Fr. Z's Blog | Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" – Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

CQ CQ CQ – Ham Radio Saturday – UPDATED – Echolink use

Posted on 4 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Echolink

I don’t have too much to report on the Ham front today. I’ve been busy with other things.

There was a field day last weekend but I was unable to get involved. There was a 1st Mass to attend on Saturday and may other pressing things. On Sunday I had two Masses, so that was that.

I had an email (at last… they are pokey in responding) from the people who made my Juicebox. You might recall that it had discharged and I couldn’t get the batteries going again. I wrote to the company… I’ve only been trying to resolve this since APRIL. Anyway, they are sending two new batteries (when… who knows…) and I will do the work of swapping them out myself. The Juicebox has an Anderson Power Pole option. And that leads me to my next point…

My Kenwood T140 came (from a reader) with an Anderson Power Pole cable. So, when I get the Juicebox going again, I’ll have a good power source for the Kenwood. I’ll try setting it up with a Buddistick.

Other than that, I’ve been doing a little Morse and lacksidasically looking over materials for the Extra exam. I have a couple little Baofeng UV-5r radios now. One is tuned to the local repeater and I have reached out a few times to local regulars I hear doing some rag chewing. One, as it turns out, is a reader of this blog who recognized my voice. One of the other radios I would like to set up to listen to local LEO/Fire etc., but I haven’t figured that out yet. One should go into my Go Bag in my car.

I got the Baofeng data cable, but I wasn’t able to get the software to install. That’s going to take a little effort, it seems.

I will switch on my Echolink program for a while today, if any of you check that. One of our readers here (who sent the Kenwood) has made his node availble to us: 554286 – WB0YLE-R (Thanks!) Remember: You must be licensed to use Echolink. BTW… there is a great iPhone app for Echolink. I can see quite a few hams using that method to connect.

UPDATE:

After an attempted contact in the “WDTPRS Cafe” I did a couple level tests at the ECHOTEST node and found that my mic was waaaay too quiet, underpowered. I switched to a new USB port (powered) and that helped.

UPDATE: 5 July

It looks as if someone tried to contact me via Echolink at 03:36 CDT and again at 0649 CDT (I was just heading off to Mass). From the log information, this may have been a priest! I see your call N____ but I won’t post it here. I looked for you in Echolink, but didn’t find you.

I am quite interested networking with clerical hams! … yes… I wrote that: “clerical hams”.

I could write “clerical amateur radio operators”, just what fun is that?

Posted in Ham Radio, Mail from priests | Tagged Anderson Power Pole, Baofeng, Buddistick, Echolink, Ham radio, Juicebox
24 Comments

Ingress

Posted on 3 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Are any of you readers involved in Ingress?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged Ingress
27 Comments

Excommunication of same-sex ‘marriage’ Catholic SCOTUS Justices for Heresy

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Ed Peters, distinguished canonist, on Catholic SCOTUS Justices (Kennedy, Sotomayor) who ruled for Obergefell v. Hodges:

Obergefell and canonical criminal law

Dcn Greg Kandra calls attention to a question floating around out there, namely, [QUAERITUR…]should Catholic justices who voted to impose “same-sex marriage” on America be excommunicated? We can deal with most of that question pretty quickly.

Excommunication can impact any Catholic (there are no exemptions for those in high civil office), but it can be incurred only for twelve specifically delineated crimes (CLSA Comm. 932, not counting a couple of excommunicable crimes listed outside the Code). Now, voting to impose “same-sex marriage” on a nation (or, taken more broadly, gravely damaging the common good) is not among the canonical crimes punished by excommunication, and even Canon 1399 (sometimes derided, if unfairly, as a “catch-‘em-all” penal norm) would not suffice for so-called automatic excommunication (a canonical institution that presents its own legal complications, but let that pass). In short, I see no excommunication readily imposable on Catholic justices who voted to impose “same-sex marriage” on America.

But, [But…] two points remain for Catholics to consider.

