Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

ASK FATHER: Baptizing with the name “Lucifer”.

UPDATE:  Reading comments, I was suddenly minded of the moment in Michael O’Brien’s book Voyage to Alpha Centauri (UK LINK HERE) when the dupes perform the Satanic dance. Have you read it? From a priest… QUAERITUR: I recently encountered a situation in … Read More

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28 Comments

ASK FATHER: Rose vestment on weekdays after Gaudete Sunday?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Can rose Vestments be worn on the Féria days of the 3rd week of Advent in both Extraordinary Form and Novus Ordo? I haven’t seen an indication of that for the Novus Ordo in the Novus … Read More

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6 Comments

ASK FATHER: Holy ICE! Holy Water freezing in the stoop.

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have included some pictures as a visual aid for my question. Today I went to confession at a church well over 100 years old. As such, the entrance ways are quite cold in the winter, … Read More

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14 Comments

ASK FATHER: Of different shades of rose, madder, and debauchery

“Real priests wear rosacea!” QUAERITUR: Elsewhere someone asked if there are proper shades of rose, rosacea, for Roman vestments just as there are different shades of violet or purple for Advent and for Lent.  Some say that a bluer purple should … Read More

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8 Comments

And there was a great battle in heaven…

These days I get a lot of email asking me to explain what is going on in the Church today.  The question is often accompanied by heart-felt, often heart-rending words of personal pain. What is going on the Church is … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Cri de Coeur, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, Pray For A Miracle, PRAYER REQUEST, Self-absorbed Promethean Neopelagians, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord, Urgent Prayer Requests, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
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What makes a parish “great”?

My good friend Fr. Gerald Murray (of all the priests who regularly appears on network TV clearly the best prepared), wrote for First Things a review of a recently published book by William E. Simon, Jr., Great Catholic Parishes: How Four … Read More

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18 Comments

Fidel’s Ignoble Exit and A Drink Suggestion

The jeep carrying Fidel Castro’s ashed today – wait for it – broke down and had to be pushed. HERE In case you didn’t know… HOW TO MAKE A CUBA LIBRE (or How to Make Cuba Free) Equipment Tall glass Long … Read More

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11 Comments

ASK FATHER: Book recommendations for young men discerning priesthood

From a reader… QUAERITUR: In reference to one of your latest posts, do you have any solid book recommendations for young men discerning priesthood. A lot of the stuff usually recommended is emotionally based and does little in the way … Read More

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13 Comments

BRICK BY BRICK: more ‘ad orientem’ news

I am getting notes from people about changes at parishes to ad orientem worship. For example, from reader: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Big River, WI began ad orientem worship on Sunday. Our pastor, Fr. Kevin Louis, has been … Read More

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5 Comments

A saint for the young, rigid and compassionate

Run click, don’t walk click, to Crisis today to read Thomas J. Craughwell’s outstanding piece about St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a Jesuit saint (yes, there are some and they were amazing – shall we ever see their like again?) of high nobility … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged
10 Comments