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About this blog…
“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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on More hijinx in Saint Peter’s Basilica: “Aside from being a scripture scholar who has written a widely popular (in Italy) catechesis on the Ten Commandments, Fr.…”
on More hijinx in Saint Peter’s Basilica: “Wouldn’t the shear holiness of St Peter’s Basilica (holy ground, etc.) render the “power” of any hidden demonic-pagan bowl useless?”
on More hijinx in Saint Peter’s Basilica: “Where is the bowl?, Where is Hunter? Who is really the Pope? Where is the real Sister Lucia? Inquiring minds…”
on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: “Helpful post and comments. “Not all juridical and disciplinary decisions made by ecclesial authorities are good, simply by the fact…”
on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: “This is a good post and very useful in pointing us to Gregory DiPippo’s post. I have always struggled with…”
on 17 September 1621 – St. Robert Bellarmine – Doctor and Pot Scrubber of the Church – 400th anniversary of his death: “Andrew: I suspect there are many who would rejoice “to read these works as they were written, in the language…”
on Benedict XVI breaks silence: intro to new volume in an anthology series – includes thoughts on “same-sex unions”: “The first people to separate sex from procreation were heterosexuals, through contraception. [You might want to think about that for…”
on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: “All things aside, I can’t help but wonder what place is depicted in the painting. Is it a Roman basilica?…”
on 17 September 1621 – St. Robert Bellarmine – Doctor and Pot Scrubber of the Church – 400th anniversary of his death: “When visiting Rome several years ago, discerning a possible vocation to the Society of Jesus, a good friend of mine,…”
on 17 September 1621 – St. Robert Bellarmine – Doctor and Pot Scrubber of the Church – 400th anniversary of his death: “Everybody wants a translation. So disappointing. Isn’t there one person – at least one – who might want to read…”
on 17 September 1621 – St. Robert Bellarmine – Doctor and Pot Scrubber of the Church – 400th anniversary of his death: “If you live in Cincinnati, the blasted shame is that when you hear the name “Bellarmine” you instinctively think of…”
on 17 September 1621 – St. Robert Bellarmine – Doctor and Pot Scrubber of the Church – 400th anniversary of his death: “In case some do not know, you can buy Kindle books and then use the Amazon app to read them…”
on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: “The SSPX has an amazing podcast series (Crisis in the Church). The podcast dedicated a couple hours to this question.”
on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: “That painting looks like the Map Room scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/indianajones/images/2/29/Staff_of_Ra.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070623021844”
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I got free tea samples this weekend. Freebies are always good.
I just purchased my Roman Catholic Daily Missal (1962) from the Angelus Press in Kansas City! :)
My wife and I just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.
Went to confession and daily mass. The priest celebrates ad orientem and we receive communion kneeling at the altar rail. Felt a marked drop in concupiscence. God is good.
HAVE A LAUGH ON ME, WERE ALL GOING THERE SOME SOONER THAN OTHERS, BUT HOPEFULLY WE’LL ALL GET TO SIT ON THAT PORCH SOMEDAY….
On the first day, God created the dog and said, “Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.”
The dog said, “That’s a long time to be barking How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?”
So God agreed……
On the second day, God created the monkey and said, “Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.”
The monkey said, “Monkey tricks for twenty years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?”
And God agreed……
On the third day, God created the cow and said, “You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.”
The cow said, “That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?”
And God agreed again……
On the fourth day, God created humans and said, “Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.”
But the human said, “Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?”
“Okay,” said God. “You asked for it.”
So that is why for our first twenty years, we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years, we slave in the sun to support our family.. For the next ten years, we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I’m doing it as a public service. If you are looking for me I will be on the front porch.
A friend got married in a Catholic Church yesterday!
My fiancée and I are recieving the sacrament of Confirmation this Saturday!
Please pray for us!
I found a unicorn at Mass today! An orthodox, reverent Jesuit!
Alright, that might be a little harsh, but I’m staying at a certain Catholic school, and some of the other priests (not to mention their homilies) were less than stellar. Today’s Mass was fantastic, as was the homily. The choir didn’t even try to do anything fancy. Deo Gratias!
In other news, Happy Feast of St. Benedict!
Father Ken Baker SJ just retired here and says the daily early morning Mass. I have to pinch myself!!
I’ve managed to get to see my mother, who lives all the way in Vienna while I live near Boston.
We enjoyed a nice relaxing weekend with beautiful weather, topped off with High Mass in the extraordinary form yesterday. Tonight my youngest son returns from a 5 day retreat at Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma. After months of pounding the pavement he starts a new job later this month!
