Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

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

TRADS ON FIRE! Young men getting the job done and implementing a TLM in a parish.

Here is a good Brick By Brick story. A while back I posted a note to traditional Catholics.  This is our time to push forward and use the provisions of Summorum Pontificum and advance the vision of Benedict XVI.  I … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Brick by Brick, HONORED GUESTS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
23 Comments

Of Holy Thursday and the foot-washing rite: problems – solutions

Dr. Peters at In The Light Of The Law, a blog on matters canonical, has this to day.  He doesn’t have an open combox (which I quietly envy sometimes), so we can have the foot-fight food-fight over here. The annual … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
113 Comments

After confessing, a young reader asked priest to use the proper form of absolution…

From a young reader: I’m a teen going to a Catholic highschool in ____. I’m used to relaxed priests who bend the red and change the black. I usually am charitable and celebrate the basic validity of sacraments I receive from them. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
16 Comments

Dear Traditionalists,…

I had this from a reader. He said he was not advocating these things. However, liberals will advocate them. I’ve got some other suggestions.  But first the wacky liberal stuff: I have an idea for a blog topic – how … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Classic Posts, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, My Favorite Posts, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
106 Comments

What Does The Pope’s Motto Really Say? The Latin motto explained.

The motto of Pope, “Miserando Atque Eligendo” has aroused some people to send me questions.  What’s with the Latin?  What are those -nd- forms?  Are they gerundives?  People are getting some things wrong. “Lowly and chosen”, some have suggested.   … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Francis, The Drill, WDTPRS | Tagged , , , , ,
73 Comments