Monthly Archives: January 2017

The plural of anecdote is “data”

Disturbing data points have come to me in the last few days. First, I had a telephone conversation with a priest who described how the local bishop had removed the faculties of a number of priests pretty much because he … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged , , ,
29 Comments

The elation of a good confession humbly made

At The Catholic Thing there is a piece by Regis Martin about the Sacrament of Penance. When was the last time you went to confession?  When was the last time you made that good and complete confession of all mortal sins … Read More

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

No Poet at Inauguration 2017

There was no Poetry or Poet Laureate at the Inauguration.  I am pleased.  Do you remember the drivel from May Angelou, the gibberish from Elizabeth Alexander and the rubbish from Richard Blanco? Long gone at the days of a Robert … Read More

Posted in Poetry | Tagged ,
38 Comments

A word for the wise (bishop) from Summorum Pontificum

Summorum Pontificum, Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio, applies to the entire Latin Church.  Bishops can’t override it. Some articles of SP get more attention than others.  Here is one which might not be immediately present in your mind: Art. 7. Ubi aliquis coetus … Read More

Posted in SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged
8 Comments

PRAYER REQUEST: Archbp. Carroll’s “Prayer for Government”

Fathers, you might want to have everyone pray this after Mass on Inauguration Day and other major public holidays.  This, and other prayers, are deeply needed. The following prayer was composed by John Carroll, Archbishop of Baltimore, in 1791. He was … Read More

Posted in PRAYER REQUEST, Urgent Prayer Requests | Tagged ,
5 Comments

A level stretch

From the Gospel reading today for the Feast of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian: Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord. Luke 6:17-23 At that time, Jesus coming down from the mountain, … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool |
3 Comments

“As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free”

I must admit that I get a little choked up at the last verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Remembering also that Pres. Bush had the US Army Chorus sing this for ” target=”_blank”>Pope Benedict at the White … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged ,
15 Comments

25 January: Brick by brick in YONKERS! 1st Solemn Mass in decades!

Next week Wednesday, 25 January, for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, my good friend Fr. Leonard Villa, Pastor of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Yonkers, NY, will have a Solemn Mass for the Patronal … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Events, The Campus Telephone Pole |
3 Comments

Have priests of Malta been threatened with suspension if they resist The Maltese Fiasco?

UPDATE 20 Jan: The Catholic Herald says: Maltese bishop denies he will suspend priests who don’t give Communion to the remarried Bishop Mario Grech has denied that he will suspend priests who abide by traditional Church teaching on the Eucharist. … Read More

Posted in Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm | Tagged , ,
20 Comments

TRAD LIVES MATTER! US Bishop attacks “ad orientem” worship, overrides Summorum Pontificum

UPDATE: COMMENTS CLOSED. ___ Originally Published on: Jan 19, 2017 @ 14:25 ___ I received a copy of a letter sent by the Bishop of Rockford, Most Rev. David J. Malloy, to the priests of that diocese. In this letter, a follow … Read More

Posted in Goat Rodeos, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Pò sì jiù, Si vis pacem para bellum!, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Olympian Middle, Turn Towards The Lord, Wherein Fr. Z Rants, You must be joking! | Tagged , , ,
59 Comments

Trump appointee’s stockings

From ChurchPop: You don’t see this very often in Washington D.C.! Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT) has been nominated by Donald J. Trump to be the new Secretary of the Interior. And at his Senate confirmation hearing, Rep. Zinke wore something … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged
14 Comments

Fathers! You are the mighty enemies of our enemy, Hell!

GO TO CONFESSION! What a victory for the demons of Hell it has been to run down the Sacrament of Penance until it is barely thought of in some parishes. Fathers, if you are parish priests and have the obligation … Read More

Posted in GO TO CONFESSION, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , , ,
46 Comments

BOOKS Recently Received: Beautiful manuals for devotions

I have recently received some books from TAN. First, let me mention a couple of “manuals”. There is the Manual for Marian Devotion (US HERE – UK HERE) and the Manual for Eucharistic Devotion.  (US HERE – UK HERE) They are available on Kindle … Read More

Posted in REVIEWS, The Coming Storm | Tagged
10 Comments

The Maltese Fiasco – The Movie?

I haven’t yet heard who will star in this new film noir boxoffice buster. Meanwhile, my friend Fr. Murray has a comment at The Catholic Thing. Meltdown in Malta [They should start using The Maltese Fiasco, btw] […] The bishops of Malta have … Read More

Posted in Lighter fare, Mail from priests, One Man & One Woman | Tagged
14 Comments

Poste Vaticane – Commemorative stamping to honor Martin Luther

Yesterday I heard that the Vatican Post was to issue a commemorative stamp honoring Martin Luther.  HERE To honor someone who so publicly ripped asunder the fabric of Christendom is appalling.  Who’s next?  Judas Iscariot? This is like: Augustus Caesar minting … Read More

Posted in Pò sì jiù, You must be joking! | Tagged
48 Comments

REACTION: HBO’s The Young Pope

I have now seen two episodes of the new HBO (etc.) series The Young Pope. It has already run across the Pond. It is visually rich, cynical, creepy, weird, unpredictable, sacrilegious and clever. Try to get your head around Fellini’s Roma … Read More

Posted in REVIEWS | Tagged ,
40 Comments

Kelly Ann Conway, The March For Life, SCOTUS, Roe v Wade

This is interesting.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
31 Comments

Solemn Mass Green Eye Candy

As Prez of the Tridentine Mass Society of the Diocese of Madison, I want to leave it all on the field.  We are doing our best to SAVE THE WORLD, one Mass at a time.  We want Holy Mass to … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged
13 Comments

Is ‘Amoris laetitia’ compromised because of ghostwriter plagiarism?

There is a bit of hard reporting and analysis at Crux today which merits close attention. Also, at the end, I have a face-saving solution for everyone regarding the Five Dubia and controversy about Amoris laetitia Chapter 8. Here is some helpful … Read More

Posted in CRUX WATCH, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
32 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can absolution be granted when no purpose of amendment exists?

Under another entry here a commentator asked: Can absolution be granted where no purpose of amendment exists? If granted, with no purpose of amendment, does it even ‘take’? No. And No. In normal circumstances, when there isn’t danger or some … Read More

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Vatican II | Tagged , , , , , ,
40 Comments