Daily Rome Shot 1256 – moving experience

Posted on 26 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From directly below…

When you walk diagonally across the nave while looking up, there is an optical illusion. It looks like the figures are moving.

Help also for life…

In other chessy news… HERE

Black to move and force mate in 4.

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ASK FATHER: Is still possible to gain indulgences during a papal interregnum?

Posted on 25 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader….

QUAERUNTUR:

I was wondering if it is still possible to gain indulgences during a papal interregnum (i.e., praying for the Holy Father’s intentions being a requirement to gain the indulgence)? Also are there any traditional practices during this time in place of praying for the Holy Father? I imagine just praying for a good, holy man to be the new pope.

Yes, it is still possible to obtain indulgences during the papal interregnum.  When a Pope dies, almost all of the offices/positions in the Roman Curia are automatically vacated.  Almost all.  Two which do not cease are the Camerlengo (who has to organize the funeral and conclave) and the Major Penitentiary (usually a cardinal) in charge of the Apostolic Penitentiary.  This is not a prison.  It is the “senior” of the Church’s three tribunals, along with the Signatura and the Rota.

The Apostolic Penitentiary is competent in all matters regarding the internal forum and indulgences as expressions of divine mercy.  For the internal forum, whether sacramental or non-sacramental, it grants absolution from censures, dispensations, commutations, validations, remissions and other favors.

The Apostolic Penitentiary is charged with the granting and use of indulgences.

The role of the Major Penitentiary is so important that, if he is a Cardinal Elector (under 80, etc.) he is one of the only people who can communicate with the outside world during the conclave.  The other two are the Cardinal Vicar of the Diocese of Rome and the Cardinal Vicar of the Vatican City State.

The good of and the salvation of souls through the internal forum, the matter of censures, and the availability of indulgences is of such paramount importance that these functions remain in place even in an interregnum.

The Church has the authority to apply the merits of Christ’s Sacrifice and of the saints to relieve temporal punish due to sin through indulgences.  While individual bishops can grant some indulgences for his subjects, this is done for the universal Church through the Apostolic Penitentiary.

As for the second question, I suppose we could have Masses said for him and we can – and should – pray the Rosary and other prayers such as the Memorare for the intentions you infer, namely, when it is pretty sure that he is in extremis that he have a good and holy death and for the Cardinal electors to choose a holy man who is also highly competent.

It is also important for pray for Popes and others after they die as well.  Speaking of gaining indulgences!

Let us all pray for those who have gone to their judgment and not assume that they have automatically or quickly been admitted to the Beatific Vision.  It is an important work of mercy to pray for the dead.

Gain indulgences!

That also means…

GO TO CONFESSION!

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged ,
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Daily Rome Shot 1255 – We’re doomed

Posted on 25 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

GO TO CONFESSION!

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Sister DeDe is fantastic.

In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 3.

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Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome issues Decree naming Fr Emil Kapaun Venerable

Posted on 25 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome issues Decree naming Father Emil Kapaun Venerable

The decree was published on the website of the Diocese of Wichita. HERE

Bishop Carl Kemme is pleased to announce that on February 25, 2025, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the Decree concerning the offer of life of Servant of God Emil Kapaun.

“As bishop of the Diocese of Wichita, where Father Emil Kapaun was ordained and served and where he is now entombed in the Cathedral, I join his family, our diocesan family, parishioners in Pilsen, his brother priests, men and women in the armed forces, past, present and future, and indeed every one of faith in giving thanks that Pope Francis has advanced his cause by declaring him to be Venerable. I encourage everyone to continue to pray for his intercession in every situation so that many more graces and divine favors will be received because of his powerful prayers. Venerable Emil Kapaun, pray for us!” Bishop Carl A. Kemme

This Decree is a formal recognition that, after a life of virtue, Kapaun freely and voluntarily made the supreme act of charity: offering his life for his fellow prisoners of war.  “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” says Jesus (John 15:13).

The publication of the Decree opens the door for the investigation of alleged miracles needed as supernatural evidence to further the cause.  One miracle will need to be approved for beatification.  A second approved miracle, occurring after the beatification itself, will be needed for canonization as a saint.

Over the years we have received testimony of several instances of alleged miraculous intercession by Father Kapaun.  Some of these potential miracles date back nearly two decades, while others occurred very recently.  One or two will be sent in detail to the Dicastery for Saints in Rome for review by both theologians and medical experts before papal approval is given.  This process will likely take many years before beatification could happen.

Bishop Kemme and all of us here at Father Kapaun’s Cause are immensely grateful for your prayers and support.  This is a thrilling step, and we can now begin to address Father Kapaun as the Venerable Servant of God Emil Kapaun, or more commonly, “Venerable Emil Kapaun”.

Now, as much as ever, our work is to continue to pray and share Venerable Kapaun’s story.  We ask him to intercede for us, that we all may follow his example of hope, courage, and selfless sacrifice for God and the good of those around us.

