Personal Transfiguration – Called to Offer God the Best Version of Myself

Personal Transfiguration

I can’t say for sure whether what I am sharing here is a movement of the Holy Spirit, but I am receiving this on the day after an awe-filled evening with Fr. Carlos Martins’ Treasures of the Church. Nearly 500 spiritually hungry souls gathered as we venerated 150+ relics of the saints. All in attendance just kept saying to each other, “This is incredible, this is amazing, etc.” The joy was palpable.

I began writing this on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6). This is a day we recall the wonder and awe Peter, James and John beheld as they were given the privilege of viewing Jesus in His transfigured form. The honor of witnessing Jesus in this way was to bolster their staggering faith in order to face serious challenges ahead.

In the midst of all of this, I kept pondering how we are all called to be transfigured. I was compelled to do an internet search for the definition of transfiguration, which is “a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.” Seeing this definition was the last kick in the behind I needed to dedicate myself to an intensified period of time to seek this personal transfiguration, both physically and spiritually.

From here, I researched the typical length of time for military basic training. I knew this is a time when recruits are put through their own intensified period of time to be transfigured into well-trained and well-disciplined soldiers. I discovered that the average length of time for military basic training was 10-weeks or 70 days.

I wondered if 70 days from August 6 would land on any significant feast on the Catholic calendar. I was amazed to discover that it landed on October 13, which is the anniversary of the 1917 Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Portugal. Literally, when the sun was “transfigured” before the eyes of thousands of onlookers. So, this 70-day period goes from the transfiguration of the Son to the transfiguration of the sun. I received this as sign from God.

A Pure Heart Will Receive Blessings

I am writing the following on August 7. I believe the Holy Spirit is continuing to reveal more about this 70-day period of transfiguration.

The Gospel, today, saw the disciples unable drive a demon out. Jesus steps in and expels the demon. Jesus then tells his disciples they could not perform the miracle themselves because of their “little faith.” Then Jesus says,

“Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

You see? I believe this! And, I believe the reason we have not been able to expel demons from ourselves, our homes, our parishes, our Catholic Church and our country is because of our “little faith.” Many are, justifiably, upset during this historic surge of demonic tyranny. Many are coming to me and asking what they can do. In so many words, I encourage them to take this time to purify their faith.

Pure hearts are filled with faith, and God hears their pleas: “The clean of hand and pure of heart, who has not given his soul to useless things, what is vain. He will receive blessings from the Lord” (Psalms 24:4-5). We must beg the Lord to increase our faith and purify us from anything that impedes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The purer we are, the more effective is our prayer. And, as Jesus reminds us, the pure-hearted can move mountains.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like the Holy Spirit isn’t whispering right now, but SHOUTING! I believe all that we are left to do is to get about the business of getting any poison of Satan (sin) out of ourselves and present to God a healthy body, mind and soul for doing His work. And, I TRULY believe that once we get to this place, we will see miracles abound!

Getting Started

Up to now, I have been “pretty good” in my efforts for “personal transfiguration,” but I am now ALL IN for these next ten weeks.

I’ll be keeping track of my progress, and sharing my approach, at some point. Prayers appreciated.

If anyone else wants to join in for this intensified 70 days, you are more than welcome. I see this as a period of taking very serious what we’ve known we should have been serious about all along.

I recommend taking some time, this weekend, to write out your plan for “personal transfiguration.”

Physical Purification

My first move is to purify or “detox” my body. “Drink your own poison, Satan!” To be sure, the grace of God will afford us the spiritual energy we need to remain resolved and disciplined in seeking our personal transfiguration, but our sickly, toxic bodies will war against this.

