Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

QUAERITUR: Is it a sin to fast during the Easter Octave?

From a reader: I listen to the Catholic Channel on Sirius/XM a lot and yesterday a priest who is usually fairly reliable made the comment that it is a sin to fast during the Octave of Easter. My wife started … Read More

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

A diocesan “morality clause” in Louisiana

Bp. Vasa has had a bumpy ride in Santa Rosa in implementing a provision that teachers in Catholic schools not live or teach in open violation of Catholic teachings. Now I see that in the Diocese of Lafayette, a Catholic … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Linking Back, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
46 Comments

QUAERITUR: Is it a sin for children to “play Mass”?

From a readerette: A few years ago, my brother-in-law related a story that his family had invited their (then) pastor to dinner one night. When the pastor arrived at the home, he saw my brother-in-law, then a child, playing priest, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
68 Comments

Learn more about Pope Francis and about Saint Francis

Do you want to know a little more about Pope Francis?  Publishers are getting up to speed. We know so much about Pope Benedict before his election.  In comparison, we don’t really know much about this new fellow. (Readers in … Read More

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

What’s this you say? Popes are *not* above the law? Analysis at Commonweal.

Seen at the site of Commonweal.  This is great! You watch… now that a liberal publication has put out something like this, pretty soon other liberals will be okay with talking about exactly what we have been discussing.  The difference … Read More

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

One look at Pope Francis’s first Holy Week. Fr. Z responds with brief manifesto.

Many people don’t know that Pope Francis planned to write his thesis on Romano Guardini, the distinguished theologian and liturgist who had a profound influence on Joseph Ratzinger.  Ratzinger even named one of his most important books with the same title … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
52 Comments

Thank you, Pope Francis!

In two weeks Pope Francis has done more to promote Summorum Pontificum than Pope Benedict did since the day he promulgated it. After the decision by Pope Francis to wash the feet of two women on Holy Thursday, conservative Catholic … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill, The future and our choices, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged , ,
197 Comments

Have we entered an age of a new gnosticism?

There is an adage: Qui bene distinguit, bene docet, that is, someone who makes distinctions well, teaches well. Distinguished canonist Ed Peters makes good distinctions about the Holy Father’s disregard for the Church’s duly promulgated law when he chose to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
186 Comments

“My wife returned to confession last night for the first time in over a decade…”

From a reader: I wanted to share with you my great joys. My wife returned to confession last night for the first time in over a decade, and only the third time ever. On Saturday evening, I will be baptized and received … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
10 Comments

” After a 16 year absence I returned to the Sacrament of Holy Confession this evening.”

From a reader in my email: Message: Dear Fr. Z, My sincere thanks and gratitude to you for your ministry. After a 16 year absence I returned to the Sacrament of Holy Confession for the first time this evening. After … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, HONORED GUESTS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , ,
55 Comments