Author Archives: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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

Distraught woman grabs Francis’ hand and pleads. What did she say? – UPDATED

UPDATE 3 Jan 2020: What’s this all about? #BREAKING: A new video has emerged of @Pontifex rebuffing a religious sister while visiting Chile in 2018. Is this pattern of easy accessibility causing Pope Francis discomfort and frustration? Is it a … Read More →

Posted in The Drill | Tagged
123 Comments

From the Seven Sisters Apostolate about distraction during prayer

I have written about the Seven Sisters Apostolate on other occasions.   It is a great pleasure to know that there is a group organized for my poor person.   As a matter of fact, lately I have wondered on a few … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
5 Comments

More nutty from a bishop. Yes, a German bishop.

At Novena News which leads to Kathpress.at we read: Bishop of Limburg Georg Bätzing made the observation about the Church’s oppression of women and boycott from ordained office in a New Year’s Eve message. The prelate admitted that he must “take seriously … Read More →

Posted in Blatteroons, Liberals, Pò sì jiù | Tagged ,
22 Comments

ASK FATHER: A priest gave me a penance in confession that was too hard

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Long ago I went to confession and was given and reluctantly agreed to\ a rather onerous penance not required by justice. I didn’t end up doing it after thinking about it for a while and went … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged ,
7 Comments

ASK FATHER: Why do Catholics hold their hands open and turned upward during Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have seen a certain posture at Mass: Why do you think people do this? Why do they choose this non-Roman posture instead of the orans posture? And what posture should I do at home? Just … Read More →

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

Your Octave of Christmas 2020 Sermon Notes

Was there a good point made in the sermon you heard for your Mass of Obligation for this Octave of Christmas, the Feast of the Circumcision, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God? Let us know. Here’s mine.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
12 Comments

Fr. Z’s Predictions for 2020

2020 Predictions 1. Pres. Trump will be reelected in an historic landslide. 2. Pres. Trump will get yet another SCOTUS pick. 3. The Pachamama idol worship will not die and the Holy See will promote even more earth/climate worship/panic. 4.  … Read More →

Posted in Lighter fare | Tagged
28 Comments

The Texas church shooting and our future choices. Wherein Fr. Z opines.

People are asking for my reaction to the terrifying church shooting in Texas. A man was acting oddly in the church during the service.  The church had some trained people at the service who noticed him and then watched him.  They … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
23 Comments

ASK FATHER: Were Jesus, Mary and Joseph “refugees”? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Several readers have asked whether or not the Holy Family were refugees. Some are reacting to “nativity” scenes, showing them in cages, and so forth, which is an obvious manipulation of the Nativity narrative to score cheap political shots, at … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
11 Comments

Your Sunday in the Christmas Octave 2019 Sermon Notes

Was there a good point made in the sermon you heard at the Mass that fulfilled your Sunday Obligation? What was it? There are a lot of people who don’t get many good points in the sermons they must endure. For … Read More →

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
16 Comments