What is your good news?

Any reports about good things and graces in your lives?

Let us know!

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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44 Comments

  1. anj says:

    ANGLICANORUM COETIBUS!

  2. zgietl says:

    Not in my life, but good for the Society of St. John Cantius in Chicago. Brother Jonathan Ryan placed first in the Jordan International Organ Competition winning a total of $35,000. This will go a long way to continuing the mission of St. John Cantius which does such great work. http://jic.colstate.edu/
    http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.5076977/k.9ECF/Br_Jonathan_Ryan.htm for a brief bio on him.

  3. Orate Fratres says:

    My parish recently installed a new organ.

    Cantate Domino canticum novum: laus eius in ecclesia sanctorum!

  4. A friend of mine for many years, Msgr William Smith, professor of theology at St. Joseph’s seminary in Yonkers, New York (now deceased) used to complain that when he would debate, his opponents would say that both he and they were saying the same thing, just using different language. His riposte? “If we are saying the same thing, then use my language. BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SAYING THE SAME THING. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is NOT a community meal!” While I am saddened that he did not live to see it, I am quite gladdened that he has finally prevailed, i.e., WE ARE FINALLY RECEIVING THE CORRECT LANGUAGE EVEN IF MANY IN THE CHURCH ARE SQUIRMING IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN BACK.

  5. Rose in NE says:

    My son received his ACT test score today. His score was more than high enough to qualify for a full tuition paid scholarship to our local university. Although, he’s been thinking about the priesthood, too. So if he does later choose to go to seminary, he won’t have any college debt to contend with. In these tough economic times, that is a blessing!

  6. Margaret says:

    After two miscarriages in a row, I saw a beautifully healthy baby on my ultrasound last week, complete with wiggling little arms and legs. Deo Gratias!

  7. Mark01 says:

    My 3 1/2 year old son started singing a song he learned in preschool the other day about how Noah built the ark. He then proceeded to make an ark out of pillows and told me to get in because the water was coming. Then he said the water was gone and there was a big surprise, a rainbow! We then actually had a rather lengthy conversation about God and how he made everything in the universe. Some quotes:

    “He made me? And he made you? Ohhhhh… and he made Mommy and he made Matthew (his younger brother) and he made new baby too (his baby brother Jonathan)!”

    “Where’s God, I don’t see him?! Is he here?”

    “Does God live at church? Why?”

    And best of all, “I love God too Daddy. And you know what, I love you too!”

  8. AngelineOH says:

    This past weekend my Marine veteran son was married to a wonderful girl. He wore his dress blues and it was a beautiful, serene Mass. It was a wonderful beginning to their new married life.

    Angeline

  9. Charivari Rob says:

    Good news?

    When a dear friend of my wife was (unfortunately) involved in a car crash last week, two passing Good Samaritans quickly stopped (fortunately) to aid her.

    Further, when Samaritan #1 made the (generally sensible) judgement “You appear okay, but as long as we don’t need to move you, let’s wait for the ambulance and the EMTs.” he was overruled by Samaritan #2 (who was both observant and possessed of a well-formed sense of urgency): “I smell something burning. We do need to get you out of this car right now!” They got her out and a few paces away before the car went up in flames!

  10. JennyZ says:

    We’re closing on our first house on Thursday, and our first little one is 7 months along and perfectly healthy!! She should be here in January, with a brand new nursery :)

    Also, I went to Confession today for the first time in 3 months. I feel so… light. Relieved. A whole lot of things. I feel like a brand new person :)

  11. Jenny says:

    I am six weeks along with our third little one. Pray for a healthy baby and easier morning sickness.

  12. kab63 says:

    Nothing grand. Just a small, healthy, peaceful life with our family. As we look at our budget and modest desires going into the Christmas season we see how blessed we are. I offer my prayers for the pregnant women and new mothers that they be granted the blessings I’ve been granted as a mother.

  13. doublenan says:

    It would be a privilege indeed to pray for you and the new little one you’re expecting, Jenny…and I will let this be my good news.

