Fr. Z's Blog

Welcome registrant:

Cariad

I’m down today.  The realtor  who was going to show me an apartment this morning called to say that there was already an offer on it.  She’ll look more. If the other thing falls through, I’ll be able to look at it.

I’m disappointed.  I am reminded of the 9th Beatitude, the one Matthew forget to include,

Beati qui non expectant, quia non disappointabuntur.

I’ve been looking at renting.  Buying has more possibilities.  Anyone have a €1.5 million to spare?

I’m down, but not out.

And I’m in Rome!

Thank you, Lord, for this day.

Angelico Press is wonderful. I note with interest that they have republished the classic by Abbot Anscar Vonier A Key To the Doctrine Of The Eucharist.

US HERE – UK HERE

This book was very important in my formation during my conversion.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Eleanor Parker is a fine medievalist. She uses the moniker “Clerk of Oxford”. Today she posted this fascinating tidbit.

Tonight is the first full moon after the autumnal equinox – the Winterfylleð moon, which in the old Anglo-Saxon calendar was the herald of winter. https://t.co/umwOGx8rRW

— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) October 17, 2024

In churchy news… heh heh heh… via the … heh heh… Fishwrap (aka National Sodomitic Reporter)

Former President Donald Trump holds a significant lead over Vice President Kamala Harris among Catholic voters in the “battleground states,” according to a new poll sponsored by the National Catholic Reporter. https://t.co/ug1fpehkWv

— Father V (@father_rmv) October 16, 2024

I’ll bet it irked them to post that.

The Archbishop of Toulouse in France is countering the upcoming “Hellfest” with ghastly satanic crap planned for the city. HERE I don’t want to post the pictures. The Holy See could learn something from the Archbishop of Toulouse about idolatry.

The great Card. Zen has something to say about “walking together about walking togetherity”.

NEW: @CardJosephZen on the Synod:
“Obviously, the purpose of this conference was to overthrow the hierarchical class of the church & implement a democratic system.”
Says if division over Fiducia Supplicans isn’t sorted then “the future of the church will be very uncertain.”… pic.twitter.com/8f4Ebirdu2

— Michael Haynes ?? (@MLJHaynes) October 17, 2024

In chessy news…. new DRAMa! HERE

White to play! (How long did it take you?)

At 7:22 the sun rose for Rome behind a bit of increasing cloud cover.

It will, without us seeing it clearly, set at 18:29, on this 290th day of the civil year.

HEY!  e*********@orangemail.es  – my thank you note was kicked back!

HEY! a******20210@hotmail.com – my note kicked back!  

New email?

Welcome new registrant:

kneel

It is the Feast of St. Hedwig.  She died on 15 Oct of 1243, but when St. Teresa of Avila came along Hedwig was bumped a day.

The Ave Maria is in the 18:45 cycle.

Thank you, Lord, for this day.

Thank you in advance for a favor which perhaps will soon be granted.

Sit back and I will tell you a story, of patens and tombs and apartments.

Today I went over to the shop where my chalice and paten were made in 1991 and where they were regilded last year.  I was unhappy with the way the paten turned out – true flaws of workmanship which I pointed out.  I brought it back to Rome to have them re-do it. On the way, I stopped at the tiny neighborhood realty office run by a venerable woman in her 80’s. They are not always open and I was hopeful when I saw the iron serranda was up. No one was there. Lights out. But the serranda was up! Hope sprang up.

You see, for the last couple of trips I’ve been really frustrated in my search for a place in the right area, for the right price. I contact the contact and … crickets. So, my veg stand gal in the Campo gave me this senior lady’s number in the diminutive realty office past which I have walked about 17 thousand times. She’s very nice. But she wasn’t there.

I continued to the workshop where I had a frank conversation with the owner’s colleague in which I brooked no but’s or maybe’s.

Then it was directly to the nearby Chiesa Nuova for a visit to St. Philip Neri for a frank, but filially polite, conversation with him. 

St. Philip’s tomb is in the back on the left (Gospel side).

