Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

TLM at a primary school for children aged 8-11

With a tip of the biretta   o{]:¬)   to His Hermeueticalness, I present this: The LMS Birmingham and Black Country reports on a Mass celebrated according to the usus antiquior for St John Fisher Primary School at West Heath, Birmingham … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM |
10 Comments

Set a new trend in naming that baby!

I don’t do “help me name my baby” questions around here, except to suggest that you pick a saint’s name, spell it normally, and go for it. That said, I would like to see a new trend back to some … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Lighter fare, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
90 Comments

Sacramental reality is no less real than sensible reality

I hammered out and sent in a column for The Wanderer today.  Here is something I included this week (modified for the blog): Latin Fathers such as St. Leo the Great saw the season of Lent  in sacramental terms. The … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, LENT, Our Catholic Identity |
3 Comments

That smudge.

Ash Wednesday is around the corner.  In the UK’s best Catholic weekly, the Catholic Herald, the lovely and persistent feature-writer Anna Arco has an article with comments about that ash-smudge. Don’t rub off your ashes, urges bishop By Anna Arco … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Clerical Sexual Abuse, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
19 Comments

QUAERITUR: Bishop consecrating chalice, vestments during Mass

Sacred vessels are important.  They are consecrated (like the hands of priests) to touch the Body and Blood of the Lord. I had this in my email: I am trying to locate the rite (prayers and rubrics) for the consecration … Read More

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

QUAERITUR: Of blasphemy and sacrilege during Mass

From a reader: The pastor at a local parish has used a “super-soaker” water gun during the sprinkling rite at Mass on several occasions. In a conversation with a parishioner from the parish, I incorrectly described the act as “blasphemous.” … Read More

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

Concerning the “liturgical vigilante”

Be sure to check out Pat Archbold’s perspicacious and amusing piece over at the National Catholic Register entitled, “Liturgical Vigilantes“. A few of good bits: As general rule, vigilantes are not born, they are made. Their steely resolve to right … Read More

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

QUAERITUR: Video in place of sermon

From a reader: Is it permissible to have a video homily, instead of an actual spoken homily by the priest or deacon? Now the message was from the [b]ishop of ____ and was about the annual sharing appeal, but it … Read More

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

Concerning ashes.

Today is Sexagesimus Sunday.  Ash Wednesday is but a week and a half away. “Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” I am sure you are making your plans for your Lenten practices.  No, really… … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, LENT, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , ,
11 Comments

QUAERITUR: Do I have to use ecclesiastical pronunciation of Latin?

From a reader: If I am to pray in Latin, how beholden am I to the regulated ecclesiastical pronunciation? I ask because I have a hobby that involves some pronunciation in classical Latin. Learning two pronunciations of the same language … Read More

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