Category Archives: Liturgy Science Theatre 3000

Especially for discussion of liturgical abuses and wacky ideas

Vigil of Epiphany: Blessing of Epiphany Water

Wonderful customs come with the Feast of the Epiphany.  Real Epiphany is 6 January, by the way. On Epiphany we can bless gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Please bring all your spare, unblessed myrrh to your priest… and your gold.  Bring … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged , , ,
3 Comments

Shared Communion with Protestants? Sacrilege and Blasphemy

UPDATE:   From a friend in email: It would seem to make little difference in pastoral practice at this point, I think, to admit Lutherans to Communion:  most of our own Catholic people don’t believe in the Real Presence and … Read More →

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Pò sì jiù, You must be joking! | Tagged , , , ,
77 Comments

Penance and Epiphany on Friday: Wherein Fr. Z rants

I had a note about the obligation to do Friday penance (usually through abstinence) on the Friday in the Octave of Christmas. HERE. Yes, we were obliged to do penance… except where we weren’t.  The reason is that the days … Read More →

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
18 Comments

ASK FATHER: Can priests say the “Tridentine Mass” alone, without a server?

From a priest… QUAERITUR: I know that Canon Law currently permits, although discourages, a priest to say a Mass alone (i.e. without server or faithful). I’ve heard that previously, it was forbidden under penalty of mortal sin to say Mass … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged ,
17 Comments

ASK FATHER: Friday penance, abstinence during the Octave of Christmas

From a reader… already… Is Friday, December 30, a Meat Friday since it falls within the Octave of Christmas? It is good to see that someone is planning ahead.  As I write we are a fortnight from the day in … Read More →

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

ASK FATHER: Enervating, paralyzing shame and going to confession

I have occasionally exhorted you to … GO TO CONFESSION! I shall continue to do so. I take seriously my duty to try to keep as many of you out of Hell as I can and get as many as … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , ,
29 Comments

28 Dec – Childermas – The Holy Innocents: “They were the Church’s first blossoms”

Today is Childermas, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child, By by, lully lullay, thou little tiny child, By by, lully lullay. O sisters too, How may we do For to preserve this day This … Read More →

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , , , , ,
8 Comments

ASK FATHER: What’s up with the ‘penitential wand’ and indulgences?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I recently read about the indulgences formerly attached to being touched by the ‘penitential wand’ in Rome in the Raccolta. I’ve been trying to find more information about this practice online, all to no avail. I … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
17 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is ‘Alma Redemptoris Mater’ wrong?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: In general it seems that we only ask God to have mercy on us. This is most clear in litanies of the saints, where the response for a saint is ‘pray for us’, but the response … Read More →

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

OLDIE: Fanon Alert! Benedict XVI and Christmas Mass

From 24 December 2012, of happy memory…. His Holiness has his fanon again for the First Mass of Christmas. Nice to see. More on the fanon, hated by liberals and the ungodly, HERE.

Posted in Benedict XVI, Classic Posts, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
13 Comments