Fr. Z’s Voice Mail or ¡Hagan lío!

I get interesting voice mail.

Remember, I don’t call back, but I listen to it.

• To the woman in South Africa: Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand most of what you said, because of the poor audio quality the voice mail. It sounds like you are having a hard time. I will remember you in prayer.
• To Fr. MA in Texarkana, TX: I remember you from Rome. I hope our paths cross again. The Mozart C minor Mass at your place?  Tonight?  Very cool.  That Kyrie is amazing.  But I couldn’t tell if this is just a concert or if it’s a Mass.  At my home parish St. Agnes, in St. Paul, we had some 30 orchestral Masses on Sundays each year.  We had Mozart’s C minor in the repertoire.
• To the woman in Kansas City, MO: Yes, I am aware of what happened with Bp. Finn. That was really sad.  As a matter of fact I will be in KC, MO for the upcoming ordination to the priesthood of the son of a friend of many years who used to be on my staff at the original Catholic Online Forum on Compuserve, from 1992 onward.
• To the man in Pittsburgh, PA: First, you are welcome. Second, no!  It is unwise to “switch Churches” so as to marry and pursue priesthood.  Don’t even think about it.

No kooks or haters, or kooky haters, since the last time!  What’s up?  Are you back on your meds again?  Keep up the good work.

And now a bonus ASK FATHER question!

One fellow asked:

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First, Orthodox priests are validly ordained.   They are really priests.

Also, under certain circumstances, a Catholic can approach an Orthodox priest for sacraments. The Code of Canon Law says in can. 844 §2:

Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that the danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

Note that this is the case only when you cannot approach a Catholic priest or bishop and if there is a “true spiritual advantage”.

While this canon does not address the issue of blessing sacramentals, such as Rosary, a medal, Holy Water, etc., it seems to me that the principles outlined in the canon about sacraments would apply. If you can’t approach a Catholic priest, and you really need the help of the sacramentals, I suppose you could ask the Orthodox priest to help you out, if he is willing.  Under normal circumstances, however, I am not sure why one would ask an Orthodox priest to do this.

Since I pay (through your donations) a fee for the voice mail phone numbers, I am glad when they get some use.

You can get me through Skype or through telephone in these USA or in the UK.

WDTPRS

020 8133 4535

651-447-6265

TIPS for leaving voice mail.

1. Don’t shout.  If you shout, your voice will be distorted and I won’t be able to understand you.
2. Don’t whisper.  C’mon.  If you have to whisper, maybe you should be calling the police, instead.
3. Come to your point right away.  That helps.
4. Be brief.