Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

ASK FATHER: Would anything prevent a priest from always using the traditional formula of absolution?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: The reformed Rite of Penance added a whole bunch of stuff to the rite of confession—optional Scripture readings and so on—but I have never seen any of it used, even non-optional parts like how the priest … Read More

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Card. Müller on authority of Popes, possibility of others correcting contradictory papal teachings

Back in December, First Things published a piece by the former Prefect of the CDF, Gerard Ludwig Card. Müller on the sacrament of penance. His observations on objective sin and subjective guilt, about knowledge, etc., are germane to a whole raft … Read More

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ASK FATHER: If I remember a sin after confessing, should I interrupt the priest and tell him?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: If in Confession I forget a mortal sin (I do examine my conscience but my memory is bad), but then remember AFTER having told the priest that I have finished confessing, and he is talking, should … Read More

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ASK FATHER: How do I find out which territorial parish I live in?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: A recent post of yours got me wondering, how do I know what my territorial parish is? I live in a medium city and there are three parishes almost equidistant to my house. My wife and … Read More

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Who cares what libs think? Boldly recover and use great traditional items and vesture of yore.

At the newish blog LAJ, Shawn Tribe has a good post about boldness in regard to some traditional vesture and other items of yore. In the 60s Paul VI abolished quite a lot of good things. That was a mistake. … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Be The Maquis, Brick by Brick, Decorum, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The future and our choices | Tagged
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ASK FATHER: We want our children to have reverent Masses. Can we go to the SSPX chapel?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: We are in a desperate situation. We have looked very deeply into the matter, and feel very strongly that the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is the most reverent. We are morally accountable to bring our … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SSPX, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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ASK FATHER: Should I tell a noisy penitent that we can hear everything said in the confessional?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: There is a young lady who regularly takes a very long time in Confession (25-30 minutes, sometimes longer). She is not making a long confession, and it’s not the priest spending long amounts of time giving … Read More

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A false #missilethreat is NOTHING compared to this REAL DEATH THREAT

It’s 8:08 Saturday morning. You’ve slept in on a day off. Your phone has awakened you with a PING. With a measure of resentment you check The Precious™ for its message. You read it once. And again. And – with … Read More

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ASK FATHER: URGENT EMERGENCY PREDICAMENT! Mass in Presence of a Prelate but we don’t have a Pax Brede!

When I see the word “brede” I can’t help but think of the novel In This House Of Brede by Rumor Godden (US HERE – UK HERE). From a reader… QUAERITUR: Our little EF congregation would like to invite our Bishop to attend … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
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Esolen on virtue and chastity in “Wonder Woman” (not the one you immediately thought of)

When I would explain the Decalogue to children, I’d say something like: God didn’t give us rules because he wanted to ruin our fun.  These rules are God’s way of saying, “Don’t hurt yourself.  You are made in my image.  … Read More

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