Author Archives: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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

ASK FATHER: Does Lent really have 40 days? How does that add up?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, sorry for the possibly silly question, but adding up the days from Ash Wednesday to the Lord’s Supper Mass, excluding, it does not add up to 40 if we exclude Sundays as memorials of the … Read More →

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

Fr. Z’s Kitchen: Sunday Ragù

Lately, Sundays have found me in the kitchen making something interesting… to me, at least.   Yesterday I had a hankerin’ for Ragù alla bolognese. When I say “ragù” I don’t mean something in a jar!  Ragù alla bolognese is a classic … Read More →

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen | Tagged
7 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes

Was there a good point made in the sermon you heard for your Mass of Sunday obligation? I was deacon for the Mass so I didn’t preach.  However, the celebrant spoke to not being afraid of three things, temptations towards … Read More →

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
12 Comments

Mass and Triumphalism. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

The other day I posted something about churches and synagogues losing membership.  HERE This is going to happen, friends.  Demographics, on top of decades of stupidity, are not on our side. I’m not saying that this is the great “falling … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Four Last Things, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged
18 Comments

USA – Daylight Savings begins tonight: adjust clocks, don’t miss Mass

In these USA Daylight Savings begins with repercussions for Sunday Mass. We “spring forward”, and so we lose an hour. Reset your regular clocks before going to bed.  Many phones and mobile devices automatically adjust and they have alarm clocks! … Read More →

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
10 Comments

9 March – St. Frances of Rome

I have great affection for St. Frances of Rome, Santa Francesca Romana. When I was exiled from these USA to Rome, I lived at first in her house, the Palazzo of the Ponziani family into which she married, where you … Read More →

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
4 Comments

UPDATE FROM ROME: Cutting the fabric for vestments

As an update to my post about vestments the other day, here are some shots of the fabric being cut at Gammarelli in Rome for the new set we, the TMSM, are having made. Enjoy! Please donate.  HERE Our intrepid … Read More →

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
7 Comments

The place libs love to hate has fish sandwiches during Lent (Fridays)

There is an interesting piece at the National Catholic Register about how McDonald’s put the Filet-o-fish sandwich on the menu.  (Hint: market forces!)  I’m not a real fan, but, hey! Here’s more cheerful news. The place libs love to hate, … Read More →

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, Lighter fare | Tagged ,
19 Comments

Bp. Schneider obtains an answer from Francis

When Francis signed that troubling document with the Imam in the UAE, a lot of people were confused and upset by an affirmation that seemed to say that God willed a diversity of religions.   Sensing that there was going … Read More →

Posted in The Drill | Tagged ,
15 Comments

Friday after Ash Wednesday: Feast of the Crown of Thorns

This Friday is poignant.  Friday after Ash Wednesday is traditionally the Feast of the Crown of Thorns. A significant portion of the Crown is preserved is preserved in Notre Dame de Paris.  They have a special Crown of Thorns Mass … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged
6 Comments