Good news?

Folks… I need some good news.

What is your good news?

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
This entry was posted in SESSIUNCULA. Bookmark the permalink.

60 Comments

  1. Dr. Eric says:

    First! (I saw some people on another blog do this.)

    We are going to go to St. Francis de Sales Oratory on Sunday and then the St. Louis Zoo with our kids and my parents in tow. Please pray for the conversion of my dad.

    Also, I am bouncing between two clinics and things are going very well. The sky is the limit, soon I will be able to pay back my loans and we can afford to get a house.

  2. My current lack of employment has been a blessing in disguise because it has helped me to concentrate on God and less on myself.

    As Job said, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

  3. The Lord always provides!

    brotherjuniper: I hear you. I’m in the same boat. I’ll pray for you.

  4. Brian Day says:

    I started my third and last cycle of chemo today for multiple myeloma. All last week I’ve been dealing with severe lower back pain. One of the drugs I take at the beginning of the cycle is a steroid, dexamethasone. A couple of hours after taking the steroid, the pain stopped! I’m guessing the anti-inflammatory properties of the steroid did the trick.

    It is such a relief to be pain free (relatively speaking). As CofA said – The Lord always provides!

  5. cuaguy says:

    Um, nothing can be better than the fireworks on the steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Actually, the upper church filled my nuns wearing habits is better. I will let you all decide!

  6. MareD says:

    Well, hmmm…I’m going to the Call to Holiness Conference on October 10th and you’ll be there! That’s FANTASTIC news! :)

    The speakers totally rock this year! I’m looking forward to it! :)

  7. Jack Hughes says:

    does this count? being back in the Church after a month long sojourn with the SSPX?

  8. mvmattke says:

    A young priest will officialy (he has already celebrated one last saturday, but not officialy) say his first TLM next monday! That’s awesome!

  9. robtbrown says:

    I discovered how easy it was to make Peche Melba.

  10. I love my husband. We have been married almost 17 years and have 5 precious kids. My husband has a good job as a professor and I get to adjunct on the side and I homeschool! I feel so blessed by our Lord!

  11. robtbrown says:

    Brian Day,

    When my father was having chemotherapy, one of the bags in the protocol was a steroid.

  12. Gail F says:

    After several S-S-L-L-O-O-W-W months at work, the phones are ringing off the hook! We employ 5 people as well as ourselves — for all of us this is very good news.

  13. Sedgwick says:

    I’ve decided to buy a digital piano and start practicing again after 18 years of self-imposed exile from music. God seems to have written classical music on my soul, and I can’t run away from it anymore. And I think He used two performances to bring me face to face with this: Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s performance of the Bach Magnificat, and Joshua Bell’s performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto (both on YouTube)…

    …not to mention the Z-Cam…

  14. Frank H says:

    I second MareD’s enthusiasm for the upcoming Call to Holiness conference in Detroit. Hope we can have a blognic!

  15. Tewkes says:

    After 22 months of being unemployed (six of which spent in a wheelchair with a compound fracture of both bones above his right ankle) my husband had his First job interview!! Hurray!! After waiting 20 months, I have my disability hearing in two, count them, Two weeks!! My son (24 yrs old) said he’d pay my light bill, and he already paid our auto insurance bill the last two months. I feel like EWTN – I’m almost down for the count, but God lifts me up so very high just when I need him most. Someday I’ll tell you all about the house we had given to us – free, a present, a gift, years ago.

  16. Tina in Ashburn says:

    i am enjoying my new job after not working for a wonderful five years.

    oh, and that old video on the internet of Pinky the cat?…well it is STILL hysterical to watch.

  17. Robert_H says:

    I took two of my kids to see some fireworks tonight with my father-in-law.

  18. Jason Keener says:

    I’ve finally gathered all of my supplies and ideas to begin a new drawing project and a new painting project next week. Can’t wait to start!

    This weekend should be nice, too. I’m going to Chicago tomorrow to visit friends, and the chant schola that I sing with seems prepared to sing a nice Gregorian Chant Mass on Sunday. Our schola might also be visiting our archdiocesan seminary in the near future to provide Gregorian Chant for one of the seminary’s Novus Ordo Masses.

