Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

Sign posted on confessional door: “GET TO THE POINT!” Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I saw this photo on Twitter. I post just the photo and not the link because of the off-color remark that accompanied it, surely motivated by disgust. I’m not precisely sure what motivated the off-color remark about this sign. Several … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
30 Comments

Items of good news and an ACTION ITEM!

Here are some bits of good news. First, an amuse bouche. Next, I had this note from someone where the TLM is celebrated by the FSSP: Someone from work and with lots of prejudices came yesterday and he said he … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: I just learned we have to confess mortal sins in kind and NUMBER. But I haven’t been doing that. I don’t want to go to Hell.

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have recently learned I believe several years ago then when going to confession one must confess mortal sins by kind and “x” times #. Well, I don’t think I’ve ever done that until I found … Read More

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ASK FATHER: How do you argue with extreme fringe trads that the Novus Ordo is valid?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am asking advice that you’d think you’d never be asked to do – how to defend the Novus Ordo.  No, I don’t mean to defend it as being superior to the TLM – trust me, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Id of Traddydom | Tagged
42 Comments

ASK FATHER: Am I cooperating with evil in my job by changing generic “he” on forms to gender neutral terms?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My job with a state agency includes reviewing proposed regulations of other state agencies. For many years, when we did this task we would change old references to the generic “he” or “him“ to “he or … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices |
16 Comments

ASK FATHER: I don’t believe Francis is really the Pope. Is it a sin to go to Mass where his name is mentioned?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have read your blog on and off for years but recently began reading regularly. I always find your writing edifying and informative. I will try to keep my question/concern short and to the point. I … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Francis, Our Catholic Identity |
16 Comments

ASK FATHER: Pagan amulet for protection

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I know a young couple. The man from indigenous descent who is converting to the faith and who will be baptized and confirmed this April. She has asked about an amulet her husband never takes off … Read More

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5 Comments

ASK FATHER: Francis said priests must NEVER deny absolution. True? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I’m getting a lot of questions about something that Francis said to seminarians from Barcelona.  Story at the Catholic Herald HERE. As the tale goes, Francis delivered profanity-studded “off the cuff” remarks to seminarians, including “not to be clerical, to forgive everything”, adding … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, SESSIUNCULA, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
33 Comments

ASK FATHER: Heretic priest

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My cousin’s parish priest said that there is no purgatory.  What say you? I say that, if he really thinks there is no Purgatory, then the priest is a heretic. I say that if he has … Read More

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12 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is it a sin to contribute for a side altar at an SSPX chapel?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Is making a sponsorship to an SSPX church a sin, if one doesn’t support being in Schism.  I have a deep love for Our Lady of Guadalupe for example and would like to support the side … Read More

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13 Comments

A new decree in a US Archdiocese seeks to limit “ad orientem” worship, but it is based on a FALSE translation. Here we go again.

Yesterday I received a PDF of a new “Decree” from the Archbishop of Cincinnati, Dennis Schnurr. HERE The Archbishop has introduced a new “policy” on ad orientem worship. There must be in every parish or “cluster” (they say “family”) of parishes at … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Latin, Liberals, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Pò sì jiù, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged ,
27 Comments

ATTENTION – New Site! “Reverent Catholic Mass Let Us Help You Find a Reverent Catholic Church Near You!”

I bring to the attention of the readership and interesting site called Reverent Catholic Mass Let Us Help You Find a Reverent Catholic Church Near You! The site reads: Trying to find a reverent Catholic Mass or acquire resources to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Our Catholic Identity, The Campus Telephone Pole, The future and our choices |
16 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can we pray to the Poor Souls in Purgatory to intercede for us?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: On a recent podcast a priest said that asking a specific person in Purgatory to pray for you/us is necromancy. Thoughts? My first reaction is that Father seems not to understand the difference between conjuring spirits … Read More

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11 Comments

ASK FATHER: Penance and abstinence on Friday, 6 January, Epiphany

From a reader… QUAERITUR: The feast of the Epiphany is a Friday this year. Our FSSP calendar has it marked as a day of abstinence, according to 1962 law, but my TLM planner from The Liturgical Year calendar family does … Read More

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
15 Comments

A New Year. Remembering past injuries. Clinging to past sins. The Purification of Memory

A the beginning of a new civil calendar year, quite a few people are moved (at least for a while) to assess their lives and resolve (at least for a while) to make some changes.  These changes are mostly about … Read More

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13 Comments

5 January: St. Telesphorus and an old friend

In the Novus Ordo calendar it is the Feast of St. John Neumann (+1860) and also of St. Edward the Confessor (+1066). However, it is also the Vigil of Epiphany and feast of St. Telesphorus (c. 137).  St. Irenaeus says … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: When can people begin to ask for Pope Benedict’s intercession?

This question comes from a comment under another post, but it stands on its own. From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, quick question? I too believe that Benedict is a saint in heaven. Of course, when someone dies (including a pope), … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Benedict XVI, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
11 Comments

Ever the optimist. Fr. Z’s first rants of the year.

This year 1 January, the Octave of Christmas or the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God fell on a Sunday.  All Sundays are Holy Days of Obligation.  Next year, 2024, 1 January falls on a Monday.  That means that, … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
21 Comments

ASK FATHER: Friends returning to the Church say they can receive Communion without going to confession first

From a reader… QUAERITUR: After a number of years away from the faith of my childhood, I made the decision to return to the Catholic church.  After attending a few masses, my heart longed to receive the Eucharist, so I … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Fr. Z KUDOS, GO TO CONFESSION, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
8 Comments

27 December – St. John the Evangelist – Today we bless WINE!

The liturgical year guided and nourished and shaped Catholics for centuries.  It does so far less now, since it is much diminished after the “reforms” that hacked away at the calendar. However, once upon a time people not only followed … Read More

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