Category Archives: Classic Posts

ASK FATHER: Must we do penance, abstain from meat, on Friday in the Octave of Christmas?

This is a question which comes up each year. It came up again today. Must we do penance on Friday within the Octave of Christmas? The short answer is YES.  This year. According to Canon Law, Catholics are bound to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, Classic Posts |
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21 December – Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle… and the beating, living, healing, Heart of Love.

Here is something that I wrote a while back. Since today in the Vetus Ordo calendar is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, I figured that it might be good to share for those who haven’t seen it. […] … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA |
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WDTPRS: O Antiphons – 17 December – O Sapientia – The Way of Prudence

On December 17th we enter into that final stretch of our Advent preparation. In the Church’s solemn prayer of the hours, at Vespers, the great “O Antiphons” are sung. Today we have the first. Years ago, I made a little … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity |
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ROME 13 May 609 – Exorcism, screaming demons, terrified people fainting – Dedication of the Pantheon as a church

Dear readers, this is the sort of thing that Popes do!  They fight against the forces of Hell and they work for the salvation of souls. When the ancient obelisk that was in the Circus of Caligula off to the … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool | Tagged , ,
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St. Monica, her incipient alcoholism, the intervention that saved her. WORLD HISTORY CHANGING in an INSTANT!

In the older calendar, today is St. Monica’s Feast, also spelled Monnica, a Punic name. Monica was an inch away from becoming an alcoholic. (The story of her abusive husband has been told here before.) This is IMPORTANT. At the … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
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4 April – St. Isidore of Seville, the Internet Prayer and You

I often forget to pray before using the internet. I sometimes fail in charity when using the internet. This tool of social communication and research and entertainment has amazing upsides, but it also has spiritually deadly perils. We all should be … Read More

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24 March – Feast of St. Gabriel, Archangel – images – EXPANDED

Last year I posted some images of the Announcing Archangel St. Gabriel, whose feast day it is in the Vetus Ordo, appropriate in the presence of tomorrow’s Annunciate, the Feast of the Annunciation.   NB: The Feast of the Annunciation, as … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Just Too Cool, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
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“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me…” The mighty Lorica of Saint Patrick

During these dark days, we can benefit from the use of this prayer, called the Breastplate, or Loríca of St. Patrick, “The Cry of the Deer” (Latin Lorica is pronounced lo-REE-ka).  It is said that St. Patrick (+461) sang this when an … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back |
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15 March – Annual ramble about the #IdesOfMarch

We call today the Ides of March, made especially famous in the English speaking world by Shakespeare in his play Julius Caesar. Caesar: Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue shriller than all the … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Lighter fare, Linking Back |
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UPDATED AND SOLVED – Mystery Puzzle Challenge from something in Fulton Sheen’s book On The Demonic

UPDATE 8 Jan 25 15:55: Big news! FIRST… this is an important topic.  I WARMLY recommend the book.  Every priest should be made to read it.  Get a copy for your priests. The author/complier of the of book about Fulton … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, SESSIUNCULA, The Drill | Tagged
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