I knelt down at St. Philip’s tomb and, instead of praying for everyone else this time, I essentially said,

“Okay, St Pippo. You’re my guy. I was ordained on your feast. Now I’m a confrere – the first priest inducted as a member in who knows how long – in the Archconfraternity you founded at your church. I’m asking you, please, help me with this apartment thing. I’ve got to make some progress.”

I went on my way, leaving the church, stopping for some groceries, returning home the way I had started out… past the realty office.

The serranda was up and the door was open and the lights were on.  In I went.

After getting reacquainted she asked my maximum price per month and I told her.  Instantly she said “I have a place, it’s (€100 more).  It’s fantastic, newly redone, part of a religious house near here” (which puts it in my target zone).

It is on the 3rd floor with no elevator, which is going to be a problem for people who want to visit – and for my poor knees which are not what they were.

That said, we have an actual appointment to look at it tomorrow morning at 10:30.  It’ll be the first time in trying and trying and trying actually to get in and see it.

What I am wondering is if this place isn’t part of the structure attached to San Girolamo which is where St. Philip founded the Oratory.  Wouldn’t that be something?

If I get this place…. I am going to have to lean on your goodness a little more… but the dividends will be extended.

Now, for a change in gears…

I really like this 5.

It’s the small things, sometimes.

I’m learning the ways of my phone’s camera (thanks DPM).  There is a depth of field issue, at least when it is dark.   So, there’s a lot of fuzzy in the more distant objects.  I wasn’t trying to be artistic.  I’ll review the settings.

The more they upgrade these things, the harder they are to use.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Meanwhile, in churchy news… I don’t have much. I’m trying to care, but….

There’s this from my text group.

Meanwhile, in chessy news… HERE

At 7:21 the sun rose and it will set at 18:30.

The Ave Maria Bell, marking the end of the ecclesiastical work day, would ring at 18:45.

Thank you, Lord, for this day.

Since it is also the Ides of October, today in ancient Rome would have been their “Oktoberfest”… day of the October Horse.  More on that below.

Today is the Feast of the Patroness of Chess, St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church.

St. Teresa, pray for us.

St Teresa, a great many of us are fed up with the … shenanigans!

Pray for the Church’s pastors who are persecuting traditionally-minded women religious.  Intercede with God to blunt the mania of aimless process for the sake of process.  Ask God to curb, even with chastisement if necessary, the insanity of gender-bending sex confusion and the appalling acts that it involves.

Her relic at The Parish™ which The World’s Best Sacristan™ prepared for exposition at the altar for the Masses today.

Last night was the “cena di congedo” for my friends who returned to home after the celebration of their 50th anniversary.  La Signora desired some of my green risotto and I was happy to oblige, thus the swoop out of the side.   Proof that we do more than take photos of prepared plates.  We eat the food, too.

The light wasn’t the best, but I think you get the idea.    “Fiorentina”.

After, amaro (one I had not tried before) and ciambelline made in house.

I am spectacularly irritated at Acqua Nepi for bastardizing their label on their .65 l bottle. The nerve.

They went whoring after modern and zippy only to lose their class and identity. It’s good water but I want the company to suffer for this impudent and useless innovation. The other bottles have still a decent label but… what the fresh hell is going on?!? Are they – sorry – testing the waters?

The offending close-up.

They need to get some bad feedback. The last time they tried this crap, I called them up and gave them a piece of my mind and, as they told me then, they scrapped their update that excluded the motto.

It is not to be borne. One more change…. I shall write to them a serious nastygram.

What is the motto, you ask?

Nepe civitas, nobilis atque potens, in cuius fertilissimis agris balnea scaturiunt salutifera.

Can you imagine? They took off the best part, their motto ribbon and Latin phrase.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In churchy news… this.

Cardinal Müller re-joined the Synod today, after missing the 2024 meetings so far due to illness.

He reportedly began his first day by renewing his criticism that the meeting is not a Synod of Bishops, due to comprising lay voters.https://t.co/KEi3ciNSXe pic.twitter.com/pbpzdhslSx

— Michael Haynes ?? (@MLJHaynes) October 14, 2024

I promised more about the October Horse and ancient Rome.

