Daily Archives: 8 December 2015

8 December 2005: this blog began. Tonight, Mass for Benefactors.

On 8 December 2005, I posted this photo.  This blog project began. This was a shot – from my apartment window – of the Basilica and Apostolic Palace on the evening of the day that Pope Benedict was elected. It … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged
40 Comments

ASK FATHER: Frequent confession to overcome pornography

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, I am a new Catholic and I’m struggling mightily to overcome a past life filled with pornography. Sometimes I fail the day after a confession. Some Priests have told me not to go more than … Read More

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

Crossing the threshold of … mercy

Pope Benedict enters St. Peter’s Basilica through the newly opened Holy Door.

Posted in Benedict XVI, Year of Mercy |
11 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can’t go to Mass on Sunday. Are we obliged to go on Saturday?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I’m satisfied that Canon 1248 clearly grants us a generous concession to fulfill / satisfy our obligation to assist at Mass on a Sunday by going on Saturday evening. If my Church has a Saturday evening … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , ,
22 Comments

The Blessed Virgin compared to the Air we Breathe

Fr. Hopkins (a Jesuit!) wrote this as a May offering for Mary in 1883, but I think it fits well today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is also a good poem for the day that is simultaneously Immaculate Conception … Read More

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , ,
2 Comments

Speak badly of Pope Francis and incur automatic excommunication… NOT.

During the Year of Mercy – which I guess already began, at least in Africa, but which is going to begin sometime tomorrow in Rome and then some days later elsewhere – certain confessors are to be granted faculties to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Canon Law, GO TO CONFESSION, HONORED GUESTS, The Drill, What are they REALLY saying?, Year of Mercy | Tagged , ,
14 Comments

ASK FATHER: Godparent by proxy?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am an American living in Europe, and I was baptized and confirmed by a priest (not the bishop) in the Roman Catholic Church at Easter in 2009 (at the age of 35) in the Czech Republic. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged , ,
3 Comments

Turning St. Peter’s Basilica into a projection screen for climate change panic propaganda

UPDATE 8 Dec 2015 GMT: I pulled up the live stream of the webcam over St. Peter’s Square. The facade of San Pietro… I am trying to imagine what St. Peter would think about this. Based on his anger toward … Read More

Posted in Pò sì jiù, Year of Mercy, You must be joking! | Tagged ,
71 Comments