Category Archives: Mail from priests

Benedict XVI’s Sermon for Chrism Mass: hits hard about priesthood, disobedience, zeal for souls

The Holy Father’s sermon for Holy Thursday Chrism Mass (in the morning, not the even “Last Supper” Mass). UPDATE: This sermon is starting to get some sizzle.  The New York Times is out and the head line is “Pope Assails … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Non Nobis and Te Deum, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The Drill | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
46 Comments

Penances assigned in confession, memorization, and helping people be less afraid. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I have in the past ranted that priests, when hearing confessions, do well to give simple penances which people can do immediately and then know they are completed. I have been to confession to priests who assign something too complicated, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, HONORED GUESTS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
61 Comments

“Sinite parvulos venire ad me!”, or, A picture is worth a thousands words.

In the last couple weeks I have had posts about boys playing “Mass”, one had a great video, one had a photo I took of a photo at the funeral of a 60-year priest.  Yesterday I posted in a review of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
10 Comments

Kids playing Mass and burying a 60 year priest

We had the funeral Mass and burial of Fr. Leo Dolan today. Fr. Dolan had been a priest for 60 years, for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. His last few years involved not a little physical suffering. Fr. … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , ,
21 Comments

QUAERITUR: Penances in confession for the sin of abortion

From a priest: I have been a priest for 7 years and in that time I have heard a few confession that involve women confessing abortion. I found that the women have been extremely repentant of their actions, to the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests |
1 Comment

Brick by brick: Most seminarians would prefer the older, traditional rite

As you know, the plural of “anecdote” is “data”.  And I have good “data” about the preferences of seminarians when it comes to the older or newer forms of the Roman Rite. Bishops and others in formation of seminarians should … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices |
20 Comments

Bp. Morlino provides some reminders about why we “Rejoice”, in this 4th week of Lent.

Life got ya down?  Irritated and depressed by the kulturkampf raging and the attacks of the Obama Administration on the freedom of all Americans? Laetare, Ierusalem! I have written before about His Excellency Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Four Last Things, Fr. Z KUDOS, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , , ,
4 Comments

Msgr. Bux to SSPX: “Come take part in this blessed future in which we can already foresee dawn, despite the persistent darkness. “

Monsignor Nicola Bux, a consultor to the CDF and to the Office of Pontifical Ceremonies, etc., (originator of what I call the Bux Protocol – which every priest and bishop should remember that people may invoke!) has written a letter to … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Ecclesiae unitatem, Four Last Things, Fr. Z KUDOS, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Pope of Christian Unity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
49 Comments

Fr. Z begs a favor on St. Joseph’s Day

May I ask a favor? Fr. Kirby at Vultus Christi posted a prayer to St. Joseph for a particular priest. Will you please bookmark it or print it and … say it for me once in a while? PRAYER TO SAINT … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood |
32 Comments

A priest does what the Council asked!

I have been griping that Latin is becoming isolated in the Extraordinary Form. It must not be. It must be used all the time, everywhere, in the Ordinary Form. The language of the Latin Church’s worship is Latin.  What does … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests | Tagged , , ,
26 Comments