One of the annual rituals of ancient Rome was the rite of the October Horse.  On this day there was a race between two-horse chariots held in the Campus Martius (at that time open fields).  The right hand horse of the victorious pair would be sacrificed by the flamen (priest) of Mars on an altar there in the Campus Martius (Martius… Mars… right?).  After the sacrifice, people who lived in the Via Sacra neighborhood would fight the people who lived in the Suburra and Francis Ford Coppola for the horse’s head. If the Sacravienses won, would display it on the Regia (where the Roman kings had been). If the Suburrenses won, it was displayed at the Turris Mamilia (a long-gone tower in the rough and tumble Suburra low zone along the slopes of the Viminal and Esquiline Hills). Meanwhile, the horse’s cauda (both tail and genitals) would taken to the Regia to drip its blood on a the sacred hearth.  The Vestal Virgins got some of the blood for use at the Parilia festival on 21 April which was associated with the Birthday of Rome.

The Australian writer Colleen McCullough penned a series of books set in ancient Rome beginning with the rise of Gaius Marius in The First Man in Rome and going all the way through the time of Caesar into the whole Anthony and Cleopatra train wreck.  One of the books is The October Horse which concerns the assassination of Julius Caesar and the rise of Octavian.  The books are admirably well-researched for historical novels.  She explains where she takes any liberties and why.  They stick well to the history of the devolution of the Republic and give great explanations of the events, Roman law, religion, culture, the fierce politics and dynamics of families and tradition, the role of the military.

In the first volume, on Gaius Marius, she gets her feet wet. She hits her stride in The Grass Crown, about Lucius Cornelius Sulla.  Yes, there are objectionable passages, blahhhaity blah blaaaaah.  Skip them and don’t get worked up.  They are historical novels, but they have a great deal of just straight history in them.

We like straight.

In straight chessy news… HERE

(Black to move and straight away and straight mate in 3)

Busy post today, as I catch up. A combination of factors yesterday kept me from posting the usual.

Today over Rome received first sunshine at 7:20. It will diminish at 18:32. The Ave Maria rings at 18:45.

Yesterday, 13 Oct, the 287th day of the civil calendar and 21st Sunday after Pentecost, had lots going on.

Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima.
Anniversary of the Message of Akita Japan.
Anniversary of Leo XIII’s vision.
Perhaps the Anniversary of the Crucifixion of St. Peter.
243rd Birthday of the United States Navy

Today is the Feast of St. Calixtus whose tomb is across the river from me at Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Yesterday I had two powerful encounters with the supernatural.

I attended the Sunday Solemn Mass at The Parish™.   The altar was simple, with portapalme and no relics.   The ceremonies were effectively flawless, smooth, comfortable.  Nothing was rushed.  No hesitations or doubts or ooopses.

The “moment” came at the Consecration.

From my viewpoint, on the side in choir, there was a moment of harmony which exemplified the perfection of the Roman Rite.

The Subdeacon knelt at the lowest step.  The Deacon knelt at the Celebrant’s right to elevate the edge of the vestment slightly.  The Celebrant’s arms were raised, first with the Host, then the Chalice, above the Corporal.  There was a perfect line from the Subdeacon’s paten, through Deacon’s arm and the edge of the chasuble upward through the back of the vestment continuing in the priest’s upraised arms through the Host and Chalice to the figure of the Crucified Savior on the altar Cross.   If that weren’t enough, Guido Reni’s Trinity was then also directly in line, in my opinion the most beautiful of all the altar pieces of Rome.  I know from having celebrated Mass at the main altar that when you raise the Host and Chalice, you see “through” the altar Crucifix to Christ’s Body on the Cross in the painting, his face above the Host and Chalice, his torso framing them.

It was a perfect moment when everything came together, goodness, truth, beauty, the Church’s teachings and faith expressed in the liturgical rite, the movement and sudden fleeting stillness that crystalized the coalesced image of them all.

It was overwhelming.

I’ve seen and celebrated a great many Solemn Masses in my 30+ years as a priest (though not recently… thanks, you dear dear dear bishops for your moral integrity and fortitude in the face of opposition), but this was something special.  Perhaps it was also special because it was fueled by my interior hunger.

