Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

ASK FATHER: Can a pastor forbid an assistant from using black vestments?

From a priest… QUAERITUR: Can a Pastor of a parish forbid a Parochial Vicar from wearing a black chasuble at funerals? I just heard of 2 pastors in [a large NE Archdiocese] who have forbidden their traditional-minded parochial vicars from wearing … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Slubberdegullions | Tagged
21 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is it OK to clap at the end of the recessional hymn at Sunday Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: At our Sunday Masses there is instantaneous applause at the end of the recessional hymn. Is this OK? I have sent many emails to the parish priest and he agreed that this is not correct but … Read More →

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

Remember! Tomorrow is #AshWednesday – Fast and abstinence!

Remember that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.  Keep in mind the regulations for both abstinence and fasting.  Tomorrow is not just a day of abstinence but also of fasting. According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church, … Read More →

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

Make Church Great Again! “Free Our Churches From the Ugly and Stupid”

So I’m reading my email.  A reader sent the text of a Wall Street Journal piece (they have an evil paywall) entitled “Free Our Churches From the Ugly and Stupid“. “This hath potential”, quoth I, and in did I delve. … Read More →

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Cri de Coeur, Decorum, Fr. Z KUDOS, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , ,
9 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is there a good, conservative RCIA program?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I attend a Maronite church and our priest has decided he wants to offer an RCIA type program (Maronite Rite doesn’t technically have one). He’s a generally conservative priest and I was hoping you might suggest … Read More →

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

ASK FATHER: Faculties of the Missionaries of Mercy after the Year of Mercy

From a priest… QUAERITUR: Do the missionaries of mercy still have the faculty to remit censures arising from reserved delicts? I’m working with a priest who is worried (I think he’s ok actually). But if a trip to the missionary would be able … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , ,
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: Why on earth did they start offering Mass “facing the people”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: When I first started attending the TLM, I really struggled with Mass celebrated ad Orientem. However, the more I attended the TLM and Mass according to the Missal of Divine Worship (aka, Anglican Use), which in … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, HONORED GUESTS, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged
34 Comments

Ad orientem in Cologne’s great Cathedral

One of our frequent and long-time commentators here, Henry Edwards, sent some screenshots of the Holy Mass celebrated by Rainer Card. Woelki at the spectacular Cathedral of Cologne’s high altar (i.e., the real altar, the grown-up altar, the main altar) for … Read More →

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , , ,
7 Comments

Brick By Brick: A church gets a make over

Some parish churches are victims of awful post-Conciliar, faithless wreckovation. Some are awful because of budget problems when they were being constructed. Some are just plain awful. There’s hope. A priest friend of mine has given a make over to … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
16 Comments

Answers to “Dubia” from the Vatican! About the Traditional Mass and overly restrictive bishops.

If you are a priest who has been hassled by your bishop about saying the traditional Mass with the 1962 Missale Romanum, pay attention.  Help has arrived. Recently a priest of my acquaintance sent two questions to my old haunts the … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Si vis pacem para bellum!, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
17 Comments