Author Archives: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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

ASK FATHER: Pipe organs, being expensive, how about manually pumped reed organs?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Pipe organs being too expensive for most parishes, and many electronic organs being used instead sound terrible and turn people off from the organ, what are your thoughts on bringing back reed (pump) organs to church? … Read More →

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

ASK FATHER: Alb for a boy’s pretend “Mass” set?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am making a set of vestments for my 9 year old son to use for pretend Mass over the summer. (I’ve been inspired by your posts regarding the travel vestments being made for your priest … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , ,
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ASK FATHER: Marital relations after a tubal ligation 22 years ago out of fear of pregnancy

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am very uneasy in my conscience. Twenty-two years ago, after the birth of our fourth child (last 3 were high risk pregnancies that ended in C-sections), my wife felt she was too old (38) to … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, One Man & One Woman | Tagged ,
2 Comments

On a painfully hopeful day, consolation arrives – new icon of Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy

It has been a painful and hopeful day.  Hopefully painful, or painfully hopeful, I can’t decide.  The needle drifted a to the later as I opened my mail. First, it is REALLY supposed to be MONDAY in the OCTAVE of … Read More →

Posted in Just Too Cool, Our Solitary Boast | Tagged
5 Comments

Wherein Fr. Z reads, rants and prays

There is an article today at National Review which has a reaction to Pope Francis’ strange words about the Eucharist.  HERE.   Francis said that, since “there is already unity” among Christians, then we shouldn’t have to “wait for theologians to … Read More →

Posted in GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
14 Comments

Chief of the Vichy Knights of Malta forbids the Extraordinary Form

UPDATE 11 June: A spokeswoman for the @orderofmalta in Rome has confirmed to me this morning that this June 10 letter of the Grand Master banning all liturgical ceremonies in the Extraordinary Form within the Order is genuine. pic.twitter.com/J2aUrCUiWY — … Read More →

Posted in Pò sì jiù | Tagged , , , ,
29 Comments

Your Good News

It has been some time since I’ve asked you what’s going on.  Do you have good news? I can start out with a couple items of lighter fare. I just learned of a Ham Radio net that operates on weekends … Read More →

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
12 Comments

Cardinals and Bishops issue a “Declaration of Truths” intended to “aid” the Supreme Pontiff

A small group including Card. Burke and Bp. Schneider have issued a Declaration of Truths comprising some 40 paragraphs over 8-pages under various subheadings, and have also issued an Explanatory note comprising some 1300 words and 2 single spaced pages. … Read More →

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Mail from priests, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
6 Comments

Octave of Pentecost PODCAzTs

Some 11 years ago, I made a series of PODCAzTs for the Octave of Pentecost.   My technical  abilities have improved a little since then, and I seem to have had a little more energy, but they aren’t bad. So, these … Read More →

Posted in PODCAzT, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged ,
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Great concelebration photos during Chartres Pentecost Pilgrimage

During my last Rome visit I posted a photo of real concelebration: three priests at the same time saying their Masses at three altars in the nave of a Roman church. Today I found a great series of pics at Messa … Read More →

Posted in Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests | Tagged ,
4 Comments