Hence, I’ll take a moment here to thank my dear Roman Donors who put me in that choir stall at the moment.

The second supernatural encounter had a rather difference impact.

Saying Mass privately in the evening, as I often do here on Sunday, there was outside in the street a “musician” of such appalling skills that I was dubious that I could maintain my concentration.   I determined two things, firstly, to ask Jesus the High Priest to send Holy Angels to silence the fellow and, next, that I would say all the prayers with a full voice to drown out in my head the ghastly cacophony in competition for my mind.

I started Mass and, shortly after, whattsits outside stopped “singing” (if that’s what it was) and the guitar was quieter and quieter.   I proceeded to the necessary end.

Mass accomplished, I went out to meet friends (at Cafe Taba at the Campo de’ Fiori if you have to know).  As I passed by the guy who had been playing, silent in that moment, I heard him say to my back:  “Al demonio non piace… the demon doesn’t like that” or “the demon doesn’t like you”.

I immediately enjoyed with extra enjoyment a gin and tonic and a cigar with friends.

Lord thank you for that day.  Lord thank you for this day.

This is another cool thing that happened.

Starship rocket booster caught by tower pic.twitter.com/aOQmSkt6YE

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 13, 2024

Now for some Rome stuff.

Incensation of the altar during the Mass I mentioned above.

Soon to be eaten flat fish for a 50th wedding anniversary supper.

Nice people! Great service!

In churchy news… another summit meeting with “trans” took place. Scandal, anyone?

Not only that, something odd came out of the Roman “vicariate” office (which runs the Roman diocese). An edict came forth stating that, from now on, with the appointment of the new diocesan Cardinal Vicar General, his name must now be added to the Eucharist Prayer of Mass after Francis’. That isn’t too weird, since the Novus Ordo permits, according to the determinations of bishops conferences (I think), that names of auxiliaries etc. can be mentioned along with the name of the local diocesan bishop. Remember that in Rome the local diocesan bishop is the Pope. Hence, when saying, for example, the Roman Canon, you just pass over the bit about “our bishop” as redundant. But! Not now in Roma! Now the Cardinal Vicar’s name is to be said. But! But! Not his actual name is to be said, Baldassare (In Latin Baldássar) but rather simply “Baldo”, which is not quite a diminutive, I think, like “Bob” is for “Robert”, but just a shortening… but not even. So, we were trying to figure out the Latin for “Baldo”. We came up with “Baldolus”.  I dunno.  I’m glad for the silent Canon.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 3.

Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Mass of obligation for this 21st Sunday after Pentecost, or the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time?

Tell us about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

A couple thoughts about the sign of the cross: HERE  A taste…

[…]

Hell is pain.  There are different kinds of pain available – obligatory – in Hell.

First, there is the pain of loss.  If we cannot imagine what the joy of Heaven is, because “eye hath not seen nor ear hath heard” (1 Cor 2:9), that counts for Hell too.  To know, without doubt, that Heaven’s happiness will never be ours would itself be a hideous and unhealing torment of the mind and heart.   The pain of loss includes loss of Heaven and loss of the vision of God, the whole point of why we were created.  Thus, St. Thomas Aquinas reasons that the torments of the damned are infinite, because they involved the loss of the infinite Good who is God.

Second, there is the pain of sense.

[…]

What happened at 07:17?   What is going to happen at 18:35?

What about at 18:45?

Welcome registrant:

KatherineK38

Lately I’ve celebrated masses with intentions for:

VD
A (leukemia)
FSSP

Also, for my benefactors
Also, a 1 year anniversary Requiem.
Also, a couple whose 50th anniversary is today.  YAY!

I can take some intentions.  HERE

Thank you Lord for this day.

Speaking of 50th anniversary, while this might be the most flattering shot of Pippo, it did catch him in one of his moments wherein he revels in what he does.  These 50 roses are for Mary at The Parish from the Golden Couple today.

Pinna and Peppa looked on, slightly interested at what Pippo was upp to.

Pippo gave me some peppers.  As I walked around I felt like Diogenes.   Near the apartment, I had wry remarks from the neighbors, like “Buona PASTA!”

