Monthly Archives: August 2016

Moderation queue alert and some housekeeping notes

I have quite a bit of driving in store for me on Thursday.  That means that I won’t be able to check the moderation queue as often as I can when I am not on the road. Folks, I’m sorry … Read More

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Pope Francis creates a one new Dicastery out of four, which will be suppressed

Today it was announced that Pope Francis created a “Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development” through a Motu Proprio published on today in L’Osservatore Romano.  More from Vatican Radio HERE. The Dicastery will come into effect on 1 January 2017 … Read More

Posted in Francis, The Drill | Tagged
15 Comments

ASK FATHER: Formal defection from Catholic Church to Orthodox Church

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My brother, who was baptized in the Catholic Church as an infant and received the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation at the usual ages for our diocese, was received into the Greek Orthodox church by … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
25 Comments

Labor Day of Love: “How I am to approach the Sacrament of Penance?”

Some of you denizens of these USA might be experiencing a buzz in your head as we approach the Labor Day weekend. You have, perhaps, lots of preparations for this unofficial end of summer activities which have to be squeezed … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged , ,
5 Comments

RECENT POSTS and Mass for Benefactors

Tomorrow I head “up north”.  I will take my wonderful portable altar made by St. Joseph’s Apprentice. During my time “up north” I will say Mass for the intention of my benefactors (regular monthly and occasional donors, people who send stuff … Read More

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“Admire the beauty but fear the beast.”

What’s your nightmare? From APOD: Explanation: Admire the beauty but fear the beast. The beauty is the aurora overhead, here taking the form of great green spiral, seen between picturesque clouds with the bright Moon to the side and stars … Read More

Posted in Look! Up in the sky!, Semper Paratus, TEOTWAWKI | Tagged , ,
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: Mass intentions for groups of people

From a reader… QUAERITUR: As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches I would like to have mass said for the members of the NYPD and FDNY who died on 9/11. Sadly, when added up that means several hundred names. Can a … Read More

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: What are the best arguments they have in the favor of the novus ordo?

From a reader… and please note that when I get emails with strings of questions I usually delete them instantly.  Answering this is an exception to the rule, which I indicate clearly on the ASK FATHER form.  If ya’ll want me … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
60 Comments

ASK FATHER: Minimum to fulfill Mass obligation

From a reader… So a friend of mine who’s familiar with the old Mass but doesn’t offer it mentioned that you could fulfill your Sunday obligation (in the EF) so long as you arrived by the lifting of the veil … Read More

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

ASK FATHER: Praying for the Holy Father’s intentions when those intentions are… odd

UPDATE: A reader sent: Father:   When the Pope is saying “human person at center”, I think this article might explain the thinking.  [The serendipitous article in question is from today’s page at Crisis.] Person as opposed to power and goods … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests | Tagged , ,
29 Comments

ASK FATHER: Confessions during Mass – followup

Not long ago I answered a question about why priests might not offer opportunities for confession on feast days.  HERE  As part of that entry we moved into the issue of priests hearing confessions during Mass (not the celebrant, obviously). … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , , ,
44 Comments

Of speaking truth to power, close hair cuts, and you

Speaking of St. John the Baptist, here is what the print (and digital) readers of the UK’s best Catholic weekly the Catholic Herald were able to read in the present issue: We celebrate liturgically the births of Our Lord (25 December), … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI | Tagged ,
7 Comments

ASK FATHER: How are we supposed to remain Catholic these days?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: How are we supposed to remain Catholic in these days? A commission to study women deacons, after 2-3 previous studies said no? Beg forgiveness from gays? As if the Church was ever wrong to oppose the vice I’ve … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
34 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes

I can picture it now.  It’s time for the homily at Sunday Mass.  You resolve to pay close attention and remember details because you know that Fr. Z will ask… Was there a good point or two made during the … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
23 Comments

INDONESIA: Wannabe ISIS terrorist stabs priest, fails with bomb

In case you haven’t seen it yet at the Daily Mail: Terror in Indonesia: Axe-wielding ISIS jihadi, 18, stabs Catholic priest, 60, before trying to blow up hundreds of worshippers during Sunday Mass JIhadi, 18, tried to set off homemade … Read More

Posted in The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, The Religion of Peace | Tagged , ,
14 Comments

QUAERITUR: Best translation of St. Augustine’s “Confessions”?

Since today is the also the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, here is an oldie post which some of you found helpful. From a reader: Thank you for the recommendation on the biography [of St. Augustine by Hollingworth]; I … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, REVIEWS, Saints: Stories & Symbols |
24 Comments

ASK FATHER: What to do if your parish is extremely liberal?

From a reader… I am starting the academic year at ___ and attended Mass at the local parish for the first time this Sunday and was disheartened. The tabernacle is absent from the sanctuary, the church itself is round, and many practices during the liturgy felt/were … Read More

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

Photos from a Mass of Reparation for sacrileges and blasphemies

In the midst of ongoing bad news, seemingly on all fronts, I had some good news. My friend Fr. Dave Ireland in S. Euclid OH had at his beautiful Church of St. Gregory, a Solemn Mass in the Traditional Roman … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests | Tagged ,
9 Comments

UK Ordinariate… Quo?

Over at the Catholic Herald there is an piece by Damian Thompson about the status quaestionis of the Anglican Ordinariate in England established in the happier times of Benedict XVI. What interests me in a special way is found toward … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
22 Comments

ACTION ITEM: Prayers after Earthquake near Norcia, Italy

UPDATE: Dom Cassian Folsom has some reflections on the earthquakes which shook the monastery at Norcia. HERE UPDATE: For the time being, the monks of Norcia have moved down to Rome and are at the Benedictine community on the Aventine … Read More

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, Urgent Prayer Requests | Tagged ,
20 Comments