I finished my Masters Degree on Saturday. I turn fifty in three weeks. One out of two ain’t bad.
BTW mamasco……nicely done.
My parish has a rather large hall that is rented out most weekends. The hall manager told me that a woman of Middle Eastern background called and asked if her family could rent the hall for her grandmother’s funeral meal. We waited a few days and then called her back to confirm the reservation. Her response was: ” O no; grandma forgot to die as we had planned.” This is a true and accurate account!
My third grandson was born with out incident Friday night; the last 2 times, my daughter in law hemorrhaged. My son and I were with her as labor coach. Mom and baby home 24 hours later and doing beautifully.
My wife and I had our 5th child on Thursday and they both came home on Sunday!
I received some wonderful news from afar about the welfare of a family member I have been worried about. I am grateful for the active concern of others, and through their works, the visibility of God’s mercy and love.
Yesterday I had the privilege of playing organ at the first solemn Mass of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s only priest to be ordained. What’s better? His preference for music during the Mass: Missa de Angelis. To top it all off, the vestments worn were the most beautiful I’ve seen worn during a Mass since I moved to OKC.
Today is a solemnity for Benedictines so our Oblates are having a special Vespers service with a relic of St. Benedict present followed by dinner!
Friday night’s personal health scare turned out to be not so serious and my ailing elderly parents are holding a successful rear guard action. Plus I’m going to have another grandchild. Finally I feel my faith growing by leaps and bounds. Trivially my garden is doing great!
Took my 10 year old grandson with me to Confession Saturday afternoon. I need to take him more often, but it’s a good start. I’ve taken him two or three times this year. We went to anticipated Mass afterward, and I took him fishing Sunday since we’d already met our Mass obligation. He was pretty happy about that. He’s a good kid. He told us when he was 5 or 6 that he wants to be a priest. A little early in the process, but you never know.
Well…it’s closer to the end of my work week. Two more days.
Also, a wonderful government cheque randomly showed up in the mail. Extra money is always good.
Had an exposition of relics at our parish Sunday. Very well attended, very inspiring. Several saints to whom I have a special devotion were represented.
My kid sister starts her new job today. She was in a very difficult job for a company that was very badly managed these last few years. The new company seems to be a much better work environment, and hopefully will be less stressful.
Meanwhile, my nephew is starting a summer work-study job today as well.
Thanks be to God!
Finished “Black Elk Speaks” by John Neihart. This is the account of the life of the Lakota holy man who had a vision as a boy, was at the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre. What was fascinating (and not mentioned in the book, but in further research) was the role of his vision in his conversion to the Catholic Church by the “Blackrobes” (Jesuits). He then became a staunch defender of the faith and a great catechist to the Lakota. This led the the purchase of “Nicholas Black Elk, Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic” by Michael Stelenkamp. The author became a Jesuit because of Black Elk’s faith. Inspiring read!
I had the privilage to take my 8 yr old granddaughter to Mass at the Cathedral yesterday. She is the reason I am Catholic..( a long story) It was her first Mass and she loved it. The Beauty was over welming for her and for me!
Dominican Novices Play Jazz! http://bit.ly/pqZrSI
Scheduled for Eucharistic adoration this AM, Fr Z you are in my prayers.
– attended a wonderful music conference this weekend
– slowly gaining traction in clearing some tasks and duties which I had allowed to pile up
– my wife and a friend have each been burdened with unfortunate B.S. in their respective jobs, but their friends and the people they serve have taken notice and are not letting these matters pass without speaking up
My lovely wife and I were married on Saturday!
Early Sunday, my whole family attended the EF, where the priest was publicly celebrating it for his first time. One of our seminarians was in the pews & afterwards I told him how much my (young) kids prefer it & I said I hoped he’d learn the EF.
Then I went home & got to read St. Augustine for several hours while the kids watched a movie. Yay!
Father (not Fr Z…although I wish Fr Z!) is coming for dinner Wednesday night. I’m prepping to make homemade ice cream for dessert! Have to buy ingredients today, and freeze the ice cream tubs. Tomorrow the ice cream will be made. Mmmm. :)
Our oldest son is to be married this Saturday to a lovely young woman that we already love! His next oldest brother is his best man, the next brother is a groomsman, his two sisters are singing, his next brother is lector and his youngest brother (age 11) is rolling out the carpet for the bride. His three living grandparents will be present as well as all aunts and uncles minus one. Lots of cousins and family friends! God is so good! Please say a prayer for a long and happy marriage for David and Alicia!