On my way to the ATM (thank you donors) there was this with lovely light at the Mons Pietatis.

In churchy news… what’s going on?  Oh, yes, *yawn*… walking together about walking togetherity.

Today is the Feast of Carlo Acutis.  It is also Columbus Day.  I, however, used Mary on Saturday with added orations for Thanksgiving.  But we could use Carlo Acutis, once proclaimed a saint and on the universal calendar.

Far more interesting than anything going on with walking together is this purple rock on Mars:

Yes, this is a purple rock on Mars, 225 million kilometres away. And here it is in your feed!
Image captured by NASA’s Opportunity Mars Rover. pic.twitter.com/NQWNbYyVp5

— Curiosity (@MAstronomers) October 12, 2024

Hey Fathers!  How about a clerical Guayabera shirt?

In chessy news… HERE

I stopped at the chess guys yesterday in the P.za der Fico.  They are about the same.  I note that they had been there for hours by this point.

At Rome (how said in Latin?) the sun rose at 7:16. The sun will set at 18:37. Clouds moving in. Will we see it?

The Ave Maria Bell has, according to the Vatican that never sounds it, shifted to the 18:45 cycle.

The Vatican calendar indicates today at the Feast of John XXIII. However the Vetus calendar has today as the Feast of the Maternity of Mary. It is also the Feast of St. Philip the Deacon.

Thank you for this day, O Lord.

Sauteed porcini mushrooms.

On the way home the other night.

In a nearby church is this lovely tribute to Out Lady.  There is a detail at the bottom….

… which should not be missed.  Click for larger.  HERE  The heretics Pelagius Mohammed and Luther are identified by heresies.  Mohammed was long considered a Christian heretic (as in Dante).  There are hell-critters near them, which is only proper.  I see a couple of cardinals too, which also seems proper right now.

The restaurants of the Campo are aggressively pushing into the space these days.  They are not all tourist traps.  Some are quite good.

In churchy news… I really haven’t been following much since I was mostly focused on what happened in Florida.

What’s going on?

Are they still “walking together”? Oh,… yes, there was something. The Jesuits hosted a meeting for sodomite luv at their HQ, replete with some Cardinals, one of whom is a Jesuit (I thought they were suppose to decline… oh well…) from Hong Kong. Jasmine was there of course. I’m sure it was a gay ol’ time.

This is why I often don’t even want to know the news. But it is better to know some things than not.

In chessy news… HERE

(White to play and mate in 3)

From the nearby S. M. in Monserrato.

She saw the consistory list.

The white roses are gone and the red are going.  But I added some alstroemeria.    I thank those who earmarked donations for flowers.  They cheer me up,  and I need cheering.

Last night’s chicken.  Browned a bit with some little tomatoes and some frozen veg I intended for soup but… hey.   An onion was sauteed after the spatchcocked chicken was given some color.  A little white wine.  Into the oven where I already had potatoes roasting, cut in chunks, soaked in salt water for a while, then given olive oil and rosemary.

And so I ate my supper and worried about Florida.

For good reason.

I’ve been texting people hoping that they have working cellular, begging them to check on my mom at her house (if she’s there).  I have no info since all the power is out there.   It’s nerve wracking.  That neighborhood was hit by a massive tornado. There are fatalities not far away and I saw in a fakebook posting that a street about 2 blocks from her place had water up to the mailboxes.

There are the usual post-tornado photos going around, which you can imagine.  It was really slammed hard.

Meanwhile, in churchy and chessy news… frankly, today….

I ask for your prayers.

At 07:14 the sun rose.

At 18:40 the should set.  If not… I don’t know.

• The Ave Maria is in the 19:00 cycle, though it is at 19:10 by the strictly solar account.
• It is the Feast the Old Testament Patriarch Abraham.  Yes, many OT figures are counted as saints by the Church.
• It is the Feast of St. Denis (c. III) of Paris.  May he intercede for that besieged city.
• It is the Feast of John Leonardi (+1609) whose body is at S. M in Campitelli just up the road.  Tonight members of the Archconfraternity of Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini will join with them for a procession with the relics of the saint who was a great collaborator, if not member, the Archconfraternity.
• It is the Feast of St. John Henry Newman (+1890).  Recently Oratorians were around from all over the world for a general meeting for their own business.  Apparently, there is a project to have John Henry Newman named Doctor of the Church.  I think it is likely that it will succeed.