To learn more about the offering of life, visit https://frkapaun.org/

To request a prayer card or to make a donation

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
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ASK FATHER: Request about “indigenous smudging”

Posted on 24 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A priest friend wrote about what smudging means.

Different tribes think different things.  However ALL involve DEMONS (cfr. Paul).

I understand some bishops want to approve certain “indigenous” rites like smudging.

This needs widespread attention and help.

Can you post INTELLIGENT thing about this.

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Help a priest – ACTION ITEM

Posted on 24 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

UPDATE 2 March – 15:11: Since I posted this on 24 Feb at 21:11 EST until I posted this update

40

amazing people have written to me.  I forwarded their emails.

ORIGINALLY Published on: Feb 24, 2025 at 21:11

I make a personal appeal.

A priest friend has been dealt a very bad hand. He needs support. He is in good canonical standing. He is in very bad health. His bishop is … not helpful.

He can take Mass intentions. His financial situation is such that he needs generous stipends.

He cannot take Gregorian Masses (because he is in and out of the hospital and does some prison ministry). He can take individual stipends – even quite a few – so long as they don’t have to be consecutive… because of hospital stays and some parish Masses.

He says celebrates the Novus Ordo and the Traditional Latin Mass.  If you want ONLY the TLM, he can do it.

This works like what I do for the Gregorian Mass requests.

  • Send me an email and I will forward it to him.
  • Then, you two can work things out between yourselves without me being involved.
  • I am a yenta.
  • I get no benefit from it other than the satisfaction of connecting you.

He is in a bad place.  Also, please say NOW a prayer for his health.

Many dioceses have set stipends which are quite low. If you can, I ask that you would be generous with your stipends.

Please write to me HERE and I will forward your email to him. YOU – entirely between yourselves – can work out the details.  PAY ATTENTION! In the subject line put

I WANT TO HELP THE PRIEST

Don’t put anything else.  Just that.  Simple instructions.

Help a priest who really needs help.

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Daily Rome Shot 1254 – a snack

Posted on 24 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Madonna and Child between St. Peter Nolasco and St. Peter Pascasio by Pompeo Batoni.

Welcome Registrant:

Alanpeter

Bonus pic… a snack.

In chessy news…. HERE

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IMPORTANT article at First Things

Posted on 24 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

There is an IMPORTANT article at First Things – HERE

“Who’s Really Calling the Shots at U.S. Diocesan Chanceries?”

The article by Michael Mazza – a reliable, knowledgeable, experienced canonist whom I’ve known for a couple of decades at least – exposes something that most priests came to realize years ago, namely, that diocesan chanceries are in a fundamental way being steered by lawyers and insurance companies and that the rights of priests to due process (or human decency for that matter) are often ignored.

 

Posted in 1983 CIC can. 915, Cancelled Priests, Priests and Priesthood, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices |
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Your Sunday Sermon Notes – Sexagesima (N.O.: 7th Ord) 2025

Posted on 23 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.

It is the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time in the Novus Ordo and Sexagesima Sunday in the Vetus Ordo.   The Roman Station is St. Paul’s outside-the-walls.  We are back in purple for Sunday while the new-fangled Novus gets green.

We are now in pre-Lent.  Those who attend the Vetus Ordo are never surprised by Lent.

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of obligation?

Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

I have a few thoughts about the orations in the Vetus Ordo for this Sunday: HERE

A taste:

Our Mass formularies for pre-Lent and Lent go back to at least the time of St. Gregory the Great (+604), and certainly before.  What was going on back in the day?  Plague and famine had ravaged the population.  The invading Lombards threatened Rome itself with sword and fire.  Both for Septuagesima and this Sexagesima Sunday we hear the cry of the Church to God for help and mercy.

Our historical context also includes the fact of the Roman Station Churches.  Last week, we were at St. Lawrence outside-the-walls, near the tomb of the holy deacon burned alive on an iron grate.  Today the Station is St. Paul’s outside-the-walls, the place of Paul’s execution and burial.  It is as if the Church is asking the catechumens, aspiring to baptism, “Are you sure you want to take this on?”  The catechumens and baptized alike with the Pope and cortege made their way from the heart of the City under the long covered walkway that stretched from the great defense walls to the Ostian Basilica, St. Paul’s.

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Daily Rome Shot 1253 – The world has gone mad

Posted on 23 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The stone says 24 February, but he died on the 23 Feb 1821.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Did Obama officials force Pope Benedict’s resignation? Open letter calls for Trump investigation – HERE

Mala tempora currunt! The world has gone mad. HERE

Hey libs of CNS! The word you are looking for is “MEN”.

Women cannot be ordained. It is impossible.

And now your favorite part… in chessy news… HERE

Black to move and win material.  Name the technique?

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