  19. mitch_wa says:

    I am begging the work on a 2 or 3 part article for my colleges Catholic Magazine (The Gonzaga Witness) on the new translation of the Mass. Our magazine is looking at this project as a way of positivly introducing the coming changes to the liturgy.

    When I explained to the group (many of whom had heard nothing to date that this was even in the works) the changes coming down the line as far as translation goes they were shocked at first but then very excited. The one comment I felt was very apt was (paraphrasing): “This will force us to pay better attention to the Mass.” Many people at the meeting expressed because of how it was not what we are used to it would help draw us in because it would all be so new and we would all be so eager to learn!

  20. Brian Day says:

    robtbrown,

    I’m actually on a double protocol. Velcade (by infusion/injection), and the combo of steroids and thalidomide.

    I am very thankful that the side effects have been very mild which allows me to go to work full time.

  21. AngelineOH says:

    My son and his wife are expecting our 4th grandchild. We are all so blessed!

  22. Sacristymaiden says:

    Went to mass (TLM) and Benediction this morning, my library books came in the other day, and I get to fix yet another of the church’s cassocks which have always driven me CRAZY because they are practically all minus buttons!

  23. A young TOR Priest is about to pray his first public TLM tomorrow morning (Saturday) at Franciscan University!

  24. 4mercy says:

    I have just tucked in 4 fourth grade “backyard campers” in their tents. I listened to the sounds of nerf gun wars and saw flashes of light come into the windows from flashlight tag. Life is beautiful!

  25. RichR says:

    My boys will be so excited to see another Don Camillo podcaZt. They are 6, 3, and 1 years old (okay, the 1 y.o. isn’t as excited). They love these….so there Fr.Z., you are making three small children smile with excitement.

  26. 4mercy says:

    Oops!! I forgot to mention that my wonderful husband set up all the tents for the boys! God bless him!!

  27. MicheleQ says:

    My good news is that I just talked to my 20 yr. old son tonight and he will be home (from Iraq!) in just a few days!

  28. gloriainexcelsis says:

    We continue to be enlightened at St. Stephen’s. Fr. Lyons, O.V.M., gave a conference last night to a packed classroom of adults on Bro. Lawrence’s “Practice of the Presence of God.” Next Thursday’s 6:30pm Mass will feature as homily, “aridity in prayer.” In October a series will be offered on “Genesis,” followed by one on “Psalms.” Two Latin classes are offered as well. Happy as we parishioners are, my question is, “When do these three good priests eat and sleep?” With Sunday vespers, Adoration & Benediction, daily Masses and confession, personal care of the parish family members, filling in and offering Sunday Mass for other parishes (one 70+ miles away), classes, their devotion and faithfulness to their apostolate and their stamina amaze me. Deo Gratias.

  29. Hans says:

    The first class for the new (permanent) deacon aspirants in the Archdiocese of Chicago is in the morning.

  30. TomB says:

    The Rockies gave us a great game tonight. Losing 1-0 bottom of the ninth, with two strikes against Torealba, he hit a very nice triple (very nearly a HR) against a great closing pitcher, driving in 3 runs! Very exciting and fun baseball. They sure like to wait til the last possible minute to win.

  31. jantoniello says:

    I should be headed off to seminary in the next few months. That’s good, right?

  32. patrick_f says:

    Jan, Yes its VERY good. God bless you in your journey

    And Doc, maybe we will run into each other sometime at SFDS oratory.

    Today was good. We finished our float for our city’s festival. We’ll have our RIB booth up, good chance to spread information about the Catholic Faith (something Knights are called to do..I am very excited!!)

    My wife, is an amazing artist. She did a wonderful job on the float!

  33. medievalist says:

    I’m submitting my doctoral dissertation in less than one week! Te Deum laudamus!

  34. Warren says:

    Our small but enthusiastic chant group begins providing Gregorian chant for the Ordinary Form Mass (muchly in Latin) at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, Victoria, B.C.

  35. ckdexterhaven says:

    Our priest is getting rid of the Breaking Bread hippie hymnals, and bringing in the St. Michael hymnals! God is Good!

