Fr. Z's Blog | Catholic commentary by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

RIP Patrick Stewart … my competitor!

Posted on 29 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

During toxic theatre COVID one of you readers challenged me to record myself reading all the of the Sonnets of Shakespeare… because that is what Sir Patrick Stewart was doing.

I took up the challenge. Results varied but I think that now and then I did a better job.

I really wasn’t competing… really.

Rest in peace, Patrick Stewart. I entrust you to the mercy of your Creator and God.

My link to my my recording of Shakespeare’s Sonnets…. HERE.

Once in while I threw in poems of other authors. Find them!

And early example when I was getting my feet under me. Gosh this was a FUN project! ALL 150 plus some others. For example HERE

This one seems appropriate:

#ASonnetADay – Sonnet 146. "Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth…" https://t.co/osmL5cc6Xs

— Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (@fatherz) April 15, 2021

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, Poetry, Sonnet A Day | Tagged Sonnet A Day, William Shakespeare
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ROME 26/10 – Day 29: hard to read inscription

Posted on 29 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

ROME 26/10 – Day 29: hard to read inscription

06:37

17:11

17:30

I think that by now you know what is going on with those times. If you are new, check earlier posts… which you should do anyway, right? And… come to think of it… how is it possible that you are “new” here? After all these years of tending this blog….

Speaking of tending the blog, the tech gurus have been active working on the engine that drives this thing. Right now they are playing with the theme. I am ambivalent…. no… skeptical?

Today I had a lovely more birthday-y day than yesterday, including a great lunch at a new place which, though it isn’t in my neighborhood, is – I HOPE – going to be a new favorite. After, I had the chance to have a tour of the Italian equivalent of the House of Representatives, which was fascinating. I didn’t take photos, for the sake of their security and simple discretion. I may have some photos from my guide, who took at few.

BTW… the carbonara I had today was the best I had in decades, ever since the really old days at Mozzicone in the Borgo Pio.

I’m tired. Views of the day.

My Halloween costume.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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ASK FATHER: Definition and the duties of a pastoral associate.

Posted on 29 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Please send me the definition and the duties of a pastoral associate.

A pastoral associate is an ordained minister, assigned by the bishop, as distinguished from a lay person with some parish job, paid or volunteer, who serves at the will of the pastor.

The associate is a discreet priestly operative charged with preserving the Catholic Faith in a parish whose pastor is determined to improve upon it.

His duties include rescuing discarded statues, hiding tambourines, and introducing Gregorian chant as an exciting innovation recommended by the latest synodal (“walking together”) session.

He must tactfully intercept absurdities from the liturgy planning committee, protect elderly ladies who still pray the Rosary, defend the last useable confessional against conversion into a broom closet, and persuade the pastor that incense is both environmentally sustainable and pastorally inclusive.

Essential qualifications include orthodoxy, a working knowledge of canon law, the ability to smile for long periods of time, and the ability to endure interminable meetings about radical hospitality without throwing anything.

A pastoral associate exercises no authority whatsoever, although he is personally responsible for everything that goes wrong. He may offer suggestions and must remain cheerful when the pastor attributes anything he does to himself and the Renewal Committee.

His compensation consists principally of opportunities for heroic virtue.

His sole recognized right is Christian burial, although even that is not guaranteed, since the pastor of whatever parish he is buried from may prefer a Celebration of Life featuring balloons and interpretive dance.

Note: While in some places the fancy title “parochial vicar” is employed, also heard in the wild are the terms “associate” and “assistant”. There should be no confusion about these last two, because, in any event, the first three letters are the same.

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare |
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ROME 26/10 – Day 28: Natalis Dies

Posted on 28 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Thank you, Lord, for this day. This is the 301st day of this calendar year.

Thanks to everyone who wished me happy birthday.

On this my natal day, the sun rose at 7:35 in Rome and it set at 17:12.

The Ave Maria Bell was suppose to ring for the Curia at 17:30.

It was the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude (patron of impossible causes). I have 1st class relics of BOTH in the Chapel of the Two Trinities back across the pond.

