Category Archives: Four Last Things

A reminder about the Apostolic Pardon given by a priest to the dying

Two recent email exchanges brought up the importance of the Apostolic Pardon (AP).  It is also sometimes called the Apostolic Blessing. The AP is a special indulgence given by a priest to a person who is dying which remits all … Read More →

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HUGE Fr. Z kudos to a reader who wrote to bishops about the important Apostolic Pardon

I have on occasion written about the important Apostolic Pardon or also Blessing, to be imparted to a person who is close to death. The Apostolic Pardon imparts to a person who is properly disposed, please God through the last … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Four Last Things, Fr. Z KUDOS, GO TO CONFESSION, Just Too Cool | Tagged ,
17 Comments

A bishop, black vestments and refreshing commonsense!

Here is a great tweet from Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence in Rhode Island. It struck me during a Funeral Mass today – most of the mourners, family and friends, were wearing black. The priests were all … Read More →

Posted in Four Last Things, Fr. Z KUDOS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 |
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Reading “Gaudete et exsultate”: Pope Francis schools those who shy from spiritual combat imagery

I’ve been working my way through the very long Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exsultate (GEE).  It’s a whopping 20K words. There is a very good section near the end. From GEE 159 and following, the Pope speaks in clear terms about the Devil, “the … Read More →

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Pope Francis’ alleged remarks about Hell. Fr. Z says, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Today is Holy Thursday, which I had hoped might be a little quiet, giving me some time in silence.  It was not to be. His Holiness Pope Francis inexplicably met once again with Eugenio Scalfari, the 90+ year old atheist … Read More →

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20 Years Later: #WhoKilledFatherKunz

Last Saturday, 3 March, we had a Requiem Mass for in the intention of the late Fr. Alfred Kunz. It was the 20th anniversary of his murder.  His body was found on 4 March 1998, though he was probably killed … Read More →

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Pontifical Requiem Mass for a great lover of the Church’s sacred liturgy

On this Friday after Ash Wednesday, at St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff, we bade farewell to a founding member of the Tridentine Mass Society of the Diocese of Madison (TMSM).  Please, in your goodness, say a prayer for Jacek Cianciara, … Read More →

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Wherein Fr. Z rants in the wake of the Florida school mass murder

When man-made or natural disasters occur which result in the loss of life, I have often posted here about the importance of being in the state of grace. In the first LENCAzTs I have done, I’ve used texts from St. … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Cri de Coeur, Four Last Things, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
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ASK FATHER: The “Ultima” chant

From a reader… QUAERITUR: When my father died, about 11 years ago, the priest who offered his funeral Mass ended it by chanting what he called “the Ultima”. The priest who did it is a very good friend of mine, … Read More →

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Just Too Cool! Voyager fires its thrusters for the first time in 37 years.

Recently I re-watched the movie The Martian, which is also a novel.  [US HERE – UK HERE  I understand that the author has a new book out.] I find it inspiring. We  encounter challenges.  We work the problems.  We face … Read More →

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