Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

Send 2025 CHRISTMAS CARDS to Fr. Z! – With a cautionary note. – UPDATED

I always enjoy your Christmas cards.  The notes and letters which describe the year people have had are interesting and, often, moving.  Over the years I’ve recognized so many familiar names.  I read them all. And drawings by kids are … Read More

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Special Blessing of Epiphany Water on the Vigil of Epiphany (5 January)

Wonderful customs come with the Feast of the Epiphany.  Real Epiphany is 6 January, by the way.  Happily, this year it doesn’t get transferred to a Sunday because it falls on a Sunday. On Epiphany we find in the Roman … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Classic Posts, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World |
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“Let y’all know!” The “Noveritis” Epiphany chant announcement of 2026’s movable dates and feasts

At Epiphany (real Epiphany is 6 January) we Latins have traditionally chanted a solemn proclamation of the key liturgical dates or movable feasts for the new year of salvation, just begun. This underscores how these dates and seasons are all … Read More

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FATHERS! ACTION ITEM! Plenary Indulgences available on 31 December (Te Deum) and 1 January (Veni Creator Spiritus)

Holy Mother Church offers the possibility to gain two plenary indulgences, one on 31 December to thank God for the graces received during the year and one on 1 January to invoke the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the … Read More

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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. It came up again today. Must we do penance on Friday within the Octave of Christmas? The short answer is YES.  This year. According to Canon Law, Catholics are bound to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, Classic Posts |
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ASK FATHER: Does a communicant have the right to receive communion from a cleric?

Under another post there is a question in a comment: QUAERITUR: Does a communicant have the right to receive communion from a cleric? Yes, and no. The 1997 Instruction On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in … Read More

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ACTION ITEM! Seven Sisters Apostolate for Saturday

This post is absolutely and blatantly self-serving! I shudder to think about my present situation if there weren’t people praying for me out there. I am so grateful to all of you. Therefore, I want to underscore a special group. … Read More

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TLM extended by Rome in the Diocese of Cleveland for 2 years. Question: If for Cleveland, why not elsewhere?

UPDATE 23 October 2025 What they are not telling you is that the bishop asked for a 5-year extension and only got 2, was asked to say a New Mass in Latin, and told to lead acceptance of Vatican II. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, I'm just askin'..., The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged
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A review of the Sacrament of Penance in view of the Jubilee Year as well as your regular Sunday Mass

While in Rome during a Jubilee Year. Many people – Rome is jammed – are coming to Rome for the experience such as entering the Major Basilicas through the Holy Door.  That’s a perk and a novelty that most may … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , ,
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Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, and old project, and a plot

It being the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, I am minded of a project a few years ago during the Amazonian Together Walking when the demon idol was venerated in the Vatican Gardens and the demonic idol bowl was … Read More

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