I celebrated Holy Mass today for my parents. It seemed the right thing to do.

I ask a prayer please also for me, an impossible cause. My Jesus, mercy.

I was amused by the dictionary.com Word of the Day today. Not kidding.

The tomb of the Apostles Simon and Jude in the Vatican Basilica.

Rome 24/10 – Day 28: Impossible causes

White to move and mate in 4.

Interested in learning? Try THIS. Right now 70% off for Igor’s birthday… birthday, I say!

Meanwhile…

Makes sense https://t.co/jFhgxRfBgM

— MedievalistMatt (@medievalistmatt) October 26, 2026

Good question…

LATEST: Bishop Rob Mutsaerts responds to Cardinal Roche’s @RealAdVaticanum interview on the Traditional Latin Mass.

The Dutch auxiliary bishop of ’s-Hertogenbosch asks why liturgical diversity is celebrated for Eastern rites yet treated as a problem for the ancient Roman liturgy:

“Why is virtually every old Catholic liturgical tradition a treasure, except for the old Roman liturgy?”

The traditional Roman rite, His Excellency writes, “is not a foreign intruder in the Catholic Church; it comes from its own home.”

Read the full articles at @RealAdVaticanum

https://t.co/66W7hcDvPV

— Niwa Limbu (@NiwaLimbu1988) October 27, 2026

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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You knew this had to happen

Posted on 28 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

According to Infovaticana

Reformist groups pressure the Synod to repeal the canon that prevents the ordination of women

Seven international organizations advocating for reforms in the Catholic Church have requested that Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, repeal three canons of the Code of Canon Law, including canon 1024, which states that “only a baptized male validly receives sacred ordination.” The petition seeks to extend the scope of synodal reforms to an issue directly related to Catholic doctrine on the sacrament of Holy Orders.

The request is contained in a letter addressed to Cardinal Grech, dated October 22, 2026, in response to the report Toward a Synodal Church, prepared by the Synod’s canonical commission. The signatories consider the proposed modifications insufficient and call for a deeper transformation of ecclesiastical governance structures.

The initiative is supported by We Are Church International, Root & Branch, Council of Australasian Catholics, Spirit Unbounded, Catholic Church Reform International, International Church Reform Network, and Ass~~ociation~~ of Catholic Priests, organizations linked to movements promoting changes in the Church’s doctrine, discipline, and governance.

They demand the repeal of canon 1024 and changes to norms on ecclesiastical governance

The most significant request appears on the second page of the letter, where the signatories question the restrictions established by canons 129 §1 and 274 §1 and their connection to canon 1024.

The organizations argue that these provisions maintain a governance structure reserved primarily to clerics and that, by linking certain ecclesiastical responsibilities to the reception of the sacrament of Holy Orders, they exclude women from leadership and ministry roles.

In this context, they explicitly request “the review of canons 129 §1, 274 §1, and 1024 with a view to their repeal,” a demand they reiterate in the final section of the document.

[…]

As expected, the fringe groups of liberal wackos are starting the process of infiltration of synods and other church councils, the goal being to control the decision making all in the hallowed names of synodality (“walking together”) and sensus fidelium.

This is the exact game plan employed by fringe groups in the Anglicans and other Protestant denominations.

All guided by the Holy Spirit, of course.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged synodality
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ROME 26/10– Day 27: Vigil

Posted on 27 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It was 06:34 when Helios guided his fiery chariot above the horizon in the Roman east.

At 17:13 the solar steeps galloped off into the west.

The curial calendar designated 17:30 as the time for the Ave Maria.

It is the Vigil of Sts. Simon and Jude (if you are using the pre-55 calendar).

From the sacristy of The Parish™ we see that one of the priests is set up for the feria day, some are ready for tomorrow already with red, one has purple for the vigil.

YOU READERS helped to furnish the red sets.

Walking along today, I saw that the lettering of the street signs is being spiffed up.

