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“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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anotherphilothea on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: ““My point is that just because an authority does something authoritative, that makes what he did good.“ You meant to…”
on Can Ecumenical Councils ever be failures?: “A very important distinction: The Church and her personnel. Not everything that the personnel do, that a churchman does, is…”
on Benedict XVI breaks silence: intro to new volume in an anthology series – includes thoughts on “same-sex unions”: “” If ya can’t get marriage right, ya can’t get nuth’n right”. —Me, aug 2013”
on ASK FATHER: Is it sinful to make or use fake papers, vaccine passports, or false documents?: “So many good responses, for which I am grateful. I will not repeat them all, but will try to make…”
on Benedict XVI breaks silence: intro to new volume in an anthology series – includes thoughts on “same-sex unions”: “CNA gives a small quote from P. Francis’ forward, but enough to hint a tone and style: “Benedict XVI is…”
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on ASK FATHER: Is it sinful to make or use fake papers, vaccine passports, or false documents?: “In the case of a falsified “vaccine passport,” I will suggest that given that a “vaccine” mandate itself is unjust…”
on ASK FATHER: Is it sinful to make or use fake papers, vaccine passports, or false documents?: “If it is OK to lie in order to save an innocent life, then why do we get all worked…”
on ASK FATHER: Is it sinful to make or use fake papers, vaccine passports, or false documents?: “It is sinful to bear false witness, but it is not always a mortal sin. It shows greater faith in…”
on “But once you get that first star on, things change.” … “But once you get that miter one, things change.”: “To continue from my previous comment. See RTFMedia YouTube video 10 Sep 21 (“The Rundown!”), Mike as host, guests include…”
on ASK FATHER: Is it sinful to make or use fake papers, vaccine passports, or false documents?: “Note to self: Check to see if the owners of potential safe houses are ok with telling a fib to…”
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Category Archives: Seminarians and Seminaries
Wherein a priest alumnus of the North American College responds. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
From an alumnus of the North American College (US seminary in Rome) … edited so that the style of writing can’t be traced to any one priest by those who might recognize it. As a NAC grad, I read your … Read More
19 Comments
U.S. Seminary in Rome snuffs out the Traditional Latin Mass and training for seminarians
The craven faculty of the North American College (US seminary in Rome), perhaps under the pressure of their board, has snuffed out the Traditional Latin Mass, which was a regularly scheduled Mass on Saturdays. There was also training for the … Read More
ASK FATHER: Priest refers to his role as “waiter” not “bouncer”.
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I heard a priest refer to his role as, “not the bouncer to the Eucharistic banquet but the server [as in waiter].”Most analogies fall flat, but this one hit a dissonant chord that I can’t quite … Read More
ASK FATHER: Do priests who celebrate only in the vernacular really know what they are saying?
From a reader…. QUAERITUR: I recently discovered the SCDF declaration Instauratio liturgica (Jan. 25, 1974), which says that the meaning of a translated sacramental formula is that of the original Latin, understood according to the mind of the Church. Especially … Read More
ASK FATHER: A Transitional (to priesthood… not something else) Deacon asks about how to give people blessings
From a transitional deacon… QUAERITUR: I am a transitional deacon soon to be ordained a priest. As that day draws near, I realize that my seminary has taught me absolutely nothing about how to bless people and things. As I … Read More
“The constant negativity directed to us priests by…” Wherein Fr. Z relates, reacts, reflects and rants.
At Catholic World Report, Fr. Peter Stravinskas offers a reflection on the way Francis seems constantly to denigrate and insult priests affects both morale and vocations. His observations coincide with my own. One of things he said struck a strong … Read More
ASK FATHER: Indulgence for kissing a new priest’s hands
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Is there really an indulgence for kissing the hands of a newly ordained priest? I’ve heard different accounts. And how long is “newly”? I have written about this before. For example, HERE. There is no indulgence, … Read More
GOOD NEWS: “Key” available for Scanlon’s “Latin Grammar: Grammar Vocabularies, and Exercises in Preparation for the Reading of the Missal and Breviary”
There is some GOOD NEWS. It’s down below. Meantime… I’ve been ranting for years about the need for clerics to know the language of their Latin Church, Roman Rite. In most cases that means that priests and seminarians have to … Read More
ACTION ITEM! Seminarian in need of prayers
It is deeply troubling that the tactics of the 80’s and 90’s are being redeployed now. From a reader… In connection with your psyops article from just over two years ago, there is a seminarian in need of serious prayer. … Read More
Wherein Fr. Z reacts to a seminarian’s “cri de coeur”
I have written quite a few times here that – in this time of erosion and reversal in the Church – young priests and seminarians will increasingly be exposed to the sort of thing we older guys had to endure … Read More
26 Comments
St. Robert Bellarmine on priests (Jesuits) who don’t learn to celebrate Mass and don’t follow the rubrics
From a reader comes this apposite passage. Long-time reader here. Your recent posts (“rants”) about priests learning Latin and their Rite recalled to mind a passage I believe you will heartily enjoy from an excellent older biography of St. Robert … Read More
They just need to keep doing what they’re doing!
Someone once said something along the lines of, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The Bitter Pill (aka The Tablet aka RU-486) has a story that 130 year old Wonersh Seminary in … Read More
19 August – LIVE VIDEO Traditional Latin Mass – 1200h CDT (GMT/UTC -5): St. Jean Eudes
Daily, I live-stream a Traditional Latin Mass at NOON Central Daylight Time (= GMT/UTC -5 and ROME 1900h). Today: St. Jean Eudes Prayers Added: For the gift of tears After Mass: Prayer in time of pandemic Will you please tell … Read More
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Wherein Fr. Z rants and points a finger
In another post, I commented on some good points made by Joseph Shaw in a piece at HPR. I want to return to Shaw’s piece for some final points. Picking up toward the end… […] It certainly would not have … Read More
31 Comments
In the wake of my Holy Land Pilgrimage: in come the slippery Jesuit and aging hippies
Here’s an interesting note in the wake of my entirely TLM pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On the very early morning when we departed our residence in Jerusalem we had Mass at Midnight, using a proper for pilgrims leaving the … Read More
Card. Sarah: The priesthood is in mortal danger. Wherein Fr. Z rants to priests.
Ed Pentin, still the best, working English Vaticanista hands down, posted at the NCReg an interview with Robert Card. Sarah. The Cardinal talks about the book, to be released in English in March. I’ve read it already (advance English copy … Read More
22 Comments
FIRST REMARKS about the new book by Card. Sarah and Benedict XVI
Robert Card. Sarah and Pope Benedict XVI have collaborated on a new book. They respond to certain aspects of The Present Crisis.™ From the Depths of our Hearts The dedication of the book says it all. En hommage aux prêtres … Read More
ACTION ITEM! Seminarians are waiting for BIRETTAS! Priests are waiting for SATURNOS!
I had a note from John in Church Goods at Leaflet Missal in St. Paul. John is at the action center of the Birettas for Seminarians Project and the Saturnos for Priests Project. John reports: Update: Priests waiting for Saturnos – … Read More
2 Comments
When life gives you lemons, you can help seminarians
Did you know that in the Roman Rite we use liturgical lemons? Whenever the celebrant has to clean something off his hands, such as chrism or ash, he uses pieces of bread and slices of lemons. Water isn’t enough cut … Read More
A priest opines on the effect of optional priestly celibacy
I received this from a priest friend who, for reasons that are riotously obvious these days, desires anonymity. He reflects on the discussion of optional celibacy that the Amazon Synod is sure to push. Of course the Germans, who are … Read More
