Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

There is hardly anything crueler that a priest can do than to leave people in doubt about the validity of their sacraments.  

It is extremely VEXING to learn of priests who are so thick… so arrogant… that they can’t or won’t be exacting about the VALIDITY of sacraments.   It isn’t hard.  You “Say The Black and Do The Red” and you use valid matter. … Read More

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

23 May 2023 – Reinstallation of St. Philip Neri’s altarpiece – VIDEO

St. Philip is home again.   The painting for the altar in the chapel dedicated to him at the parish has been restored and put back in its place. Music from Musica Al Tempo Di Guido Reni

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
Leave a comment

A good point in Card. Burke’s book on when Communion should be denied

I have been looking at Raymond Leo Card. Burke’s book from Sophia Press about worthy reception of Communion. Respecting the Body and Blood of the Lord: When Holy Communion Should Be Denied US HERE – UK HERE Firstly, I did … Read More

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, Canon Law, REVIEWS | Tagged , ,
1 Comment

Chicago Alderman to Card. Cupich: FREE THE SHRINE!

This is great. You remember that Card. Cupich of Chicago attacked the people who attended the south-side church in the care of the Institute of Christ the King by placing the Institute priests in an untenable position.  He forced them … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Just Too Cool, Si vis pacem para bellum! |
11 Comments

Bad floods in Italy! A priest. A book. A bridge.

You long-time readers will know that when there is a hurricane or some natural phenomenon like storms that spawn tornadoes coming along I plead with bishops and priests to put on their gear and pray against the storms using the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood, Save The Liturgy - Save The World |
6 Comments

New, grand SSPX church, Bishops, and Proof of Concept

At Crisis there is a piece by Eric Sammons entitled “Our Incurious Bishops“. The idea is this.  The SSPX just consecrated a huge and beautiful church in Kansas.  It was packed with precisely the sort of people bishops might like … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, SSPX, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
29 Comments

ASK FATHER: Why isn’t everyone praying the Imprecatory Psalms? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

From a reader… QUAERITUR: In your very, very fruitful apostolic endeavors, might you please have a moment to a) correctly list the Imprecatory Psalms, and b) expound on them a bit Good God…why everyone isn’t praying them daily is a … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
6 Comments

ASK FATHER: Must we abstain from eating meat on Friday in the Octave of Easter?

We are now in the Easter Octave – Happy Easter! Let’s get out in front of this before the calendar clicks over to Friday Each year I get a question from readers about our obligation to do penance on Friday … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, Linking Back | Tagged
7 Comments

San Diego Union-Tribune: A Catholic who prefers the Traditional Latin Mass

In the San Diego Union-Tribune there is a piece about the Traditional Latin Mass sure to thrill the local ordinary. Opinion: I’m a Catholic who prefers Latin Mass. For my family, it’s about handing on tradition. BY LUKE HEINSTSCHEL Shortly … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, The future and our choices | Tagged
12 Comments

MUST READ! Why do heretics remain in the Church instead of just being honest and getting out?

At Crisis there is a MUST READ piece by Jennifer Bryson Why Do Heretics Remain in the Church? The counterfactual optimism of heretics keeps them in the Church while working to destroy it. A perennial question. She breaks it down … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, I'm just askin'..., Our Catholic Identity, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
15 Comments

ASK FATHER: What is the status of SSPX weddings when the local bishop denies permission, delegation?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am from a town where the SSPX has recently established a vibrant chapel and has been extremely generous in providing Traditional Latin Mass and other Sacraments in the traditional rite. The local diocesan parish  has … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, One Man & One Woman, SSPX | Tagged ,
34 Comments

Question for readership: Coping with a Cope

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My parish priest has asked me to find a trustworthy cleaner  who can clean an old, very beautiful and still in very good shape Cope. It was made in France for the local Polish church and … Read More

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

These numbers suggest a seriously unhealthy Church. UPDATED

From this new study about vocations to the priesthood and ordinations in these USA: HERE I was told by a bishop that bishops say they do not hear that men have been inspired toward priesthood by Francis.  Of course the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
33 Comments

“Be perfect.” “How’s that, again?!?”

Quoted from Robert Royal’s latest column at The Catholic Thing: St. John Henry Newman explains in his “simple rule of life”: It is the saying of holy men that, if we wish to be perfect, we have nothing more to do … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes | Tagged ,
1 Comment

ASK FATHER: Why fast? Why abstain?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Why do we have to fast and abstain? Why the Eucharistic fast? Why Ash Wednesday? Such a simply put question. Not a simple answer. It’s tied, I think, to another question from email. Also from a … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism | Tagged , ,
9 Comments

Card. Eijk phasing out Communion services on weekends.

This is for either your “Too Little Too Late” file or your “Better Latin Than Never” file, depending on your predominant world view. HERE Wim Card. Eijk of the Archdiocese of Utrecht published a plan called “Continue doing this in … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged ,
15 Comments

Concerning fasting during Lent, fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, eating endothermic moonfish, drinking coffee, and YOU

If you are serious as a Catholic, you know at all times what is on the calendrical horizon. If you are a follower of the Vetus Ordo of the Roman Church, you have additional help by means of the “gesima” … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

Thoughts about home altars and the future and you

In a recent post, because of the persecution of those who desire the Traditional Roman Rite, I mentioned having a “house chapel”.   Priests will be cancelled.  Masses will be suppressed in churches and chapels.   Remember: this is not aimed at … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
16 Comments

Wherein Fr. Z makes suggestions to young men thinking about seminary, seminarians, younger priests and the lay people who love them.

Dear readers, we have to get our heads into a place that will help us to maintain our cool and balance in a storm or wave of storms. Mental and spiritual preparation before hand is needed. It is possible – probable … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged
34 Comments

ASK FATHER: “I am in need of confession and I feel to embarrassed to speak to my church face to face.”

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Hello Father , I am in need of confession and I feel to embarrassed to speak to my church face to face. I am asking for a chance to rid myself of these thorns that won’t … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Cri de Coeur, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged ,
5 Comments