  14. I am back teaching at communication majors at college! Even on a part time basis.

    I will be joining the Christ the King Mass this Sunday as a 4th degree Honor Guard! I will be donning the chapeau, sword and cape.

    Huzzah!

    And Anglicanorum Coetibus, of course!

    Ad Multos Annos, Benedetto!

  15. jenne says:

    Must be a run on Jenn’s having babies. I am pregnant too and can use prayers. Last three miscarried. I will not ask for the morning sickness to go away, I am liking the fact that it is getting worse and I am exhausted. This suffering I desire at this point! I do have several great ones I still must supervise to heaven. Would like to do the same for this one too.

    JennE

  16. BLC says:

    I used the theme of ‘save the liturgy, save the world’ for one of my major essays in my theology course this semester! (It was for a Christian spirituality course – I wrote the paper on St John Vianney and the Mass.)

  17. Jayna says:

    I’ve been getting pretty good responses from the professors I’ve e-mailed to possibly work with me on my doctorate. I study Catholic identity and American culture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and in my dissertation I am planning on using liturgy/devotions as a focal point to talk about the liberal/conservative divide.

  18. tioedong says:

    Good news from the Philippines: No typhoons this week!

    Of course Mayon volano is erupting a bit, but so far no big problem…

  19. Karen Russell says:

    In the wee hours of tomorrow morning my second grandson will be two weeks old. Beautiful, healthy, everyone doing well.

  20. Christina says:

    Got to visit a cemetery today and pray in peace and quiet for the souls. Also, my brother who has fallen quite a ways away from the Lord mentioned today that he’s planning to go on a silent retreat (recommended from a holy man we both know). Prayers, please!

  21. I started teaching a class in Gregorian chant at the chapel run by the Atonement Friars in Brockton, MA 2 Saturdays ago, and we have had more than a dozen people show up each week who are eager to learn and sing!

    And, I was invited to submit the manuscript for a book on the Anglican Use by a noted Catholic publisher last week, so we may have an opportunity to get information about this out to a wide audience!

  22. Nan says:

    Adoration over the noon hour.
    Mass after work.

    Luring my anti-Catholic mom and sister over to the dark roast side with a Mystic Monk Coffee sampler. There may be soap and lotion in their future.

  23. JoAnna says:

    We close on our first house this week! Also, I’m 24 weeks pregnant and everything looks great so far.

  24. Dauphin says:

    We had a hugely successful Mass yesterday in St. Mary`s Cathedral, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Pictures:

    http://kingstontlm.blogspot.com/2009/11/photographs-from-dedication-of.html

  25. kelleyb says:

    Congratulations,JoAnna.That is very glorious news!!
    Mine is far more mundane….I didn’t throttle my beloved tonight….and he did the dishes. After 40 years…that is Great news.
    God Bless all.

  26. Mrs. Bear says:

    My husband is discerning! Permanently!

  27. Melania says:

    My father has been very ill and we had thought he was dying. He was heavily sedated for a long time. But he has done much better the last few days. He has been without any pain medication for 48 hours and is joking, talking old times, movies and politics. He’s looking forward to the holidays.

    It’s a great blessing to hear him again. We have gotten tremendous support from friends and relatives and lots of people praying for him. My father may still die soon. We’re taking one day at a time, but we are grateful.

  28. SophiaGrace says:

    Good things and graces in my life? A resounding yes!
    My beloved and I are now married! What a precious gift God has given me in my husband!

  29. Tom A. says:

    Even though I was having a very difficult day and heard a lot of bad news from friends, I took a few minutes to pray at a local cemetary. Immediately, I was touched by the Holy Spirit and God spoke to my heart and in a flash gave me some direction to proceed with a course of action for the rest of the afternoon. It is amazing how beautiful it is to know that we can draw upon God, the source of infinite wisdom to help us through the day.

  30. JackG says:

    Out of the hospital and on the mend. Pneumonia and blog clots in the leg and lungs. I can actually breathe now. Thanks be to God!

