Monthly Archives: January 2012

Benedict XVI convenes meeting with heads of all dicasteries

From Vatican Insider (La Stampa): Benedict XVI convenes meeting with heads of all dicasteries On Saturday 28 January, all heads of the dicastery who lead the Congregations and Pontifical Councils of the Roman Curia, will gather in the Vatican for … Read More

Posted in The Drill |
4 Comments

QUAERITUR: The origin of giving flowers to Mary during weddings.

A priest friend recently asked if I knew the origin of the “custom” during weddings of giving flowers to Mary, by placing them at her statue or image (which some protestants probably think is mighty strange). I must admit, I … Read More

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

QUAERITUR: The Leonine Prayers after Mass in the Ordinary Form. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

From a reader: I recently went to FOCUS student leadership summit and Curtis Martin, the founder, told the story behind the Leo XIII’s prayer to St. Michael. Well the students at the summit loved the prayer, and spontaneously started praying … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , ,
27 Comments

QUAERITUR: Going to confession after many years

From a reader: The more I read you the more I’m intent on going to Confession again. I’m 31, and haven’t been since I was confirmed. As you know, it just hasn’t been consistently preached that it is necessary. I … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , ,
13 Comments

Apostolic Nuncio to USA warns Pope about internal Vatican financial corruption

My heavens.  The current Nuncius to the USA, Archbp. Viganò (pronounced Vi-ga-NOH), has gone public with corruption with the Vatican City State (overpaying contractors, standing contracts, without bidding, etc.). [In my original title, I suggested that Archbp. Viganò himself went to … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
14 Comments

Struggling with going to confession? Take heart from a reader.

Struggling with going to confession? Take heart from a reader: I’ve recently begun reading your blog with regularity and was moved by your frequent and urgent calls to the sacrament of confession. I’ve started trying to make a regular monthly … Read More

Posted in GO TO CONFESSION, HONORED GUESTS, Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
13 Comments

State of the Union Address. Wherein Fr Z has dubitations.

As I fortify myself to watch the State of the Union Address tonight, I am minded of one of the best lines of invective ever uttered. Back in the 70’s Mary McCarthy and Lillian Hellman had a war, during which … Read More

Posted in The Drill | Tagged
81 Comments

Worthy of public office, or not?

With a tip of the biretta to Catholic Fire, this quote is from His Excellency Most Reverend Robert Vasa, Bishop of Santa Rosa in California. “Any government leader, particularly those who claim to be Christian, who claims to be pro-choice, … Read More

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
26 Comments

The future of Catholic hospitals

Remember Catholic Healthcare West? Catholic Healthcare West now Dignity Health; Dominican Hospital to remain Catholic, hospital president says By JONDI GUMZ – Santa Cruz Sentinel SANTA CRUZ – Dominican Hospital officials announced Monday that they remain wedded to the Catholic … Read More

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
22 Comments

NJ Bishops defend true marriage

I note with interest at the National Catholic Register (the Catholic one) that the bishops of New Jersey have issued a statement about same-sex “marriage”. New Jersey Bishops Release New Statement on Marriage Same-sex ‘marriage’ ‘is not marriage and should … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
8 Comments

Robert George on Pres. Obama’s attacks on religious freedom and Catholics

Prof. Robert George, on his blog Mirror of Justice, comments about Pres. Obama’s blatant attack on the the 1st Amendment, religious liberty and the Catholic Church.  My emphases and comments: The Obama administration’s abortifacient and contraception mandate is appalling, but … Read More

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
17 Comments

Aurora Borealis Watch: 24 Jan 1400 UT: Solar storm to hit earth

From SpaceWeather: Space Weather News for Jan. 23, 2012 http://spaceweather.com INCOMING CME: Big sunspot 1402 erupted on Jan. 23rd, producing a strong M9-class solar flare and a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME). Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say … Read More

Posted in Global Killer Asteroid Questions, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged , , ,
28 Comments

NC Fishwrap: US Bishops are to blame for Pres. Obama’s HHS decision

It had to happen. Fishwrap is blaming Pres. Obama’s attack on religious freedom on the US Bishops, and their unsophisticated notion of conscience. Bishops’ conscience model makes light of practical reason Jan. 23, 2012 By David DeCosse COMMENTARY What if the clashes … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , , , , , ,
35 Comments

A near disaster reconstructed

On a completely different note, remember that USAir flight taking off from LaGuardia in Queens which hits birds, lost both engines and had to land in the Hudson River? There is a digital reconstruction of the flight from the data in the … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged , , ,
19 Comments

Today – compare and contrast: National Catholic Register and National Catholic Reporter

Today is marked in particular by the March For Life in Washington, D.C. The front page of the National Catholic Register is very focused on the Church’s prolife message. Fishwrap?  Zip. At least not yet.  They are probably preparing massive coverage … Read More

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, SESSIUNCULA |
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March for Life Reports

Have you been following the March for Life in Washington, DC? Is there a local event in which you are participating?

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras | Tagged ,
38 Comments

Occupiers trash, urinate on Cross, and steal from NYC church.

How d’ya like those Occupiers?  Huh? Huh? I read a story the other day that the rat population is exploding in the Occupiers zone in Washington DC. Now I read in the New York Post that they trashed churches where … Read More

Posted in Dogs and Fleas | Tagged , , , , , , ,
30 Comments

Your Good News!

Do you have some good news? C’mon! I know you do.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
38 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes

Was there some particularly good point or line from the Sunday sermon you heard?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
44 Comments

Fox News show “Huckabee” has two powerful pro-life segments

I caught Mike Huckabee’s weekend show tonight. After he interviews three of the four presidential candidates (ho hum), in the second part of the show, he interviewed a woman named Rebecca Kiessling, who was conceived during a rape.  A conversation … Read More

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras | Tagged , , , ,
3 Comments