Monthly Archives: May 2018

ASK FATHER: When to make an appointment for confession

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Would it be better (in order for the priest to have more time with the penitent) to make an appointment for confessing VERY grave sins (something even the most lenient person would say needs confessing) or … Read More

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

ASK FATHER: Sorting out confusing, contradictory messages from priests

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to ask you a question since I know you are knowledgable and do not lead souls astray. My question is not meant to vent about the state of the … Read More

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

Wherein Fr. Z assigns some worthwhile reading

At First Things there are two outstanding pieces to which I direct your attention. Firstly, run, don’t walk, to read Martin Mosebach’s beautiful essay about “eternal Rome”.   The translator did a masterful job.  I read it yesterday on the airplane and … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Just Too Cool, The Drill | Tagged , ,
4 Comments

Met “Gay-la” and new movie. Coincidence? I think not.

You all know about the “Gay-la” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.  Each year, the Met has some big “fashion” exhibit.   This year, some folks in the Church were either duped or were consciously complicit in producing a … Read More

Posted in What are they REALLY saying? |
Comments Off on Met “Gay-la” and new movie. Coincidence? I think not.

ASK FATHER: Forgetting sins during confession

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Dear Father, is it okay if I didn’t said the sin I was about to confess because my mind blocked? I didn’t finished it with the lines “for these and all my sins…” because I got … Read More

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

Day Of Prayer For The Church In China

My Vatican Curia calendar shows that today is the Day Of Prayer For The Church In China. Just a few days ago, I read at Canticum Salominis about the Feast of Our Lady of China, 12 May, and her proper … Read More

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, Our Solitary Boast | Tagged
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Pope Francis on homosexual seminarians: This bridge is closed!

At Vatican Insider I spotted something interesting.  Each Spring the Italian bishops have a plenary meeting at the Vatican’s Paul VI hall, in the smaller hall where the Synod usually meets.  The Pope attends at least part of the meeting.  … Read More

Posted in Francis, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, Sin That Cries To Heaven | Tagged
26 Comments

My View For Awhile: Urban Devastation Edition

I’m heading home after a truly enjoyable stay at the great Assumption Grotto parish. Still, every time we left the parish, what I saw was alarming. Block after block of houses, abandoned, boarded up, burned, falling to ruin, businesses and … Read More

Posted in On the road, SESSIUNCULA, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged
5 Comments

Does Pope Francis have a “long game” strategy?

We had a phrase in the Curia that described our approach to some questions and challenges: Cunctando regitur mundus.   This is a fundamental dimension of Romanitas: the world is ruled by delaying. You outwait your opponents, rather than outwit them.  Think Cincinnatus and … Read More

Posted in Francis, Sin That Cries To Heaven, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
17 Comments

Interview about Honduran Card. Rodriguez Maradiaga

Ed Pentin, the superstar of English language Vaticanistas working in Rome, has a fascinating interview with the widow of the former Ambassador of Honduras to the Holy See.   It seems that she had taken investment advice given to her … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , ,
6 Comments

Canadian Jesuit Archbp. Prendergast comments on crazy German bishops’ scheme

There are two kinds of Jesuits, and Ottawa’s Archbp. Terrence Prendergast is one of them. He recently said some things that make a lot of sense about the nonsensical German bishops and their deeply dopey move towards Communion for non-Catholics … Read More

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
10 Comments

Pope’s words about God making someone “gay”

First, I hate that term “gay”.  There’s nothing “gay” about it. The liberal Left is slobbering all over alleged words of Pope Francis to a young homosexual man, who says that Pope told him that God made him homosexual. I am … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , ,
22 Comments

Some cool stuff, old and new, in Rome and Detroit

First, I am glad to report that Gammarelli is ready to ship our new processional canopy, and we will have it in time for Corpus Christi.  It will match our white Pontifical Mass set.  Here are some shots of the … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged , , ,
14 Comments

@Card_R_Sarah terrific sermon for Pentecost and pilgrimage

His Eminence Robert Card. Sarah gave a terrific sermon at Chartres for the conclusion of the traditional Pentecost pilgrimage. NLM has the text in English. Shall I touch some items that really caught my attention?  My emphases and comments. Allow … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged
6 Comments

A Bishop calls on his brother Bishops to celebrate the Traditional Pontifical Mass, TLM

A few bishops have blogs.  A few blogs of bishops are worth looking at.   Here is a blog post on a bishop’s blog which every bishop should read. Most Rev. Thomas E. Gullickson is the Papal Nuncio in Switzerland. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
4 Comments

“I originally sent you this story 8 years ago, for the brick by brick file…” UPDATE

From a reader about a parish in Williamston, MI: I originally sent you this story 8 years ago, for the brick by brick file: After decades with no crucifix and no tabernacle in the sanctuary (other than a processional cross), … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 |
8 Comments

“Where there is no temple there shall be no homes.”

With my emphases from Choruses from “The Rock” by T. S. Eliot: We build in vain unless the Lord build with us. Can you keep the City that the Lord keeps not with you? A thousand policemen directing the traffic Cannot … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
4 Comments

Pastor Iuventus on the appalling Met “Gay-la”

From the UK’s best Catholic weekly the Catholic Herald comes a commentary on the Met “Gay-la”.   Yes, we are still talking about that horrid blotch on the Church’s reputation, lest we forget.  My emphases and comments: Pastor Iuventus: ?In today’s Church, … Read More

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, Mail from priests, The Drill, You must be joking! | Tagged ,
20 Comments

Chilling – probably correct – explanation of mass school shootings

I just read at NRO a piece by David French, who in turn gives us the substance of an explanation of what is driving the increasing phenomenon of school shootings.  I sense that the explanation – which provides quite the opposite … Read More

Posted in Cri de Coeur, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
14 Comments

A Pentecost Monday lesson: “And Paul VI wept.”

REPOSTED: Years ago I told this Pentecost Monday tale and it has made the rounds.  It has made the rounds everywhere, but I am the origin of the anecdote, which I published years ago in the pages of The Wanderer and … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
56 Comments