Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

ASK FATHER: Can a dying Catholic receive the Apostolic Pardon if there is no priest present?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Can a Catholic receive the Apostolic Pardon if he/she dies without a priest present. I read somewhere that, even in the absence of a priest, the Catholic Church grants a plenary indulgence to all Catholics at the moment … Read More

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8 Comments

ASK FATHER: What to do about strange monthly intensions designated for gaining indulgences?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I don’t think I’ve seen the Pope’s January prayer intention listed on your blog. He asked us to pray for victims of religious discrimination and persecution. I saw this and thought I had misread it, then … Read More

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34 Comments

I have good news and bad news

I’ve had some emails over the last months and weeks from deeply wounded, anxious souls who fear that, in regard to traditional sacred liturgical worship (TSLW), we have gone back to the 70’s and 80’s, all the gains from Ecclesia Dei and Summorum … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Pò sì jiù, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes | Tagged , ,
9 Comments

A good point about Holy Days of Obligation and our Catholic identity

At The Catholic Thing, John M. Grodelski makes an obvious but NOT thereby less valuable point.  Let’s see. January 1, 2022 was a Saturday. January 1, 2023 is a Sunday. January 1, 2024 is a Monday. Only one of those January … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged
17 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can Holy Water, Epiphany Water, Easter Water, be diluted and still maintain their efficacy?

I had this question from a reader. I get this every once in a while. QUAERITUR: Can Holy Water, Epiphany Water, Easter water, be diluted and still maintain their efficacy? And, if yes, to what extent? Since I get this … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Mail from priests, Pò sì jiù |
10 Comments

Wherein at the tail-end of 2021 Fr. Z reflects on the phrase “In cauda venenum”

There’s a pattern in papal and curial and chancery documents.  In general, after the salutations and other blah blah, there follow status quaesitionis points which stand as the justification for the correspondence or decree.  However, the business is nearly always … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged , ,
7 Comments

ASK FATHER: Must we do penance, abstain from meat, on Friday in the Octave of Christmas?

This is a question which comes up each year. I’ve had three notes in email today. Must we do penance tomorrow, Friday within the Octave of Christmas? The short answer is YES, this year, yes. According to Canon Law, Catholics … Read More

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5 Comments

27 Dec – 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

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged ,
4 Comments

People flocked to a Bishop’s Traditional “Rorate Mass”

For years I have said that if bishops want to control the TLM in their dioceses, the best way to do it would be to get involved. These are Catholics who would go to the wall, if necessary. When bishops … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged ,
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: I was going in for surgery, but I have staph. How can I fulfill my Christmas and Sunday obligation?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am having surgery Tuesday 12/28. I went to reconciliation Wednesday and was absolved. In my medical appointment to get the ok for surgery I was tested for staph infection and it came back positive. My … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law | Tagged ,
8 Comments