  36. ejcmartin says:

    Today, September 12th, is the 5th annual “Flatrock Penitential Pilgrimage” and the weather looks to be great once again.

    The pilgrimage is 2km to the replica Lourdes Grotto Shrine in Flatrock, Newfoundland. The Grotto was built in the 1950’s and was visited by Pope JP II in 1984. JP II also blessed the fishing fleet at the same spot. The fishermen lined up their boats in the shape of the cross and were blessed.

    The pilgrimage will include prayers, hymns, Stations of the Cross, Reconcilation, followed by a special Mass.

    http://www.flatrockpilgrimage.org/

  37. IL Catholic says:

    My classes start monday and there is a daily EF Mass within walking distance of the campus.

  38. Rose in NE says:

    The new principal at the Catholic school where I work is fantastic! He is trying to instill a sense of reverence at the weekly school mass by instructing the kids to enter and leave the church in silence. He has also instructed that the kids kneel down after mass and make a thanksgiving. This is quite a contrast to what these kids (and their parents) had become accustomed to.

    Also, at my suggestion he is going to hang a large crucifix in the cafeteria so that when the kids say their meal prayers they have something to focus on-–you know, instead of making faces at each other across the table. To help defray the cost he has asked that the children earn a dollar at home by doing some sort of chore. The kids are excited to know that this will be “their” crucifix.

  39. CallZorbin says:

    Good News?. Well Karpov and Kasparov are to play and new match in Valencia this month!. Does anyone remeber their epic clash on 1984?.

  40. William of the Old says:

    On Monday, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 2nd anniversary of SP, EWTN is doing a live TV broadcast of a Solemn High EF Mass: http://www.ewtn.com/tv/index2.htm
    The celebrant is Canon Jason Apple, ICKSP, http://www.institute-christ-king.org/home/
    who was ordained in July, this year.

  41. albizzi says:

    My mother, a very devout woman, was diagnosed a lung cancer 3 months ago. The chemotherapy looked doing fine until she caught an infection that made her very weak, almost dying, and obliged to hospitalize. Here another check up diagnosed some brain’s metastases. She went back home when the infection was stopped and then had an hallucination one night that made her to jump from her bedroom’s window, 1st floor, almost 3 meters high. Fortunately her guardian angel received her in his arms and she had only a small break to his foot. A different medication was given her.
    This morning (saturday) I was amazed seeing her preparing herself for a 4km walk (since she is forbidden to drive her car)to go to a funeral mass at our parish church.
    I am wondering if she is really so sick since she looks so fine and full of energy.

  42. Beau says:

    I’m 38 years old, and I started having seizures on the 4th of July – 30 to 60 every day. The medication is finally beginning to bring them under control over the last two days (good news all on its own!). The whole experience has really opened my eyes to the great things that God does in my life and in my family’s life, and that’s the really good news.

  43. Girgadis says:

    About two years ago, I asked our previous pastor if we could encourage more First Saturday devotions by having a Holy Hour following morning Mass. Father liked the idea but I never heard any more about it. Last week, his successor announced we would have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Rosary recited for the intentions of priests EVERY Saturday following Mass, which is offered in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today was the first day. Ask and you shall receive, and in this case, even more than what was asked for.

  44. Mickey says:

    Good news? Can’t think of any right now.

    The Last Legion still mans the ramparts while the city behind us tears itself apart.

    Jesus Christ is the Good News…and that brings me comfort…but my country, and most of my countrymen, have abandoned me.

    Laudeto Iesu Christo, HE has not abandoned me.

  45. introibo says:

    Today is my youngest’s 2nd birthday. Tomorrow we go to Mass in the Extraordinary Form which will be held for the first time at the church in which we were married, St. Stanislaus, in New Haven, CT. The Mass had been moved from another church where it had been for more than 20 years, but that church is closing.

  46. BLC says:

    I am going to Confession and Mass tomorrow… that is good news!

