Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

Evangelii gaudium 138: Sermons should be brief. How brief is “brief”? POLL

Are we now too impatient to receive even good preaching?  Should we, therefore, dumb preaching down? Those who are familiar with the Fathers of the Church know all too well that their sermons were often pretty long, well over an hour.  Think … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Drill | Tagged , , , , ,
73 Comments

A “Francis Effect” in these USA?

There is a lot of buzz about a “Francis Effect”.  As I watch Twitter, for example, I see comments such as “I’m not Catholic anymore, but I really like this Pope!” or “I disagree with the Church on a lot … Read More

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14 Comments

First comment on the Pope’s new Apostolic Exhortation

The new Apostolic Exhortation is out: Evangelii gaudium.  In English it is some 51000 words.  It is a slog. It is not an encyclical.  It is not an apostolic letter.  It is only an apostolic exhortation. I caution all of you (and … Read More

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63 Comments

ACTION ITEM! Is the “Vatican survey” being hijacked? Fr. Z says, “¡Vaya lío!”

You know that there is a survey out there, at the Vatican’s behest, in anticipation of the upcoming Synod of Bishops which will discuss the family. While surveying people ahead of time is not new, when I heard about this … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS, Semper Paratus | Tagged ,
38 Comments

“Don’t take offence if they have to decline your invitation.”

There is a great post over at my friend Fr. Finigan’s blog, The Hermeneutic of Continuity about lay people and their weddings and inviting priests… and concelebration. Remember, I think concelebration should be safe, legal and rare. Fr. Finigan seems to … Read More

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3 Comments

“Stir Up Sunday” 2013! – UPDATES

The Collect from Holy Mass today in the traditional Roman Rite is: Excita, quaesumus. Dómine, tuórum fidélium voluntátes: ut, divíni óperis fructum propénsius exsequéntes; pietátis tuæ remédia maióra percípiant. Or… Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z's Kitchen, Lighter fare | Tagged ,
31 Comments

GUEST POST: TLM 1st experience: Extraordinary Form is easier than the Novus Ordo

From a reader: I just read the post in which you shared a reader’s observation about the pastoral nature of the TLM. I experienced something similar. I went to my first TLM on Nov. 2 for All Souls. A few … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, HONORED GUESTS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , , , ,
24 Comments

A lesson from Our Lady in our use of social media.

My good friend, the Dean of Bexley, the PP of Blackfen, His Hermeneuticalness, Fr Timothy Finigan, has a good post useful for our reflection: The book of meditations which I am using at the moment looks at the person of … Read More

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6 Comments

Bp. Paprocki performs exorcism after Illinois governor signs same-sex “marriage” bill

First, Fr. Z kudos to Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois. Bishop Paprocki reacted to the evil decision in Illinois in the way that a Catholic bishop can and ought to react: he prayed.  He fought back against the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Biased Media Coverage, Fr. Z KUDOS, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

Wherein composer James MacMillan writes about aging hippies and Church music.

I would like James MacMillan to set to music Hopkins’ The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo and also Wilbur’s The Christmas Hymn. In the meantime, from The Telegraph, I picked this up. Too much Catholic church music caters to … Read More

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35 Comments