Blogging priest Fr Thomas Dowd of Waiting in Joyful Hope has been appointed one of two new auxiliary bishops of Montreal.
My son received First Communion June 26th in an august celebration of the EF. My precious little man has been saying he wants to be Pope someday, and he has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please don’t think he is an angel, though– he “hates bosses” and has realized that the only way he will ever be the boss of me is to become a priest! ;)
The night he first received Our Blessed Lord, he told my husband that when he grows up he thinks he wants to “take over” our parish church. He followed it with the fact that he would generously allow our friend the straw subdeacon to continue to read. ;)
This week upon returning to our pew after communion, he whispered in my ear that his stomach feels a little funny after he consumes the Blessed Sacrament. Before I could say anything he said, “Oh, I know what it is! That’s just Jesus stirring up all His love into my heart!”
Happiest. Mommy. Ever.
Fr. Z, our family prays for you daily!
Nicely morning sick which means so far we are keeping this pregnancy!!
And I loved the comment about the Ents….
I had a great weekend with the family: on Friday I took my daughter and my niece (who’s visiting from Quebec) to a bike ride in Stanley Park. On Saturday, we spent the day in the Vancouver Aquarium. And on Sunday, after Mass, we all went Kayaking in Deas Slough, just off the south arm of the Fraser river. Throughout those days, the kids decided to sleep camped in the backyard – which I passed… God bless!
I went to confession this weekend, mostly because of Fr Z.
I’m going to Madrid for World Youth Day and I found out that I have been personally invited to sit in the front row for the Pope’s Saturday night vigil!!!! I’m going with my old diocese from New Zealand. Something to do with the group that had to travel the most.
Last night had a wonderful family night out: we took our three teen girls to see a double feature at the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto: The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca.”
No Tour de France today, so my husband is not glued to the coverage! And we are on our first day of vacation visiting family :)
My son started work today. He graduated from college two months ago and was fortunate enough to have gotten this job in January. We are so thankful to God that he graduated from college with honors and was able to find employment.
Two beautiful Dominican sisters are visiting our parish for the week for Vacation Bible School. What a blessing.
Two Cape Town, South Africa priests:
Bernard van der Hulst and
Roger Hickley — a fellow Old Aidanite
celebrate the 40th anniversary of their ordination by Owen Cardinal McCann on 12th July 1971.
Ad multos annos
My 10 year old son asked me to find a time for him to go to confession or make him an appointment this week. Good news because he is taking the initiative…I am not having to drag him down there.
“Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes A Day” success!
Bp. Williamson held accountable for his racist remarks.
Good news… another blog reader and I have been married for one month today!
I am getting married in a month! It is an OF vernacular Nuptial Mass, but we are doing the Missa de Angelis for the Ordinary, and using all the EF propers, in Gregorian Chant! For the parish at which we are marrying, this is fairly significant I think. And the priest has been more responsive than expected about not doing the “funny stuff” during Mass, so hopefully we’ll avoid things like the congregational heil Hitler during the Nuptial Blessing. The priest actually seems very interested in the usus antiquor Rite of Marriage, which I have brought up in conversation a few times.
Finished my first day on the job in Atlanta. My new boss is wonderful…what a pleasure to be treated with respect! Yesterday, I took the girls to EF Mass at St. Francis De Sales in Mabelton – all I can say is I feel a step closer to heaven. Deo gratias!
I was installed into the Ministry of Acolyte on Sunday 10th by The Right Reverend Alan Hopes
Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster, Titular Bishop of Cuncacestre, as part of my progress towards ordination as a permanent deacon in the summer of 2012 – Deo volente!
I’m spending a few days in the Catskills / Hudson Valley region of NY-having a nice time, in spite of the hot weather.
Got to attend Mass on Sunday at the traditional Sisters’ convent (no Mass at our TLM chapel due to a 15K road race-the finish line is near the street where the chapel is located). Then I spent two days visiting FDR’s house and library at Hyde Park, where I went to the archives and got photocopies of letters written by Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary (she’s a ‘Servant of God’) and her eldest son the recently-deceased Archduke Otto (he died on July 4th, and will be buried in Vienna this Saturday)! Empress Zita and her children came to the US from Belgium, when they had to flee the Nazis in the 1940s. They lived in Tuxedo Park, NY, then in Newark, NJ. She, her eldest daughter, and two of her sons visited the president both at his home in Hyde Park and in Quebec City, Canada. I also got a photocopy of a great picture of Pope Pius XII-he visited Hyde Park when he was still Cardinal Pacelli in 1938!
Now I have to go home tomorrow…boo hiss….