Thank you Lord for this day.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Also, it is “Prime Day”. Last chance for great deals.  US HERE

30% off till midnight CODE: PRIME

I am joining these prayers to the orations of Holy Mass.

However, today I was privileged to celebrate a 1st anniversary Requiem for the father of one of the the owners of the bar I hang out at in the evening if I am meeting friends, Cafe Taba on the Campo.  I was able to use the new black vestment which our project brought to completion.  This is the one with my coat of arms.

I am so grateful to the donors.   The decorum of the Masses is greatly enhanced.   They will be available for all the priests who say Requiem Masses, especially in November.

Symmetrical Breakfast.

Over to the Campo to chat with the veg stand folks and then buy some flowers.  The white roses are gone and some red perdure.  However, I was after some alstroemeria.

On lookers.

Speaking of Cafe Taba… which drink is mine?

This was an interesting concoction from Enzo the Mixer, a special rye which one of my evening companions had brought (he’s  long time patron), a kind of Manhattan with a touch of chocolate bitters.   I am not sure I would choose the chocolate direction again, but it was a nice change of pace.

The pace changed seriously for supper as the three of us tackled an enormous fiorentina at a favored locale.   It may have been the best, most tender and flavorful fiorentina I have every had.

In churchy news… Walking Together about Walking Togetherity goes …. *yawn*…. on.   Robert Royal interview Fr. Murray at The Catholic Thing about it.  As usual Father makes good points.  One thing I would have stressed is that the point of the WTaWT is to establish the preeminence over all things – including fidelity and reason – of PROCESS.  That’s the whole megillah.

SSPX Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais died on Tuesday 8 October 2024 having received the sacraments of our Holy Mother Church. Which he could receive because Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication. He was 79 years old, had been a priest for 49 years and a bishop for 36. He was one of Lefebvre’s first seminarians. May he rest in peace.

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.

In chessy news… HERE

07:13 was the time for the sun to evolve over the eastern horizon and at 18:42 it shall again devolve.

The Ave Maria should ring at 19:00 (though by the strictly solar reckoning I suppose it would be at 19:12).

Thank you, O Lord, for this day.

Welcome registrants:

mkmrdh
J.A.B.
JDR

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

I was out with a couple of lawyer friends last night, in Rome for different motives and who didn’t know each other.  However, my Marvel super-power is networking.  I wonder if this new connection will bear mutual fruits.   We are meeting for supper again tonight.

Last night, however, these were the appetizers.   Little fried anchovies.

Bruschetta with artichoke.   It’s “broo-SKETT-ah” not “broo-shett-ah”.

We had a lovely Sicilian box wine, remarked by one of my dining companions:

C’mon… that was funny.

In churchy news…

Card. Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem and quite papabile, composed a prayer for peace.  Yesterday was the anniversary of the terroristic attacks on Israel.  It was also the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto.  Get it?

Didn’t Pizzaballa offer to exchange himself for hostages?

This morning after celebrating St. Bridget of Sweden, I walked past her little (locked up) church at the P.za Farnese.  Little did I know that soon I would fire up Twitter and see this lovely illumation HERE. In the Morgan Library, from Naples, end of the 14th c.

There’s a lot going on in there.

In chessy news… HERE

Please retweet and share around.  The buttons are just up there… ? … see e’m?   

Hurricane Milton is coming.

It could be Cat FOUR.  It is just shy of Cat FIVE.

Here’s an action item for you believing priests and bishops out there.   With confidence we can pray the prayers which the Church has designated against storms.

I believe what the Church believes.  Do you?

Therefore….

BISHOPS OF THE GULF COAST AND FLORIDA: Stand on the steps of your respective cathedral churches, dressed in cope and miter and, surrounded by clergy, with crosiers in hand, pronounce from the traditional Rituale Romanum the Litany of Saints with the deprecatory prayers against storms.  [below]   Ring the cathedral bells.