  47. Liz F says:

    When I’m having a really bad time my 13-year old son often reminds me that this is good because it can use up purgatory time. Sometimes I want to growl at him when he points this out, but I have to grudgingly admit that he’s right. I also keep having to remind myself (almost daily) that God must be allowing these awful things to happen to and in our country for a reason. I get so frightened when I hear the particulars of what is going on, but I also am so happy that we have the Faith to cling to. Thanks be to God for that and the Communion of Saints.
    My coffee is good this a.m. Sometimes it’s not quite right, but today it tastes so good! Does that count as good news, Father?

  48. Rouxfus says:

    Everything is grace. That’s the best news I know.

  49. leutgeb says:

    I’ve just been to a wonderful 21st Birthday Party. The birthday boy is the eldest of a lovely CAtholic family who live a mere five minutes from my home.

    Whilst there I was chatting to the Mother of someone I used to teach and learnt that he has entered a new order in Italy and is training to be a Priest. Lovely photo of him with two of his brothers in Venice. He looking very happy. Entered the seminary straight from school. Believe me this is extraordinary in SE London.

  50. Mamma B says:

    My youngest daughter is starting back to college this month.

  51. lux_perpetua says:

    i have been completely blind my whole life. i recently enroled in a program which teaches blind people independent living skills–including travel skills via a long white cane and knowledge of public transportation systems. as a result, i was able to go to Adoration by myself for the first time a month ago–one of my greatest dreams fulfilled. i have continued to go every week, and only wish it were offered more.

  52. momoften says:

    Another son just finished his second Mass as cantor for EF Mass. He is 14, and is getting better all the time….I am so proud of him

  53. david andrew says:

    My new parish music directorship position is going well. People have been lavish in their praise of my work and demeanor (which the Pastor also appreciates and remarks on frequently), seem to be very receptive to my ideas, and there are those ready to snap up the Gregorian Missal and learn the “sung prayer of the Church.”

    Our deacon is a wonderful man, and well-placed in the TLM and “Reform of the Reform” movements within our Archdiocese, and there’s even talk about skipping over the Benedictine altar arrangement step and going right for ad orientem worship!

    Brick by brick!

  54. sacerdosinaeternum says:

    After being made Pastor this summer, I was able to train the altar boys this morning to re-introduce the use the Communion Paten at all Masses in the parish.

  55. saintos says:

    My family and I converted to the CC and were formally received in January of 2006. My final gig as an ordained protestant minister was Aug of ’05 following nearly two full decades as a pastor. I have been un and under employed since. I’ve been a janitor, a financial adviser (yech) and worked in a mom n’ pop style Catholic book store. I have also made a go at returning to art, my former, former career. It’s been a brutal financial ride. It’s also been a struggle identity-wise. Good news?

    I’m getting there. On the eve of yet another difficult decision I was contacted by a parish priest I know well and invited to consider a part time position with the parish in adult catechesis and evangelism. I’m thrilled! Finally, I get to put those ministry gifts to use alongside my passion for doctrinally orthodox and traditionally minded Catholicism. While this parish is not what you’d call traditional by any means my family and are welcome to continue to worship at another parish in the city where there is more traditional thinking and even a Latin Mass in the “old” rite, every Sunday.

    This comment could be pages and pages long but let me leave it at this and affirm Fr. Z that this is very good news. Thanks for the opportunity to share it. I hope it encourages in some way.

  56. Agnes says:

    I had some very tasty microbrews at the Autumn Brew Review in NE Mpls today.

  57. Greg Smisek says:

    My aunt and uncle just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and my parents’ 45th is coming up. Deo gratias.

  58. greg the beachcomber says:

    My business partner’s granddaughter, baby Mia, was born with more health issues than hope for survival. Many, many rosaries have been offered for her, and on Monday baby Mia turns two, and is a happy, healthy child. Now we offer rosaries of thanksgiving for this miracle baby.

  59. TC says:

    We just had a family reunion for my parents’ 54th wedding anniversary.

  60. jjoy says:

    I got an A on my term paper “The Christological Controversies and the Importance of Magisterial Authority,” my online mantilla business is doing well at joy.niklas.us, and my husband starts a 6-month temp job in his field tomorrow morning after being out of work for 9 months!!

Comments are closed.