Category Archives: Our Catholic Identity

QUAERITUR: Why bother going to Mass in the state of sin? Fr. Z rants with hellfire and brimstone.

From a reader: Fr. Z I’m struggling to wrap my head around what the point of going to Mass if we’re not in the state of sanctifying grace. My understanding is when we fall from grace, any good works we … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , , , ,
66 Comments

Archbp. Nienstedt: “A serious threat to religious freedom… radical secularism at its epitome” – ACTION ITEM!

There is an ACTION ITEM below.  I also call on bloggers who are reading this to pick it up. From His Excellency Most Rev. John Nienstedt, Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis in The Catholic Spirit.  My emphases and comments: … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , , ,
27 Comments

The miracle of the blood of San Gennaro in Naples

I am glad that Sancte Pater picked up the ANSA story about the miracle of the blood of St. Januarius, in Italian San Gennaro, the bishop of Benevento near Naples who was martyred during the persecution by Diocletian around 305. … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , ,
21 Comments

QUAERITUR: Bowing during the Creed

From a reader: Why do we bow during the Nicene Creed for the lines “by the power of the holy spirit…” and who started this practice? These lines are at the heart of the Creed.  They are, as it were, … Read More

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , , ,
43 Comments

“Copernican Revolution”? Not!

Our friends at Rorate have published part of something from Messa in latino, speculation about the “Doctrinal Preamble” offered by the CDF to the SSPX during their meeting of 14 September, last.  I wrote about that here. The speculation rises … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Our Catholic Identity, Pope of Christian Unity, The Drill, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , , ,
14 Comments

“And a little child shall lead them”. A reaction to the new, corrected ICEL translation.

In England, Catholics are already using the new, corrected ICEL translation of the Order of Mass.  Fr. Finigan, mighty p.p. of Blackfen, has an interesting post about a reaction to the new, harder words in the Creed. Excerpt: The mother … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged
9 Comments

Card. Piacenza interviewed

On ZENIT there is part 1 of an interview with His Eminence Mauro Card. Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy. I have heard Card. Piacenza speak several times and I was impressed.  He has issued some good things as … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
28 Comments

CARA study on trends for parishes, Mass attendance

Over at the Fishwrap, their elder-dissenter Richard McBrien posted a column about shifts in Mass attendance.  He works from a study about the “‘Supersizing’ the U.S. Catholic Parish Life” conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) … Read More

Posted in New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , , ,
21 Comments

Bishops of England and Wales unveil their future priorities

It has happened int the past, that the Vicar of Christ has traveled to a place, was met with great enthusiasm, caused a bump, a wave in Catholic identity, and after a fairly short period of time everything went back … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, SESSIUNCULA, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
25 Comments

A reader’s story of an emergency room confession and advice to readers

From a reader: Yesterday (Friday) and I was rushed to the E.R. with a possible aortic dissection. It turned out that it was just muscle pain. I asked for a Catholic priest, and, to my great fortune, my regular parish … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, TEOTWAWKI, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
15 Comments