for we are not unaware of his devices.”
—2 Cor. 2: 10-11

Although we need to be aware of the devil’s constant harassment, we also need to remember that Christ won the battle. The sacraments allow us to draw our strength from God because through them we receive His Grace. So by staying close to the sacraments, to the Holy Eucharist and to confession, we stay close to Christ and we are able to fight off the devil more effectively.

Let us pray for strength and for God’s present help in danger.  Most importantly let us always remember that God’s mercy is abundant and that He is with us always.

“You draw near this day to battle against your enemies; Let not your heart faint; do not fear, or tremble, or be in dread of them; for the Lord your God is He that goes with you, to  fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

Deuteronomy 20:3-4

//Good Catholic//

Posted on

Sermon Notes: January 30 – 31, 2021: “I Want Pizza!”

“ I Want Pizza! “

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 30 – 31, 2021

Gospel:  Mark 1:21-28

How do we pass on the message of Christ?  How do we bring Christ to people?  Well, the answer is rather simple.  It really is.  You don’t need to learn anything new.  You don’t have to sign up for a course.  It doesn’t cost anything.  You just tell people the good news – not your good news, but His.  Saint Francis of Assisi said “Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.”  Preach the gospel, whether in season or out of season, convenient or inconvenient, and use words if necessary.  If it’s necessary to use words, what words do we use?  We use the words of Christ.  We talk as He talked, and use the same words He used.  So, what were the words He used?  We have them, and they provide an air of authority, because they are true.  They are the very Word of God. 

The only time Jesus was angry or rebuked someone was when He was dealing with Satan.  He didn’t run up and down aisles screaming and shouting.  He didn’t do that.  He never raised His voice.  His sermons were not very long, and He didn’t use props except for children so that He could shame the apostles.  The Sermon on the Mount is one of the greatest sermons ever given.  Jesus went up on the mountain, sat down, and delivered an eight sentence sermon about the Beatitudes to over 5,000 people.  His words carried and everyone heard Him.  He didn’t speak long, but He spoke with words that everyone heard.  On another occasion, our good Lord went out onto a lake in a boat and preached to a crowd gathered on the shore. That’s very difficult to do when you’re on the water. But, everyone heard Him. 

In Acts, Peter preached at Pentecost to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the feast.  Every heart heard him, even though the people there were from different countries and spoke different languages.  Peter didn’t run up and down the aisles.  That’s not preaching – that’s a performance.  Preach as Jesus did.  Paul thought he had a better idea when he went to Athens.  He decided to jazz up the message and make it really hip.  He changed the sermon to make it more meaningful.  I love that word – meaningful – almost as much as I love the word “tasteful.”  Well, everything has a taste.  For example, horse manure has taste…you won’t like it, but it has taste.  Oh, this is very tasty.  That doesn’t mean it’s good or bad.  Paul tried to develop a relationship by getting down on the same level as the Athenians.  Instead of raising them up, he went down and taught on their level and in their language.  What happened?  He got only two disciples.  When he left there, he did an after-action report and had one of those  V-8 moments.  I will only preach Christ and Him Crucified.  And, then look what happened.  He preached the way Christ preached…by actions and by words.  The words he used were Christ’s words.  We should not use our words or the words that we think Christ would say.  “But, God is telling me to do this.”  You need some medicine.  Preach like Christ did.  That’s what He told us to do.  It doesn’t have to be long, and it doesn’t have to be loud.  Christ sat and taught.  He didn’t use props. Also, people were not fed their way to Jesus.  “Give them pizza, and they will come.”  Yeah…they eat the free pizza, and then they leave.  We had a food ministry in the military called Bible study lunch.  I went to one, because I wanted the free pizza.  The soldiers ate the free pizza, and then they left.  There was nothing the chaplains could do about it.  Those were the rules, and the soldiers knew that.  They weren’t stupid.  They may have been paratroopers, but they weren’t stupid. 

Teach as Jesus taught by using His exact words.  Those words give us the authority, not for us, but so that every heart hears the words it was meant to hear.  Now, in case someone is thinking, “Well, your life is not perfect.”  Oh, heck no.  My life is not perfect at all.  The words are not my words. I’m just a conduit.  I’m just passing along what our good Lord said.  The focus must be on the message and not the messenger. I am trying to live like our good Lord said, and I’m having problems with that, so if you would pray for me, I’d really appreciate it.  People are surprised when we don’t defend ourselves by saying something like, “Oh, I’m a great Christian.” 

How do we tell people about Jesus?  Do as Jesus did.  Preach as Jesus preached.  Use words if necessary.

How will you apply this message to your life?  Will you tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ?  Will you do as He did and preach as He preached?

Father’s Afterthoughts…

  • Last night, I had to smile while reading the Old Testament.  All I could think of was that God is Italian.  You know why?  He put out a contract for a hit on all the false prophets.  Wow!  He means business.
  • I was at the hospital on Friday. You should see the working conditions I work under…it’s not just the smells and everything else.   Anyway, I came out of a room and said something to the nurse who said, “You know, Father, you should have gone to medical school.”  I said, “Really?  How…as a student or cadaver?”  Fair question.

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.  From a cell phone, click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories.”

Posted on

Minute Meditation – Prayer in Solidarity

Throughout my life, I have focused on prayer as a symbol of solidarity, because prayer is grounded in the profound interdependence of life. Our prayers of gratitude remind us that no one is self-sufficient. Our gifts and talents emerge from our relationships —the persons and institutions that have supported us, as well as the earth’s bountiful providence—that inspire and undergird any achievement on our part. From this perspective, the self-made person is the most pitiable precisely because they, in their lonely individualism, think they can go it alone without any help from God or their fellow creatures. This sense of self-sufficiency collapses when we face a health crisis, death of a life companion, a professional setback, a pandemic, or the realities of aging and mortality. Prayer links us with all creation. Our gratitude inspires relationship and connection. Recognizing that we are truly one in spirit and flesh with all creation, we are inspired to move from self-interest to global concern. We discover that in an interdependent universe, others have been the answers to our prayers, coming along at the right time to provide comfort and counsel, and that we can be the answer to others’ prayers, sharing the gifts we have received so that others might flourish in body, mind, spirit, and relationships.

—from the book Walking with Francis of Assisi: From Privilege to Activism
by Bruce Epperly

//Franciscan Media//

Posted on

Saint of the Day – February 4th

St. Jane of Valois (1464-1505) was born to French King Louis XI and Charlotte of Savoy. Much of her life was marked by neglect and emotional abuse. Her father resented her because she was a sickly and deformed female child. He sent her away to a remote country home where she was carelessly raised before being married off at the age of nine to her cousin, the Duke of Orléans. Her husband likewise despised and publicly humiliated her, and their marriage was never consummated.

Jane had a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary from a young age, especially in the mystery of the Incarnation. One day Our Lady appeared to Jane and told her that in the future she would found a religious community. Through her veneration of the Blessed Mother, Jane found the strength to be a loyal and devoted wife during her painful twenty-two year marriage. When her husband became king, he had their marriage annulled. This left Jane free to found the Order of the Annunciation dedicated to imitating Mary’s virtues, as Our Lady foretold. She also gave her Order the duty of constant prayer for the souls of her father and husband who both mistreated her.

St. Jane of Valois’ feast day is February 4th.