Bells are sacramentals.  They are “baptized” and given names.  They speak.  In valleys of mountainous countries, as storms approached, people would ring the bells and pray the Litany.  That’s one of the reasons why we have consecrated bells!

You all talk to each other: perhaps coordinate your timing.

I know that in every chancery at least one person reads this blog, probably more.  Readers, especially if you know your bishops personally, ask them to do this.

Look, you bishops out there… I know you are nervous about Rome frowning on you because you used a traditional book.  You don’t have to publicize it.  If you are nervous, do in it private.  BUT DO IT.

For the love of God and those in your charge.  Use the God given office and authority of a successor of the Apostles and PRAY DOWN THIS STORM!

PRIESTS OF FLORIDA: Ditto.  Also, if you have blessed bells, ring the bells of your churches against the storm.

LAY PEOPLE: Get on your priests about this.  The prayers of priests and bishop are powerful.  Also, ask your holy angels to protect you and to help you make prudent decisions.

Fathers, Bishops…

Use the old Roman Ritual (yes, the traditional book – you can do it! – it’s the real deal!) and pray the Litany with the deprecatory prayers against storms. A procession could be done around the grounds of the cathedral or even indoors… even with a very few.

You don’t have to be directly in the line of the storm to pray for others!  You don’t have to be in Florida!  

Fathers… Bishops… do this in Latin to be most effective.

PROCESSION FOR AVERTING TEMPEST [Better in Latin, but here is the English.]

The church bells are rung, and all who can assemble in church. Then the Litany of the Saints is said, during which – at the right moment, namely, after the invocation, “That you grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, etc.”, the following invocation is said twice:

From lightning and tempest, Lord, deliver us.

At the end of the litany the following is added:

P: Our Father (the rest inaudibly until:)
P: And lead us not into temptation.
All: But deliver us from evil.
Psalm 147
P: Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem; * praise your God, O Sion.
All: For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; * He has blessed your children within you.
P: He has granted peace in your borders; * with the best of wheat He fills you.
All: He sends forth His command to the earth; * swiftly runs His word!
P: He spreads snow like wool; * He strews frost like ashes.
All: He scatters His hail like crumbs; * the waters freeze before His cold.
P: He sends His word and melts them; * He lets His breeze blow and the waters run.
All: He has proclaimed His word to Jacob, * His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.
P: He has not done thus for any other nation; * He has not made known His ordinances to them.
All: Glory be to the Father.
P: As it was in the beginning.
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Lord, show us your mercy.
All: And grant us your salvation.
P: Help us, O God, our Savior.
All: And deliver us, O Lord, for your name’s sake.
P: Let the enemy have no power over us.
All: And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm us.
P: May your mercy, Lord, remain with us always.
All: For we put our whole trust in you.
P: Save your faithful people, Lord.
All: Bless all who belong to you.
P: You withhold no good thing from those who walk in sincerity.
All: Lord of hosts, happy the men who trust in you.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

Let us pray.
God, who are offended by our sins but appeased by our penances, may it please you to hear the entreaties of your people and to turn away the stripes that our transgressions rightly deserve.

We beg you, Lord, to repel the wicked spirits from your family, and to ward off the destructive tempestuous winds.

Almighty everlasting God, spare us in our anxiety and take pity on us in our abasement, so that after the lightning in the skies and the force of the storm have calmed, even the very threat of tempest may be an occasion for us to offer you praise.

Lord Jesus, who uttered a word of command to the raging tempest of wind and sea and there came a great calm; hear the prayers of your family, and grant that by this sign of the holy cross all ferocity of the elements may abate.

Almighty and merciful God, who heal us by your chastisement and save us by your forgiveness; grant that we, your suppliants, may be heartened and consoled by the tranquil weather we desire, and so may ever profit from your gracious favors; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
He sprinkles the surroundings with holy water.

Bishops, priests!

You don’t have to advertise this or call in the TV cameras (though that would be great, too).  JUST DO IT.

C’MON!  What do you have to lose?