Fun

Black can mate in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Steal his look https://t.co/UiYlQEw4Wc

— MedievalistMatt (@medievalistmatt) October 27, 2026

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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Rush: on …what’s going on now

Posted on 26 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This is years ago….

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
6 Comments

ROME 26/10– Day 26: Rube Goldberg

Posted on 26 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

There is a lot of “Rome” in this photo. Nasone, sanpietrini, walled-up door, rione sign, mondezzaro sign… have a closer look…
and … closer….

Did you get it?

Meanwhile…

Over Rome the sun did it’s thing at 06:33.

It goes on strike at 17:15.

The Ave Maria Bell is in the 17:30, but that’s not solar time.

Inter alia… it is the Feast of St. Quadragesimus, a subdeacon, who raised a dead man to life.

We need more names like that.

White mates in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Medieval rube goldberg machine https://t.co/8Ubop92NY8

— MedievalistMatt (@medievalistmatt) October 26, 2026

About the goat rodeo in Rome… I don’t understand the inconsistent spelling… but… more information is coming.

More proof that the world is upside down…

I never thought I’d see an NFL ball carrier penalized for running the ball too hard… Running defenders over is literally his job… 🤷‍♂️ #LakeBoss 🇺🇸 https://t.co/2ifNAl7Mfn

— Lake Boss 🚤🐟🐕‍🦺🇺🇸 (@LakeBoss) October 26, 2026

I think we should put AI in this thing… and on those creepy robotic dogs and then heavily arm them.

What could go wrong?

TESLA OPTIMUS TORE UP A STAGE IN DELHI IN 15 SECONDS

The festival paid $90,000 for it to walk out and wave

But the moment the drums hit, it went into bhangra like it was born in Punjab

One leg hops, shoulders on the beat, a squat and a spin without a single pause

The dancer who was up next took off his costume right backstage

The host kept yelling this wasn’t in the program, but nobody could hear him

The clip hit 40 million views overnight and Elon still hasn’t said a word

Who taught it this ?

— Shredder (@Shred_0x) October 25, 2026

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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My Annual St Crispin’s Day roundup with Henry V speech!

Posted on 25 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

What you have been waiting for all month, I’m sure, knowing that soon it would be St. Crispin’s.

The 3rd c. martyrs Crispin and Crispinian were killed in Soissons. They converted people as they plied their trade as cobblers and they were generous to the poor. They were persecuted by the local governor and eventually beheaded around on 25 Oct 286 in the time of the Emperor Diocletian. A different version has them in England, in Faversham, which is surely the version Shakespeare worked with. St. Eligius made a reliquary for the head of Crispinian.

Their remains are in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Panisperna. Their altar and urn in the church.

“This day is called the Feast of Crispian…”, indeed, Sts. Crispin and Crispinian. Here is their altar and urn in the church, San Lorenzo in Panisperna, which is nearly always closed (I suspect due to sheer laziness).

“This day is called the Feast of Crispian…”

Now let get to the famous speech. I’ll bet more than one of you has it memorized.

Other times I posted this roundup there were great comments, especially from our long lost Semper Gumby whose observations we sorely miss and hope to enjoy again very soon. I really miss him. I should send Tracer Bullet out to find him.

Henry V (1944) directed by and starring Lawrence Olivier

Henry V (1989) directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh

Richard Burton’s version:

Tom Hiddleston from the Hollow Crown series. US HERE UK HERE

RATS…. gone.

This instead… Renaissance Man with Lillo Brancato, Jr.

Here is another, from the well-reviewed Globe production.

Happy Feast of Sts. Crispin and Crispinian.

And let the revival of our liturgical worship continue.

The numbers of Holy Masses in the Extraordinary Form are growing, though but slowly.

Also, I fear that the number of bishops, priests and laity who accept what the Church teaches about marriage is shrinking.

For now content us saying “the fewer men, the greater share of honour”.

And remember… Latin is tooooo haaaaard for children.

They can’t possibly be expected to put on different clothing and recite something lofty from memory.

