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“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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Cincinnati Priest 2 on “Why, then, would Francis punish those who worship according to the Latin rite?”: “Fantastic article especially since from a secular source. One little quibble: “Not raised in the Latin rite”??? I think the…”
on ASK FATHER: The priest only said, “I absolve you from your sins”. Is that sufficient for a valid absolution?: “My experience with these problems often is attributed to the priest not being comfortable with the reality of “in persona…”
on Traditionis custodes and “reception theory” – or – When a law is no law at all.: “Yes, Gratian said it 800 years ago: a law must first be promulgated, but then it has to be accepted…”
on “Why, then, would Francis punish those who worship according to the Latin rite?”: “The Federalist article: “Catholics who attend Latin Mass are by all accounts the least likely to encourage disagreements, widen gaps,…”
on ASK FATHER: The priest only said, “I absolve you from your sins”. Is that sufficient for a valid absolution?: “The pastor of our mostly-NO parish often hears Confessions before & throughout Latin Mass. He usually has scores of penitents…”
on Traditionis custodes and “reception theory” – or – When a law is no law at all.: “I just noticed Summorum Pontificum, in speaking of the Novus Ordo, states, “…these were willingly received by the bishops as…”
on UPDATED – 14 August Pontifical Mass at the National Shrine: FORBIDDEN: “TonyO, I wouldn’t be surprised if “don’t establish new groups” is the rationale. When I originally read that part I…”
on ASK FATHER: The priest only said, “I absolve you from your sins”. Is that sufficient for a valid absolution?: “I go to confession sometimes on Saturday afternoon in my neighborhood parish where the pastor has about 90 minutes for…”
on ASK FATHER: The priest only said, “I absolve you from your sins”. Is that sufficient for a valid absolution?: “I used to go to a priest that used the NO formula, but added the words in italics and it…”
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Monthly Archives: January 2020
ASK FATHER: Pay the German “Church Tax” or not, given what the German Church is doing?
From a GERMAN reader… QUAERITUR: Currently, I am required to pay my income tax in Germany, which also includes the “Church Tax” as I have declared that I am a Roman Catholic. It appears one cannot just opt-out of this … Read More
Lest BREXIT go unnoticed, a Martyrology entry: “Pridie Kalendas Februarii Luna sexta Anno Domini 2020…”
I received this from a reader. Pridie Kalendas Februarii Luna sexta Anno Domini 2020 Britanniae, anno LXVIII regni Elizabethae Reginae, Imperium, splendore radians, ab illo comitio diabolico scilicet, Unione Europaea, post annos dolorosos XLVII, (br)exiit. ‘In Britain, the 65th year … Read More
ASK FATHER: In time of high risk contagion, nitrile gloves for distribution of Communion?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Are disposable nitrile gloves acceptable of a Priest distributing the Eucharist? Nitrile gloves are proven to help prevent the spread of pathogens. Yes, this can be done. Should it be done is another thing. Holy Communion … Read More
Getting a boost. Thanks.
I am grateful today for a new monthly donor. AO UPDATE: Also, MB, RS, QJ, JB, DH, ML, MM Today is one of those lean days of the month, when not so many people have subscribed to a monthly donation. … Read More
MAP and Stats: track the spread of Coronoavirus
Johns Hopkins has a live map and site that show the spread of Coronovirus. HERE A screenshot: I refer you also to a post with some fiction and, in the comments, great fiction and non-fiction reading. HERE How fact can … Read More
Strong tonic to bishops and priests: “If I can’t endure the cold shower, … maybe I’m not fit for heaven.”
At LifeSite there is a a superb opinion piece (frankly, most of LifeSite is opinion) by Kevin Wells, author of The Priests We Need to Save the Church. Wells describes a program that some men are undertaking, a kind of … Read More
The church of England apologizes for its temporary lapse into Christianity – UPDATED
UPDATED 1 Feb 2020: I have an apology to make. Not to the cofE. Yesterday, before I had read anything else, I checked my mail. A couple of friends with whom I often exchange news, both dire and ironic, for the … Read More
8 Comments
Lovely poetry about Candlemas, the beautiful Feast of the Purification, Presentation of the Lord
Candlemas is coming up, the Feast of the Purification, as it is traditionally called. We call it Candlemas because, with the references to light in the liturgy, we bless candles. Candlemas is the conclusion of the Advent/Christmas cycle. We are … Read More
ASK FATHER: Father had his dog with him at the altar during Mass
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Hi Father- I attended an N.O. Mass this morning, along with about 50 others, and I was shocked to see the priest allow his dog on the altar! During the sermon, the priest stopped, looked … Read More
URGENT POLL: Which pizza is better? NYC or Chicago style?
In my ongoing desire for clarity, I have posted about the burning issues of our day. For example, I have sought clarity, and found it, about the true plural of the drink made from Gin and from Tonic. The answer … Read More
ASK FATHER: Suspension of Communion on the tongue because of #Coronavirus
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, in the Philippines a bishop told people to stop receiving Communion on the tongue and receive only in the hand because of Coronavirus and don’t have the chalice too. What say you? We have seen … Read More
VIDEO contrasts participants in March for Life and Women’s March
LifeSite posted this fascinating, predictable, video. But an image is worth a thousand words. Listening to the view of the other side in this video is like witnessing the autopsy of long dead cadaver in really bad shape. You can … Read More
Blog changes – speed! And “Catholic Signal Corps”
I had posted a while ago that there was going to be yet another maintenance issue coming up. As you recall, we did a massive switch to a new server last October. That went well. This time we had to … Read More
China, FlightAware, and You
There is an online resource for tracking airline flights: Flightaware. It is fascinating to see the planes move in real time. You get a sense of how important air travel and freight is for all of us. You also get … Read More
Worried about Coronavirus? Feed your anxiety, and commonsense. – UPDATED
UPDATE 31 Jan 2020: We’ve learned that, in Chicago, there is a case of human to human transmission of the virus. W.H.O. declared an emergency. Today I read. Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte says the first two coronavirus cases have … Read More
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Wherein Fr. Rutler hits for six
Fr. George Rutler knocks it outta da park today. Rather, he would probably prefer to have hit for six. “Hit for six”, as he would know, is not only a good thing in cricket, but is also “to be hit … Read More
ASK FATHER: The “churching” of women after childbirth and the blessing of expecting mothers
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I recently had a conversation with an Episcopal priest about the approaching Feast of the Purification. He said that he would not emphasize the Churching of Women connection. There is such a ceremony in the old … Read More
Too often TV and film directors and designers get Catholic thing wrong, absurdly so.
There are quite a few churchy things in TV and film these days. For example, the intellectually insulting Two Popes (absurd on the face of it) and the weird and often vile sequel The New Pope. Also, churchy things are often on … Read More
Your Good News
It has been too long since I have asked about your good news. What’s up? Are there good things going on that you would like to share with the readership? For my part, I going to work on some Hebrew. … Read More
