About this blog…
“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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- R2D on I have to post these. I know you can find them on your own. But I must post them.: “@WVC: I can recognize the good that Anglicans, Presbyterians, and the Orthodox do. That doesn’t make them Catholic. I’m truly…”
- on ASK FATHER: If God love us infinitely why does He not speak to us directly?: “Another angle; God speaking directly to us might not be good for us. Jesus says in John 16:13 “ I…”
- on I have to post these. I know you can find them on your own. But I must post them.: “@WVC: Respectfully, I must say that you have misunderstood my position. I have not placed myself in “God’s judgment seat,”…”
- on WDTPRS: 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Snatched up into invisible love: “Father, to your enlightening translation of this wonderful Collect, one might add the beautiful English version in the Book of…”
- on ASK FATHER: If God love us infinitely why does He not speak to us directly?: “Wonderful reflection, which I will “plagiarize” , with due credit to Fr. Z, in future homilies. Yes, we should pray…”
- on I have to post these. I know you can find them on your own. But I must post them.: “@Geoffrey – Perhaps you don’t realize that you’re basically placing yourself in God’s judgment seat and proclaiming your judgment to…”
- on Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 12th Ordinary) 2026: “Said tongue firmly planted in cheek: “The admonition to leave your gift at the altar doesn’t mean that you should…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1651: MAMBO!: ““The other day I shot an elephant with an obelisk. How I managed to maneuver the obelisk I’ll never know.”…”
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Category Archives: Seminarians and Seminaries
ACTION ITEM! Birettas for Seminarians Project! UPDATES
UPDATE: From my email… I just received a biretta from John! [Hastreiter of Leaflet Missal] I am very happy with the biretta, and even more grateful for the work you and Mr. Hastreiter have put into this project. If you happen … Read More
The forge in which future priests are hammered and annealed
From a reader in the Diocese of Charlotte, in North Carolina. Hey Father, On Respect Life Sunday, our newly instituted minor seminary[!] in the Charlotte Diocese (St. Joseph) [NC] took their 8 seminarians and recited a rosary in front of … Read More
Would the young Joseph Ratzinger – or I – have had the same reaction if….
As I often write, we are our rites. In the new interview book with Peter Seewald, Benedict XVI was asked how the son of a Bavarian policeman became a priest. I have a measure of sympathy with Benedict’s answer. I, too, … Read More
Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord
Tagged Benedict XVI, lack of vocations, Peter Sewald, priesthood, vocations
23 Comments
23 Comments
ASK FATHER: Can Lectors still bless bread and fruit?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Recently I have just read regarding the minor order of Lector (I know it has been abolished). It is said that the lector can bless bread and fruit. My questions are: Is the blessings reserved only … Read More
The ULTIMATE GIFT for a priest revisited: Portable altar from St. Joseph’s Apprentice
I have written before about the ULTIMATE gift for a priest: the marvelous portable altars by St. Joseph’s Apprentice. In 2014 HERE and in 2015 HERE With each iteration, these altars are being perfected. He has taken some of my past suggestions … Read More
Latin. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
Fr. John Hunwicke, priest, gentleman and Latinist, has a spiffing post at his blog Mutual Enrichment (which title is a reference to Summorum Pontificum). He writes about Latin. Here is a taste of the first part with my oft-imitated emphases and comments: Since … Read More
Why aging liberals are so nasty and so frightened
At the UK’s best Catholic weekly, the Catholic Herald, there is an analysis piece by a writer for First Things, Matthew Schmitz. He writes about the angst libs are experiencing, as they cope with the ticking clock: Pope Francis isn’t moving fast … Read More
Posted in Francis, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Magisterium of Nuns, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices
Tagged Commonweal, Hell's Bible, Massimo Faggioli, Matthew Boudway, National Catholic Reporter, New York Times, Peter Steinfels, Phyllis Zagano, Pope Francis, Robert Mickens, The Tablet, Vito Mancuso, women's ordination
34 Comments
34 Comments
I am pretty tired of this B as in B, S as in S.
A few inflammatory points by way of introduction. First, there are those who say that many of the problems in the Church today can be traced back to the influence of a kind of “jansenism” impressed during formation in seminaries way back … Read More
Vocations to the priesthood: bad numbers? Those numbers didn’t just happen by themselves.
I’ve written many times about the situation of vocations to the priesthood. We all know that there are certain parishes in dioceses which produce more priests. We all know that there are certain dioceses which produce more priests. We all … Read More
“Bless our families, bless our children. Choose from our homes those who are needed for Thy work.”
I have lately mused about vocations. Last Sunday was the Day of Prayer for Vocations. What I mean by vocations, by the way, is vocations to the priesthood. Yes, yes… I think about religious life as well. When I think … Read More
R2D on I have to post these. I know you can find them on your own. But I must post them.: “@WVC: I can recognize the good that Anglicans, Presbyterians, and the Orthodox do. That doesn’t make them Catholic. I’m truly…”