  31. Girgadis says:

    As I was kneeling at the altar rail for Holy Communion this past Sunday at our now-weekly TLM, I had a sense that I haven’t had in a very long time. Not sure I can put it into words but at last I felt the fearfulness and awe of waiting for the Divine. I’m a bit embarassed to admit this, but I don’t think I had such a feeling of expectation since making my First Holy Communion. I was listening to the backdrop of the schola against Father saying the prayer in Latin to each Communicant and I knew this was how Mass is meant to be celebrated.

  32. IL Catholic says:

    Went to Confession.

  33. Liz F says:

    Nan, you crack me up! I have so many blessings I can’t even count them, but for tonight my good news is just that I really enjoyed reading all of your great news. I will pray for you all tonight. Goodnight and God bless!

  34. Faustina says:

    1. The Archdiocese of Seattle has move a “discussion” on Obama’s health care bill with a pro-abortion politician and the Catholic leader at an abortion/euthansia center OUT of the Cathedral and to Seattle U. This is something I never would have expected a year ago.
    2. Our very holy FSSP priest is coming to dinner at our home. This is something I never would have expected a year ago.
    3. My husband is coming into the Church before Christmas. This is something I never would have expectd a year ago.
    I feel like I’ve entered thru the narrow gate. :-)

  35. CCS says:

    This weekend we’re baptizing my niece!

  36. Laurinda1230 says:

    It is wonderful to hear everyone’s good news! I love to hear about pregnancies and happy babies, congratulations to you all!

    My fiance and I are getting up early and meeting each other at church in the morning for daily Mass. It has been something we’ve talked about for awhile and finally got up the nerve to implement.

  37. luiz says:

    I discovered that an anonymous priest was present in our last TLM. I was told that he was impressed and he began to re-think his liturgical practices.

  38. thefeds says:

    Fr. Z,
    My grace-filled good news is my new job. Prior to meeting my wife of 22 years, I had spent 5.5 years in College Seminary (2 yrs) and Theology (2.5 yrs). It was the best time of my life, but as I got closer to ordination to the Transitional Diaconate, I discerned that I was not given the gift of celibacy. When I left school, I had hoped to find work as a DRE at a local parish, or a similar position, but the first position that opened up with benefits was at a county office of education in purchasing. 22 years later, I’m a Deacon Aspirant, and the proud father of four fine sons. In the summer, in response to the sagging economy, my employer of 18 years was trying to cut salary costs by offering long-term employees incentives to retire. I took the offer, and spent the last two months sending out resumes and job applications. One day I was looking at the website for our Diocese, and I noticed a job posting for Associate Vocations Director. The only desired element that I didn’t posess was fluency in Spanish. I got the job, and I truly have a dream job. The only downside is that my commute, which used to be five blocks each way, is now one hour each way. God is truly good!

  39. Allena says:

    My son has asked permission to join the seminary. He is thinking FSSP or Institute of Christ the King

  40. q7swallows says:

    Prayed to see myself as God sees me and got a small glimpse — got promptly thrown off my high horse onto my ass in front of 2 people I respect and was seeking respect from. Deo gratias!

  41. frival says:

    I spent the whole day Saturday in a beautiful church for our local Eucharistic Conference. We had wonderful speakers (including Bp. Hennesey, Auxiliary of Boston and Bob & Penny Lord) and truly sublime music provided by the Magdalen College choir. Spending twelve hours in prayer before and contemplation of the Eucharist is simply a wonderful way to spend a day!

  42. adagio48 says:

    My husband and I made a pilgrimage to Stockbridge MA to the Divine Mercy Shrine. It was a beautiful autumn day, spiritually, my guardian angel provided the directions!

  43. Tina in Ashburn says:

    St Theresa’s in Ashburn VA gothic-style church was dedicated last night by Bishop Loverde of the Arlington Diocese. The 1991 parish has had school gymnasium Masses since 1993.

    Father Guest went through a lot of pain to make this a reality. Previously, collected funds got diverted and the building just never got started. He dealt with old anger and hurts over this. Father turned it all around plus directed the plans of a lovely building.

    The building is fantastic. Parishioners last night were elated and giddy after so many years of waiting and wondering. What a beautiful huge church. We are awaiting the delivery of an old pipe organ.

    http://tinyurl.com/yjw5vm6

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