Category Archives: Classic Posts

Paul VI: “danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law”

The pontificate of Paul VI produced many a disaster, in my opinion, but when it came to a crucial turning point, in the face of diabolical opposition Paul VI issued Humane vitae. I suspect many of you have never actually … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Emanations from Penumbras, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , , ,
18 Comments

1953 – Pius XII to American seminarians: be holy, be heroes, be officers of the Church Militant

In looking for a quote by Pius XII, a reader directed me, us, to a speech of Ven. Pius XII delivered on 14 October 1953 (Acta Apostolicae Sedis 45 (1953) pp 679 ff.) at the opening of the North American … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , ,
27 Comments

Wherein is found Fr. Z’s annual singing rant on Advent vestments. WDTPRS POLL!

Some veteran readers here know about my annual rant about BLUE vestments during Advent.  Lest all other Advent considerations be overshadowed by the implementation of the new, corrected translations, herebelow I rant. I think this liturgical abuse is fading, but … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
45 Comments

Must read: Archbp. Chaput’s address at U of Pennsylvania

Everyone should read the Most Rev. Charles Chaput’s (Archbp. of Philadelphia) 7 November speech at the University of Pennsylvania. HERE. Excerpt: […] Most of us here tonight believe that we have basic rights that come with the special dignity of … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts |
22 Comments

REVIEW: New editions of the Roman Missal SIDE BY SIDE

Yesterday I was at Leaflet Missal Company in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The Church goods section there, run by John, can provide priests with the best traditional stuff. John of Church Goods put out all the US editions of the new, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Classic Posts, REVIEWS, The Drill, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged ,
22 Comments

A great anecdote

My friend the great p.p. of Blackfen, about to celebrate the parish’s patronal feast, His Hermeneuticalness the mighty Fr. Finigan, has a great anecdote about the late and lamented Michael Davies.  Be sure to read Fr. Finigan’s whole entry, which … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Mail from priests, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged ,
4 Comments

The lost tomb of St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church. A Roman mystery.

If there have to be reality TV shows or treasure hunt movies, I propose finding the tomb of St. Jerome (+420) in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. For a couple years I have posted something about Jerome’s … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Just Too Cool, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
4 Comments

Bugninicare, revisited

A friend and I were talking this morning and he brought back to mind something I posted a few years ago. Given the fact that, as this presidential election cycle revs up and Obamacare is a huge issue, it is … Read More

Posted in Caption Call, Classic Posts, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, SESSIUNCULA, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
27 Comments

2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, reenacted, sort of, at Marathon

According to one reckoning, today, 12 September, could be the anniversary of the Battle of Marathon (490 BC).  They are probably wrong, but… who cares? Marathon is, of course, a Greek word (Mάραθον or modern Greek Μαραθώνας and ancient Μαραθών, … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Just Too Cool | Tagged , , ,
5 Comments

“Martha, Martha!”

In the National Gallery in London, you will find a painting by Velazquez entitled Christ in the House of Martha and Mary. I never fail to visit it when I visit that gallery and that painting when I cross the … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Patristiblogging, The Drill, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
11 Comments

Fishwrap has an excellent interview with Archbishop Chaput

Even as blind squirrels sometimes find acorns, sometimes the National Catholic Fishwrap does something right.  And it won’t surprise anyone that my friend the nearly-ubiquitous John L. Allen, Jr. was involved. Fishwrap – rather Mr. Allen – has a long, … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
39 Comments

The Bonaventuran Pope of Christian Unity

I posted this back in 2006 about how the “Pope of Christian Unity” is influenced by St. Bonaventure.  A few years have passed, so I think this should be reviewed and verified: Are you looking for insight into how Pope … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Pope of Christian Unity | Tagged , , , , , ,
6 Comments

Universae Ecclesiae 28, the Eucharistic Fast, and You.

I had a post about Univerae Ecclesiae 28 and how the derogation in that paragraph makes it clear that the provisions of Summorum Pontificum exclude female service at the altar in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The reason … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
28 Comments

Card. Burke’s opinion on female servers in the Extraordinary Form

About the sad situation at Fisher House in Cambridge, where the chaplain had for some time, I am told, determined to have a female altar server for celebration of Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form, something that truly goes against … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Classic Posts, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill | Tagged , , , , , ,
1 Comment

QUAERITUR: Pastor changes the offertory. What do I do?

From a reader: How should I approach my pastor about liturgical abuses he has been committing? The recurring abuse has been his changing the Offertorium to “Lord, accept this bread and wine. It comes from the earth, and it comes … Read More

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

Once again, the key passage

Here once again is the key passage on the subject in the book, “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times,” when Seewald asks the pope whether it was “madness to forbid a high-risk … Read More

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, Classic Posts, Linking Back | Tagged , ,
26 Comments

St. Jerome’s final resting place

I have posted this is years past, but I worked so hard on it when I originally wrote it that I want to get as much mileage out of it as I can.  Besides, there are new readers here all … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
4 Comments

RATS IN THE RECTORY! Of priests and rodents: Part 2

Remember these guys?  Here are some priests in Georgia suffering from a home invasion. By rats. Check the blog Southern Orders. The latest in the saga: This is rat central and I have an update for you on the rectory … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, Mail from priests |
44 Comments

Outstanding analysis of Papal Visit by Samuel Gregg

In another entry, I suggested that I needed better analysis of Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK. Lupus in fabula, is I believe the customary phrase. This comes from Samuel Gregg of the Acton Institute, and one of the smarter … Read More

Posted in Caption Call, Classic Posts, Fr. Z KUDOS, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Pope of Christian Unity, The Drill, The future and our choices |
18 Comments

VORTEX REPORT: What is that … growth?

As you know, my friends and I have been exploring … The Vortex. We managed to send in the remote probe to take photos of the thing, a portentous plant or growth of some kind, in or near the epicenter … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Global Killer Asteroid Questions, Lighter fare, Linking Back | Tagged ,
5 Comments