Category Archives: Wherein Fr. Z Rants

What does Fr. Z really say? A response to critics on the left and the right.

Back on 2 April – which in blog years is like a decade ago – I offered a brief manifesto about how I think we ought to approach Pope Francis. In fact, there are any number of entries I have … Read More

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", Francis, Linking Back, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill, What are they REALLY saying?, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
117 Comments

What is Pope Francis really saying?

Here is what I think Pope Francis is up to. In this explanation I am not necessarily endorsing specific things that he is doing (washing the feet of females in a prison) or not doing (refusing the mozzetta, etc.). I … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Francis, Liberals, My Favorite Posts, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices, Throwing a Nutty, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
371 Comments

Dear Traditionalists,…

I had this from a reader. He said he was not advocating these things. However, liberals will advocate them. I’ve got some other suggestions.  But first the wacky liberal stuff: I have an idea for a blog topic – how … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Classic Posts, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, My Favorite Posts, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
106 Comments

Why don’t priests follow rubrics? Fr. Z cheerfully rants.

My friend Fr. Ray Blake, distinguished p.p. of St. Mary Magdalen in Brighton, has a post sure to prick the consciences of some not yet liberally heart-hardened priests and bishops. He starts off with a comment about the lack of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, The Drill, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
69 Comments

Of sympathy and pageant, of aging and refreshing

The other day a priest friend brought up a line from Hilaire Belloc’s The Path To Rome, which I have not read for many a year. This is the story of the wine of Brule, and it shows that what … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

Blue Vestments? An annual rant.

From a reader: Our priest borrowed glorious old blue vestments in the Roman style for today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. He announced that it’s the first time for him, and that it is per a 400-some-year-old indult for … Read More

Posted in Lighter fare, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Parody Songs, PODCAzT, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
64 Comments

The Most Tragikal Hostess Debacle. Act II. Enter: Looters, Zombies, Unions.

I heard about this when I was running errands yesterday. It seems that the Hostess – producers of iconic products – has now gone completely bust because, in negotiations with the company the baker’s union demanded too much. I grew … Read More

Posted in TEOTWAWKI, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
64 Comments

Reflection on the election.

The Roman historian Livy wrote about the terminal decline of the Roman Republic that “Nec vitia nostra nec remedia pati possumus… We can bear neither our vices nor the remedies.” Alas, I fear that our vices have called forth precisely … Read More

Posted in The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
161 Comments

Unless you recover the words, you can’t recover the concepts.

When you change the words, you change the concepts. The liberal progressivist liturgical terrorist reformers were successful in changing our way of speaking about our sacred liturgical worship. For example, they made us – and no one asked them to … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Vatican II, What are they REALLY saying?, Wherein Fr. Z Rants, Year of Faith | Tagged , , ,
51 Comments

Concerning New Evangelization, fallen-away Catholics, invitations, liturgical worship

In another entry, about implementing Summorum Pontificum in a parish, my correspondent mentioned awareness that we must help fallen away Catholics back to Holy Church. In this Year of Faith we should act concretely to bring Catholics back to the sacraments. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Wherein Fr. Z Rants, Year of Faith | Tagged , , ,
20 Comments