Monthly Archives: December 2014

YOUR URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS

Please use the sharing buttons! Thanks! Registered or not, will you in your charity please take a moment look at the requests and to pray for the people about whom you read? Continued from THESE. I get many requests by … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
37 Comments

“The sobs of that appalling infancy cleanse me, those tears wash away my sins.”

From my old Patristic Rosary Project: We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with the: 3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity Christ came into the world in “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4). His First Coming was foreseen from all eternity … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Patristiblogging | Tagged , ,
1 Comment

Fanon of Christmas Past

Exactly two years ago, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the First Holy Mass of Christmas and he wore the fanon, hated by liberals and the ungodly HERE. I turned on the Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica for a little … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI | Tagged , ,
20 Comments

How to make your parish more self-centered!

A reader alerted me to this.  Pop over to National Catholic Register for a peek at an old (2011) satirical piece by Tim Drake about… 14 Steps to a More Self-Centered Church […] 14. Community Center Rather than describing your … Read More

Posted in Liberals, Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged
11 Comments

ASK FATHER: Signs of reverence for priests

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I was hoping to hear your insight into traditions that seem lost! Will you please share your thoughts regarding bowing for clergy, kissing the hands of priests and referring to priests directly as Your Reverence? We … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , , , , ,
59 Comments

ASK FATHER: What am I supposed to do during Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: At the TLM I understand that I, as a layperson, gain the graces simply by being present, but what am I supposed to do during it? I’ve heard that people used to pray the rosary silently. … Read More

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

Pope Francis greets Curia for Christmas, and rips them to shreds

Each year it is customary for the Roman Pontiff to meet and greet members of the Roman Curia just before Christmas. The Pope gives an address. Often that address is a kind of “State of the Union”, describing things that … Read More

Posted in Francis, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged , , ,
76 Comments

Just Too Cool: Polyphonic sacred music earlier than previously thought!

It stands to reason, in a way. This is for your Just Too Cool file. Form phys.org: Earliest known piece of polyphonic music discovered New research has uncovered the earliest known practical piece of polyphonic music, an example of the … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
13 Comments

ASK FATHER: Pyxes left in the choir loft after Communion

From a reader…. QUAERITUR: I frequently find communion pyxes lying on the organ in the choir loft. They seem to be left there from a prior Mass where they were used to bring Holy Communion to the choir by an … Read More

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

NYC cops assassinated. Remarks and prayers.

I am sad and angry about the assassination of two New York City police offers. I will remember them and their families in my prayers. There’s lots of blame to go around. First, the perp was a Muslim who posted … Read More

Posted in Cri de Coeur, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Religion of Peace | Tagged , ,
11 Comments

I read Mass this morning. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I read Mass this morning. No, actually, I sang Mass this morning, but saying “read Mass” is more fun. It annoys liberals. We have various phrases which means basically the same thing, but with certain nuances. And old-fashioned description of … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Priests and Priesthood, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
35 Comments

Thursday Night Football Saturday. Hey! Wait a minute!

Transferring important Feasts, such as Ascension Thursday, to a Sunday is a Really Bad Idea. Ascension Thursday Sunday? What sense does that make? But wait! There’s more. Who knew that the officially sanctioned watering down of our Catholic identity in the transfer … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged
5 Comments

It’s. Another. Religion.

I was once in a parish with a school. I visited class rooms. I was asked to blessed the class rooms by the pastor. By way of explanation of what blessings are all about I wanted to make the distinction … Read More

Posted in Cri de Coeur, Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Olympian Middle |
55 Comments

A breakthrough!

I think I am finally beginning to understand the LCWR and the Fishwrap.  I want you to understand them too.  Here’s a helpful video.

Posted in Liberals, Lighter fare | Tagged ,
14 Comments

Tough love about the priest shortage

You know that I am not a fan of The Bitter Pill (aka The Tablet).  That said, there is a something striking, striking as in “nail on the head”, from a seasoned priest which you should read. This is from Fr. Mark Minihane … Read More

Posted in Cri de Coeur, Fr. Z KUDOS, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
71 Comments

Request for prayers

I am ill.  I have a lot to do in the next few days. I ask for prayers. UPDATE 20 Dec: The antibiotics start today.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
25 Comments

My View For Awhile: Final Flights Edition

Two more flights to wind up this calendar year. Alas, it has to be one from Orlando. Happily it’s a short hop to the next, and last leg. I think Orlando may be the airport I hate more than all … Read More

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to |
10 Comments

Past and present Vatican, Church involvement in Cuban affairs – Status quaestionis

I am beginning to admire more and more the analysis of things Vatican by Andrea Galiarducci, who writes for CNA. He has a status questionis post on Pope Francis and the involvement, past and present, of the Catholic Church in … Read More

Posted in The Drill | Tagged , , ,
9 Comments

What kind of priest thought it was good to whitewash, trash statues, tear out altars?

It was a good day for The Catholic Thing today.  Anthony Esolen again knocked one out of the park in an piece in which he talks about reverence. Esolen starts from an interesting jumping off point: Odysseus slaying the suitors, but sparing the … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , , , , , ,
19 Comments

“Would it really be totally impossible to admit her to Communion?”

Some of the mistakes we make in life can’t be fixed. These days we expect everything to be fixable, to have a solution.  There must be some way to get around problems, some cure, some repair, some slight-of-hand. No.  Not … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, Hard-Identity Catholicism, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , ,
40 Comments