Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

What did Pope Francis really ask young people to do?

In his off the cuff address in the cathedral of Rio during WYD on Thursday, 25 July, the Pope told young people to make some chaos back home (“quiero lío en las diócesis”), to pay attention to the elderly, and … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Four Last Things, Francis, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
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QUAERITUR: Confession – interpreters, eavesdroppers, secrecy and you

From a reader: Father, I spend a lot of time in Finland which has Europe’s smallest Catholic Church, [not to mention one of Europe’s oddest languages…] both in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of percentage of the population. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , , ,
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Card. Burke: liturgical abuses “strictly correlated with a lot of moral corruption”

Around here we say: Save The Liturgy – Save The World A preamble: The Eucharist, its celebration and itself as the extraordinary Sacrament, is the “source and summit of Christian life”. If we really believe that, then we must also hold that what we … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices, Vatican II | Tagged , , , ,
14 Comments

When did “Marriage” stop meaning what it means?

Years ago I worked with a German sister, deeply intelligent and one of the holiest people I have ever met. We were talking about nuances of meaning in a German sentence one day and, as an aside, she explained how … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
30 Comments

QUAERITUR: Confirmed, but in state of sin. Am I confirmed?

From a reader: If a person is confirmed in Mortal Sin, does it ‘count’, or must he/she be conditionally re-confirmed. What you are asking is “Was the sacrament validly conferred?” or “Is she confirmed?” Yes.  The sacrament was validly confirmed and … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
24 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can the priest say the older, Latin Mass ‘facing the people’?

From a reader: A local retired priest wishes to begin offering the EF of the Mass, but he wishes to offer it versus populum. He honestly believes he has that option. Is there a specific Church document forbidding this? If … Read More

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

Are we now a nation of blatteroons?

When I take a break from movies with lots of explosions, I like period pieces.  You can’t beat a well done production of a Jane Austen novel or just about any of the 19th century writers. It happened the other … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, O'Brian Tags, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , ,
32 Comments

Miracles and You. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

The Canonical Defender Ed Peters has been asking for prayers and even the intercession of God with a miracle for his injured son, blogger and good Catholic activist Thomas Peters.  Thom is doing better but he has a long way … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, PRAYER REQUEST, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
5 Comments

Tax reform, USCCB, Catholic Charities USA

Our friend The Motley Monk has some observations about tax reform, the USCCB and government funding of charities.  Here is the first part: If you’re really interested in tax reform, the USCCB and Catholic Charities USA may not be… A Wall … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
18 Comments

Sister goes door to door asking Catholics to return to Mass

Never underestimate the power of an invitation. Once upon a time there were groups like Legion of Mary, which could canvass parish neighborhoods.  Once upon a time, priests even walked about neighborhoods working on a census.  Then again, parish neighborhoods … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Women Religious | Tagged ,
40 Comments