Here is, what I consider, some of the best information on detoxification:

1. Limit Alcohol – Drinking too much alcohol reduces your liver’s ability to carry out its normal functions, such as detoxifying.
2. Focus on Sleep – Poor sleep has been linked to short- and long-term health consequences, such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. You should sleep seven to nine hours per night on a regular basis to promote good health. If you have difficulties staying or falling asleep at night, lifestyle changes like sticking to a sleep schedule and limiting blue light — emitted from mobile devices and computer screens — prior to bed are useful for improving sleep. Adequate sleep allows your brain to reorganize, recharge, and eliminate toxins that accumulate throughout the day.
3. Drink More Water – In addition to its many roles in your body, water allows your body’s detoxification system to remove waste products from your blood. The adequate daily intake for water is 125 ounces for men and 91 ounces for women. You may need more or less depending on your diet, where you live, and your activity level.
4. Reduce Your Intake of Sugar and Processed Foods – Sugar and processed foods are thought to be at the root of today’s public health crises. Excess junk food consumption (sugary and highly processed foods) is linked to chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. These conditions can cause harm to organs important to detoxifying, such as your liver and kidneys.
5. Eat Antioxidant-Rich Foods – Antioxidants protect your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Oxidative stress is a condition caused by excessive production of free radicals. Your body naturally produces these molecules for cellular processes, such as digestion. However, alcohol, tobacco smoke, a poor diet, and exposure to pollutants can produce excessive free radicals. Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants helps your body reduce damage caused by free radicals and may lower your risk of diseases that can impact detoxification. Berries, fruits, nuts, cocoa, vegetables, spices, and beverages like coffee and green tea have some of the highest amounts of antioxidants.
6. Eat Foods High in Prebiotics – Gut health is important for keeping your detoxification system healthy. Your intestinal cells have a detoxification and excretion system that protects your gut and body from harmful toxins, such as chemicals. Good gut health starts with prebiotics, a type of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut called probiotics. With prebiotics, your good bacteria are able to produce nutrients called short-chain fatty acids that are beneficial for health. Eating foods rich in prebiotics can keep your immune and detoxification systems healthy. Good food sources of prebiotics include tomatoes, artichokes, bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, and oats.
7. Decrease Your Salt Intake – Consuming too much salt can increase water retention. You can eliminate excess water — and waste — by increasing your intake of water and potassium-rich foods. Excess fluid buildup can cause bloating and make clothing uncomfortable. If you find yourself consuming too much salt, you can detox yourself of the extra water weight.
8. Get Active – Regular exercise — regardless of body weight — is associated with a longer life and a reduced risk of many conditions and diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers. While there are several mechanisms behind the health benefits of exercise, reduced inflammation is a key point. By reducing inflammation, exercise can help your body’s systems — including its detoxification system — function properly and protect against disease. It’s recommended that you do at least 150–300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise — such as brisk walking — or 75–150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity — such as running. Regular physical activity lowers inflammation and allows your body’s detoxification system to work properly.
9. Fasting – Fasting has become a hot topic in the nutrition world — and for good reason. Research has shown that it’s associated with a variety of health benefits, including weight loss and reduced blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, and inflammation levels. What’s more, studies suggest that fasting and calorie restriction, in general, have beneficial effects on the aging process and may optimize cellular repair. Additionally, fasting may help enhance the production and activity of certain enzymes involved in detoxification, as well as promote the health of your liver, one of the main organs involved in detoxification. Keep in mind that although intermittent fasting regimens like the 16/8 method are relatively safe and typically not associated with harmful side effects, more extreme and prolonged fasting methods, such as multiple-day fasts or water fasts, can be dangerous.

Spiritual Purification

For me, I believe we are being called to discipline ourselves in the “essentials” of our faith. What are these essentials? The essentials are referred to as the Seven Daily Habits:

Fr. John McCloskey’s Seven Daily Habits of Holy Apostolic People include:

1. The Morning Offering
2. Mental Prayer (at least 15 minutes)
3. Spiritual Reading (at least 15 minutes)
4. Holy Mass and Communion
5. The Angelus (at 6 AM, noon, 6 PM)
6. The Holy Rosary
7. Brief Examination of Conscience (at night)

You may notice frequent (at least, once a month) Confession and Adoration are missing in the daily habits. This is simply because they are not usually done on a daily basis but, most certainly, must be a part of our overall spiritual practices

Also, I created this meme to make it very simple:

Fr Richard Heilman