Monthly Archives: January 2025

ROME DAY 25/01 07: A martyr

This day, the last of the Days of the Blackbird in Rome, the sun rose at 07:21 and it will set at 17:26. The Ave Maria Bell should ring at 17:45. In the older calendar it is the Feast of … Read More

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Fr. Charron on Mr. Lofton

My good friend (and a good chess player) Fr. Jason Charron has issued a video response to Michael Lofton. These days I pay zero attention to Michael Lofton.  I’ve seen a few clips and minutes here and there, and those … Read More

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ACTION ITEM! 2-10 February – NOVENA to Immaculate Heart for FSSP for their Vatican “Visitation”

Here is a PDF of a Novena which you could pray beginning Candlemas, 2 February, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  More on this at LifeSite. The Novena and consecration to the Immaculate Heart line up with a visitation of … Read More

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, PRAYER REQUEST, SESSIUNCULA |
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ROME DAY 25/01 06: INTERNET

On this Feast of St. Martina, Roman Virgin and Martyr (+228), the sun was up at 07:22 and it will set at 17:25. The Ave Maria Bell should sound at 17:45. There are 336 days left in the calendar year. … Read More

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“GO TO CONFESSION!” I always say. Another thing I say is that it is CRUEL to leave penitents in doubt.

Today I was out and about in Rome doing errands. I chanced on a posted sign in the penitents’ part of the free standing confessionals that line most Roman churches, often dusty from neglect.   The sign is a little blurry … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Pò sì jiù | Tagged ,
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ROME DAY 25/01 05: a little discrepancy

Roman sunrise was at 07:23.  The sun will set at 17:24. The Ave Maria Bell is in the 17:45 cycle. In the older calendar, today is the Feast of St. Francis de Sales.  He was transferred to 24 January in … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
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Another point of Catholic identity out with the bathwater?

Occasionally we have a collision of Holy Days of Obligations and Feasts in the calendar.  Feasts get transferred.   Does the obligation get transferred?  We had this situation recently regarding the Feast/Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which fell on an Advent … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, I'm just askin'..., Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged
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But people who want the TLM must be suppressed…

What on earth must this jackass think of the people in that church? I’m pretty sure this is invalid. Forgive my ignorance friends but this isn’t a Eucharistic prayer that I am familiar with… pic.twitter.com/8U5IXpT9fw — ??JMT?? (@SecretFire79) January 29, … Read More

Posted in You must be joking! |
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“I asked the new Chinese AI “DEEPSEEK”, about the priest’s posture during the consecration in the Traditional Latin Mass. It’s Reply….”

Some think that AI is here to stay.  If that is so, then I am not convinced that we are (cf. Skynet). In the meantime, AI is bringing us bread and circuses: great memes and videos, etc. That’s what the interwebs did, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, I'm just askin'..., Semper Paratus, SESSIUNCULA, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices |
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28 January – SECOND St. Agnes

One can tell how our ancient Roman forebears venerated their saints by how many churches they had and how many feasts. Today is the SECOND Feast of St. Agnes. An octave after the feast of her martyrdom, today, 28 January, … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged
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ROME DAY 25/01 04: Cringe

I slept in this morning, so I was not aware of the sunrise at 07:24.  I will surely see the sunset at 17:22. I won’t hear the Ave Maria Bell, which should ring at 17:45 in this cycle. It changed. … Read More

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ROME DAY 25/01 03: “You Had ONE Job!”

The Roman day with sunlight began at 07:25 which will significantly dwindle after 17:21. Our Ave Maria Bell: still in the 17:30 cycle, according to this calendar. I think it should have changed today to 17:45.   We will check this … Read More

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ROME DAY 25/01 02: jet lag

Today the sun was up by 07:26 and it was down by 17:20.  Getting longer.  Last I was here, they were getting shorter.   The Ave Maria Bell, back in November, was also in the 17:30 cycle.   It is now, too.  … Read More

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ROME DAY 25/01 01: Home at last

Today in Rome the sun rose at 0727 and it set at 1719 and the Ave Maria Bell was to ring at1730. It is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.  I’m and convert, and I converted in St. … Read More

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My View For Awhile: Eastward

The sunset in Rome was at 1717.  The sunset where I am now is…right now!  (See below) The Ave Maria Bell doesn’t ring here either, but in Rome it ought to ring at 1730. Tomorrow, when I arrive in Rome, … Read More

Posted in On the road, SESSIUNCULA, What Fr. Z is up to |
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A chess analogy for the importance of Mary

This is not all that sophisticated, as in knowing all the lines to 10 moves of the QGD, but it is apt these days for this blog. At Aletheia How chess explains the vital role of the Virgin Mary The … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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ROME DAY 25/01 -01: Cheeseburger

In Queens… really good cheeseburger. I usually have one of these when I come back from Italy. Why wait? Bun: buttered and grilled, as God intended.   Salad instead of starches, although my dining companion shared an some of his onion … Read More

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23 January: St. Raymond Peñafort – surfer extraordinaire

Today is the feast of St. Raymond of Peñafort (+1275). What you see below might leave you slightly puzzled. The painting is in the Spanish church in Rome, Santa Maria in Monserrato. Here is another view. This is St. Raymond … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols |
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ROME DAY 25/01 -02: Chinese Food (Sichuan)

Where I am the sun rose at 7:12 and it will set at 17:02. If you were in Rome, after seeing the sunrise at 7:28 you could venerate the relics of St. Emerentiana at the Basilica of St. Agnes on … Read More

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What is Catholic teaching about “deportation”? Maybe not what some higher-ups think.

At Catholic Vote there is an article (seemingly assembled from tweets/x) which you should look at about Catholic teaching on “deportation”. PROBLEM: Official Church documents on faith and morals have perennially been written in LATIN.  That fact is not the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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