Posted in Classic Posts |
3 Comments

ROME 26/10– Day 25: King things

Posted on 25 October 2026 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the course of things, dawn broke over Rome and some confused, angry and misled pilgrims and denizens at 06:32. During the night, we went off the “daylight savings” here and so we gained back an hour of sleep. The sunset was therefore also later by the clock, now close again to solar time, at 17:16.

Therefore the Ave Maria for the Curia adjusted to 17:30, but solar Ave Maria was at 17:36.

Today in the Vetus Calendar we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King with its wonderful texts about Our Lord being King of everything meaning also all social entities.

Also on the calendar today are Santi Crispino and Crispiniano of King Henry V fame and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. “Today….” you know how it goes!

Welcome registrants:

DavaoDan
Franciscan91

I was out to lunch at the dependable Elle Effe with a couple from the USA. What they had.

Scottadito.

I’m trying to remember what this was … looks like fusilli… so Pasta Siciliana. Elle Effe is a Roman/Sicilian venture. Tell them “don John” sent you. If you want a white wine, you will not make a mistake with their Catarratto. If they are out, Leone.

But we tried…. and “santa mucca” it was great.

I love this medievalist’s wicked sense of humor…

Happy Sunday 🙂 https://t.co/zpCdwAUSQz

— MedievalistMatt (@medievalistmatt) October 25, 2026

BTW… I’ve seen a great many things… stupid things… harmful to the Cause posted about what went one and what didn’t go on during the Summorum pilgrimage. I’ll post about it. This is just to say, do NOT just go with “oh…they are being so mean to us”. There’s more to it and involves, frankly, both incompetence and prevarication. The truth will out. I’m still gathering the threads.

THIS… is far more important…

Robin Yount walked out to throw the first pitch at the first Brewers World Series game in 44 years, and he was wearing another man’s jacket.

A plaid sport coat. One of Bob Uecker’s actual ones, off the rack in his closet.

Yount is the one who asked.

When he found out he had the first pitch, he went to Brewers broadcaster Lane Grindle and asked whether it would be appropriate to wear a plaid jacket in honor of Ueck. Grindle told him he thought it would be incredible.

Then Grindle went a step further and asked Uecker’s family whether the crew could borrow the real coats.

They said yes right away.

So Yount walked to the mound in Bob Uecker’s jacket. And then on the mound he took it off.

Underneath was a Brewers jersey. Number 19. UECK across the back.

The entire radio crew wore the coats too. Josh Maurer got the one Uecker wore in the Miller Lite commercial with Whitey Ford and John Goodman, which is also the coat he is wearing on the cover of Catcher in the Wry. The engineer, Kent Sommerfeld, wore the one from the commercial Uecker did with John Madden.

Outside the ballpark, people were setting Miller Lite cans down at the foot of the Uecker statue. Ryan Braun got the crowd to shout for Ueck before the game.

Now understand why it had to be Yount.

He played 20 seasons and every single one of them was in Milwaukee. He was the starting shortstop on Opening Day of 1974, at 18 years old, and he did not stop until 1993.

Bob Uecker had been in that radio booth since 1971.

Which means Uecker called every game Robin Yount ever played. All 2,856 of them.

And in 1982, the last time this franchise got here, Yount was the Most Valuable Player in the American League. He hit .414 in that World Series with a home run and six runs batted in.

Milwaukee lost it in seven games.

Yount finished with 3,142 hits, all of them in a Milwaukee uniform, and he won a second Most Valuable Player award in 1989 after a shoulder problem moved him to the outfield. Only two men before him had ever won it at two different positions.

Uecker did not make it to this one. He passed in January of last year at 90 years old, after 54 seasons calling Brewers games, and the team got back to the World Series twenty-one months later. The broadcast booth has his name on it now, which is not the same as having him in it.

Milwaukee beat Tampa Bay 3 to 2.

A man who gave one city his entire playing career walked to the mound carrying the coat of the man who described all of it, took the coat off, and showed everybody whose name he had on his back.

— the Sports ON Tap (@thesportsontap) October 24, 2026

White mates in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

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