Monthly Archives: December 2011

“The rediscovery of Gregorian chant is a sine qua non condition to give back dignity to the liturgical music.”

When thinking and writing about music appropriate for liturgical worship I have always gone back to what the late Church musician Msgr. Richard Schuler correctly asserted: since sacred liturgical music is NOT an add-on in worship, since it is actually … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged ,
46 Comments

ACTION ITEM! POLL ALERT! “Are religious rights being trampled on by government?”

Perhaps other blogs will pick this up and help. An article from the ultra-liberal New York Times (“Hell’s Bible”) is posted on the even more liberal MSNBC. The article concerns the objections of the USCCB against pressure from the Obama Administration and/or states … Read More

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , ,
22 Comments

Fortune Cookie Report: Completely Stunned Edition

I’m flabbergasted! It’s actually a fortune and not a platitude! For the rest, the Xiao Long Bao attained a 5, and Chongqing Ji a 7. Nice service, however. Not at all the usual surly indifference you deal with in most … Read More

Posted in Lighter fare, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged ,
10 Comments

The Feeder Feed: Venetian Christological Goldfinch Edition

At the Met in NYC there is a nice exhibit of paintings and drawings of the Venetian school. Here is a Madonna and Child Enthroned by Lorenzo Veneziano (+1372), obviously a Venetian painter. There are touches of the byzantine in … Read More

Posted in On the road, The Feeder Feed, What Fr. Z is up to |
4 Comments

Something amazing and revolutionary during the Holy Father’s Midnight Mass … which I missed.

Something remarkable occurred during the Holy Father’s Midnight Mass. I had a note from a long time reader about this.  I didn’t see the broadcast of the Mass this year, but it is archived and it can be viewed on … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , , ,
48 Comments

QUAERITUR: A priest says he offers confessions, but there are long lulls.

From a priest: Blessed Christmas to you. Thanks for your response today to the person asking about writing the bishop about having priests here more confessions. “However, don’t forget to ask the parish priest, the pastor of your parish, to … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
34 Comments

Wheatless Hosts… Noooooooooooo.

Holy Church’s Canon Law closely follows Holy Church’s infallible teaching when it comes to discipline of the sacraments. The Church’s doctrine holds that valid matter for the Eucharist is a form of bread made from wheat.  In the Latin Church … Read More

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , ,
73 Comments

Of Atheists and Inebriation. Fr. Z rants with the help of the Catholic League. A great book recommendation.

My visit yesterday to the Catholic League’s Nativity Scene on 5th Ave and 59th (by Central Park) reminded me of their advice for attending parties at this time of year.  In case you didn’t see their excellent suggestions, here they … Read More

Posted in Lighter fare |
22 Comments

QUAERITUR: Ringing bells during Mass

From a priest: I’m looking for the reference, which I once read, about the option of ringing a bell as a signal for receiving Holy Communion during the Mass. In the past, I’ve always instruted the altarboys to ring the bell once when … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged
29 Comments

‘Did you see that hoopoe?’ cried the man in the black coat.

I posted about my mediated encounter in a gallery of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a story-telling Hoopoe. HERE. All of a sudden, the memory swarmed into my my, like an able-seaman into the foretop. A Hoopoe makes an … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, O'Brian Tags |
4 Comments

More on the Archd. Detroit v Real Catholc TV dust-up

You heard about the dust-up between Michael Voris’ initiative, Real Catholic TV, and the Archdiocese of Detroit.  The Archdiocese is saying that Mr. Voris cannot use the word “Catholic”.  I have been puzzled by the actual canon law of this … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
61 Comments

Catholic League’s 5th Ave Nativity Scene

I posted some time ago about the Catholic League’s Creche or Nativity Scene in New York City. I went to find it today. Many people stopped to look qt it and take photos. I added a FourSquare location when I … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, New Evangelization, On the road, Our Catholic Identity, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged ,
8 Comments

QUAERITUR: Should I write to the bishop about urging priests to hear confessions?

From a reader: Would it be appropriate to write a bishop asking if diocesan priests under his leadership be encouraged to hear confessions more regularly? Most parishes seem to only have confessions on Saturday afternoons. I know our priests are busy, but … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , ,
31 Comments

Mystic Monk Coffee: December Selection!

The Wyoming Carmelites have a little dialogue to describe their December “Coffee of the Month” Choir Monk: I can tell this coffee is a blend – the different sizes and colors of the beans tell me that there are a … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
5 Comments

“the time has come for us to be courageous in working for a true reform of the reform and also a return to the true liturgy of the Church”

A friend and I have been talking about the provisions of Summorum Pontificum and the need to press press press them forward again.  We need to keep pressing and working. On that note, I was delighted to read at NLM … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, SESSIUNCULA, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices, Universae Ecclesiae, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , ,
16 Comments

27 Dec: Today we bless WINE! HUZZAH!

The liturgical year guided and nourish and shaped Catholics for centuries.  It does so far less now.  But once, people not only followed the turning of the earth and the wheeling of the stars and the rising and setting of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
11 Comments

St. Jerome on St. John the Evangelist

From Matins for today’s feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, from the Breviarium Romanum: V. Grant, Lord, a blessing. Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine. Amen. Reading 6 From the Commentary upon the Epistle … Read More

Posted in Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
4 Comments

QUAERITUR: Blessings at Communion… again.

From a reader: In the OF some Priest’s will bless those who present themselves in the Communion line with their arms crossed. (Although I am doubtful to the legality of this) So can a Priest who is celebrating the EF bless … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 |
13 Comments

More points about the new, corrected translation and update on matters like the Liturgy of the Hours

Some useful items from the newletter f the USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship.   They deal with some points about the use of the new corrected translation. Sorry about the format. In response to many questions from the body of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
14 Comments

QUAERITUR: “openly gay EMHC, an ex-priest”

From a reader: I come from a mid-sized parish with at least 10 EMHCs every Sunday, which just seems like way too much. I’ve also noticed that they give blessings, with the laying on of hands and everything, to catechumens, non-Catholics, etc. I’m … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , ,
39 Comments