Author Archives: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)

ASK FATHER: If the Canon is inaudible, would it be invalid?

From a reader… QUAERUNTUR: An elderly priest always says the Canon in such a way that he is completely inaudible, he merely moves his lips. Do the rubrics require the Canon to be said audibly, if so, would his Mass … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged
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ROME 26/4– Day 33: Here’s a little Latin for you

ROMAE SOL ORTUS EST HORA VI ET XIII. SOL OCCIDET POST PAUCA MINUTA HORA XX ET IV. CAMPANA “AVE MARIA” PRO CURIA ROMANA HORA XX ET XV SONARE DEBET, SED NON SONABIT. POTIUS, APUD ECCLESIAM SANCTISSIMAE TRINITATIS PEREGRINORUM ET CONVALESCENTIUM … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice |
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ROME 26/4– Day 32: What a day

In Rome the sun rose at 06:14. It set quite a while ago at 20:03. The Ave Maria Bells is still listed in the 20:15 cycle. Welcome Regstrant: CRM Among others, today was the Feast of Sts. Maria Cleope and … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

ROME 26/4– Day 31: tired

Over Rome at 06:16 the sun emerged and it will remerge (?) submerge at 20:02. The Ave Maria Bell ought to ring for the Curia at 20:15 (but it won’t). It’s the feast of St. George and St. Adalbert. I’m … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
1 Comment

ROME 26/4– Days 30: R.I.P.

Up came the sun at 06:17. Down goeth the sun at 20:01. The Ave Maria is in the 20:15 cycle for the Curia. It is the feast of three saintly Popes of yore: Soter, Caius and Agapitus.  Perhaps more important … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
9 Comments

“Masses scheduled at impossible times”… Where have I heard that before?

Today in the Italian daily Il Foglio there is an article which starts… Catholics increasingly persecuted after the Agreement with China Human Rights Watch report: the situation has worsened after the agreement between Beijing and the Holy See. An assessment … Read More

Posted in Pò sì jiù, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged
11 Comments

ROME 26/4– Days 29: Happy Birthday Rome!

Today it was 06:19 when Pyrois, Eous, Aethon, and Phlegon bore the chariot of Helios into the view of Rome. At 19:59 the same “Fiery One”, “He of the Dawn”, “Blazing” and “Burning” will take dimming cart into West. The … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
6 Comments

Of Tolkien and a very young Fr. Z

J.R.R. Tolkien’s books provided inestimable foundations for my later acceptance of all that the Catholic Church taught and that in conjunction with its most powerful conveyer of doctrine, sacred liturgical worship. In fact, at the behest of a wise grandmother, … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged
17 Comments

ROME 26/4– Days 27 & 28: Pope SAINT Leo IX lead an army

This beautiful sunny yet cool Roman day started by the sun’s rising at 06:20 and it will end at 19:59. The Ave Maria (which you know all about now) is at 20:15 according to the Vatican curial calendar. On this … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

Feast of St. Expeditus… belated

Yesterday, 19 April, was the Feast of St. Expeditus – patron saint of procrastinators.  I put off posting about him till now. He was a Roman soldier and is so depicted, also holding aloft a sign or cross with the … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
6 Comments