Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

Daily Rome Shot 1217 – “Why”, you may be asking? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I have a comparatively short trip to Rome coming up.  First, a couple days with a priest friend in Brooklyn, which breaks up the journey and puts a buffer into the flights.  A couple weeks in Rome.  The same coming … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SESSIUNCULA, The Drill, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
18 Comments

ACTION ITEM – FIRES IN CALIFORNIA – Bishops! Priests! Pray!

UPDATE 9 Jan ’25 06:08: Today’s entry in the traditional Roman Martyrology states: At Ancona, St. Marcellinus, bishop, who, according to St. Gregory, miraculously delivered that city from destruction by fire. St. Marcellinus of Ancona! Pray for us! Originally  Published … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Urgent Prayer Requests |
4 Comments

POLL: When are the announcements made where you usually go to Mass?

Please choose the best answer. We want your comments, too, what you think about the placement. Anyone can vote, but only registered and approved readers can comment. All comments on every post go into a queue.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, POLLS |
24 Comments

PRAYERCAzT: Singing the 2024 Christmas Proclamation or Kalendas in Latin (audio), – and a hard ASK FATHER question

First, the Kalendas. For years I’ve posted about this.  It was/is a custom for centuries before Mass begins to sing the Kalendas, the solemn announcement of the birth of the Savior at Prime. Since Prime isn’t being sung in many places, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, PRAYERCAzT: What Does The (Latin) Prayer Really Sound L, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
5 Comments

ASK FATHER: Book about Mary in the Old Testament

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, Merry Christmas, almost. I’m looking a resource/s that will help me see Our Lady in the Old Testament. I know there are many passages that allude, foreshadow or indirectly tell us about her. I would … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Solitary Boast, The Campus Telephone Pole |
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: What if Father misses with water during one of the three pours during a Baptism.

From a priest reader… Thank you for your post: HERE (very helpful; answered a question of mine some time ago). I have had some discussions with some of our Priests regarding Baptism. Here’s a scenario that came up: Many times, baby … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box |
3 Comments

ASK FATHER: 8 December 2024 is Immaculate Conception but also the 2nd Sunday of Advent – What to do? – UPDATED

From a priest reader… This year the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December, falls on the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Which has precedence? It is transferred in the Novus Ordo.  Is it transferred in the Traditional Latin Mass? My initial reaction … Read More

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

ASK FATHER: Is Baptism valid if one person says the words and another person pours the water?

From a priest friend (summarized): QUAERITUR: At Gloria.TV there is a story about aberrations in Germany [Imagine my shock!]. One was a Baptism problem: the priest said the words while the godfather poured the water. Is this a valid Baptism? … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged
5 Comments

9 August: Today to observe St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) or Vigil of St. Lawrence? A quandary with comments.

Since I am “on the road” I do not have all the accoutrement one might desire for vesting according to the liturgical calendar.  Of course white can substitute other colors in a pinch. Today in the Vetus Ordo being the … Read More

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

From devastation to renewed life.

There is a piece at Rorate from a couple days ago which addresses a massive problems in Italy with paltry vocations, unstaffed churches, and declined church attendance.  They are hitting the pot of strong coffee that we in these USA … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Our Catholic Identity, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices |
15 Comments

ASK FATHER: Home Chapel How To’s – consecrated chalice and paten? Wherein Fr. Z rants

I’ve been getting notes about, and seeing chatter about on the interwebs, people setting up home chapels just in  case. I think it is good to have one anyway, not just in case. In any event, while it is relatively easy to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , ,
15 Comments

I’ve been indulging in something I haven’t done for quite a while.  (Yes, that’s click bait, but I think I am fully justified.)

I’ve been indulging in something I haven’t done for quite a while. Today I watched some videos on YouTube of “scambaiters” torturing scammers, wasting their time, completely controlling their computers, screwing with the phone systems and frustrating them in their … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes |
12 Comments

ACTION ITEM: 2 3/8″ hosts!

Dear readers, I received this.   Can you help? We are looking for hosts of the 2 3/8 size. We have two monstrances and lunas that take that size but no one seems to make them anymore. Previously we have gotten … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged
8 Comments

ASK FATHER: Using leavened bread for Mass – Just in case

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I saw your post about being at the Byzantine church on Sunday. You have pictures of their bread for eucharist. I know that in the Latin Church we are supposed to have unleavened hosts. If you … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
10 Comments

Notes From The Underground?

I saw this at Twitter/X.  These home chapels are more Catholic than a lot of post-Conciliar churches. I know a few Catholics, and I am hearing rumors of many more, who are building chapels in their homes, with altars, preparing … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged
7 Comments

Many thanks to Federated Computer for the assistance. What the heck is Federated Computer? I’m glad you asked, especially if you have site, business which uses Software as a Service (SAAS)!

My recent blog problems were a serious headache.  They got worked out with the assistance of Federated Computer. What is Federated Computer? Have a Catholic site or concern to build or maintain? I’d make a bee line for this service. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes |
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30 June 2024: What’s going on?

As I write, there is a big problem with the back end of the blog, what is “under the hood” that drives it. It has to do with the WordPress engine and data base. The wonderful people who give me … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes |
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About the Apostolic Pardon given to the dying. Wherein Fr. Z informs and admonishes!

Looking back at some posts, I found this which (though from happier days in 2021, despite everything) bears repeating. Two recent email exchanges brought up the importance of the Apostolic Pardon (AP).  It is also sometimes called the Apostolic Blessing. The AP … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Linking Back | Tagged ,
4 Comments

A Fr. Z OLDIE rant! First Blessings by new priests. Indulgenced? NO! Latin texts for blessings.

This has been ordination season, for deacons and priests even in the Diocese of Libville.  It is always a pleasure to read of ordinations.  HOWEVER… there are issues concerning claims of indulgences and about the manner of newly ordained priests … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Linking Back, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged
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ASK FATHER: Our choir is scheduled to sing something that seems blasphemous

From a reader… QUAERITUR: You’re probably the only priest who can properly help me navigate this, given your knowledge of the fine arts, particularly classical music, as well as being solid on Catholic morality. You’re also the only priest whom … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged
6 Comments