1. For reasons outlined here (chiefly that—aside from the compelling natural law demonstration that marriage is possible only between a man and woman, a demonstration that should be understandable as a matter of human reason—the Church teaches with infallible certainty that marriage is possible only between a man and woman) I think that some Catholic justices have, indeed, manifested their opposition to Church doctrine (Canons 750 § 2 and 1371, 1°), doing so, moreover, “in published writing” and in a way that “gravely injures good morals” (Canon 1369). The canonical sanctions referenced for such offenses are, however, ‘indeterminate’ (justa poena) and, I would hold, do not extend to excommunication. To be sure, a number of very important procedural steps would need to be observed before moving on these norms (and the track record of thinking-through, let alone enforcing, penal canon law has not been strong in our day) but, [But…] at the very least, the fact that such an argument can even be made suggests a basis for some kind of pastoral intervention toward those Catholic justices who hold that “law can recognize as marriage whatever sexual attachments and living arrangements it wishes”, let alone toward those who voted to impose “same-sex marriage” on America.

2. If, as seems likely, Church teaching that marriage can exist only between a man and woman is taught not just infallibly (as a ‘secondary object’ of infallibility) but as being divinely revealed (making it a ‘primary object’ of infallibility), then, a Catholic’s obstinate denial of such a truth is canonically “heresy” (Canon 751) punishable by excommunication (Canon 1364 § 1), an automatic one at that—and is not just ‘opposition to Church teaching’ punishable by a ‘just penalty’. I leave it to theologians to hammer out whether Church teaching on the male-female foundation of marriage is simply, but infallibly, Church doctrine (I am sure it is at least that) or whether it is part of divine revelation (I am strongly inclined to say that it is), but either way, prominent Catholics asserting that marriage is whatever the State wants to make it, is a grave ecclesiastical problem.

Grave Ecclesiastical Problem™.

Yes, I would say so.

Posted in Liberals, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, SCOTUS, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged can. 1364, can. 1369, can. 1371, can. 750, can. 751, excommunication, heresy, marriage, Obergefell v. Hodges, SCOTUS
60 Comments

ASK FATHER: Sunday obligation and career conflicts

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I read your recent answer to a man whose work schedule keeps him from attending Mass.

I’d like to go down that road a little further. I’m a commercial pilot. My schedule (which is written in stone) keeps me on the road 7 days at a time. I miss Mass every other Sunday because my duties do not allow me to attend during the 7 days I am “on duty”.

However, I am now at a point in my life where I “could” retire at some significant monetary loss. My wife and I are living on my income, but could live on social security and savings (401K/IRA) at this point.

Question: Does my obligation to attend Mass on Sunday dictate that I quit my job and retire?

At my age, the chance of landing another flying job that would allow me to attend Mass on Sunday approaches zero, but one never knows.

Being a Christian requires certain sacrifices. Being Catholic requires even more sacrifices.

Being a member of Holy Catholic Church allows one freely to request, from the treasury of grace the Church has built up, some accommodations.

Ironic, isn’t it? We live in a secular world, which makes fewer and fewer concessions to those attempting to live according to the dictates of the Church.

To determine the exact line between reasonable sacrifice and foolhardiness is difficult. Certainly, one should never put one’s family in an unnecessary state of financial uncertainty. Additionally, one should never place an undue burden on the State to provide!

If you can work, work, rather than rely on government assistance or charity. (εἴ τις οὐ θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι μηδὲ ἐσθιέτω! – 2 Thess 3:10)

Giving up one’s job in order to fulfill one’s Sunday obligation can cause readjustment of priorities in life. If it is too much of a burden, don’t do it. Yet, if it’s the difference between eating hamburger or dining on prime rib six nights a week, the sacrifice might be spiritually appropriate. Consider that the earthly “banquet” is temporary, while the heavenly is eternal.

Before making such a decision, talk the matter over with your wife, check with your accountant, and consult with your pastor or a trusted priest in order assess the situation.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged Mass Obligation, Sunday obligation
12 Comments

UPDATE REVIEW: The ULTIMATE Priest’s Gift – Super Cool Portable Altar

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Do you remember when I posted about the coolest gift for a priest ever? HERE There is a carpenter who makes portable altars of wood, rather like a suitcase, with wings that fold out, and an embedded altar stone.

St. Joseph’s Apprentice

After I received the first beautiful altar, which a priest friend immediately wanted to borrow, I offered some suggestions for improvements. The carpenter took them to heart!

Another priest friend recently obtained his own, upgraded, portable altar. He brought it over and I shot some photos.

In its case.

This one is considerably lighter than the one I have. Different wood, I believe, and construction have taken quite a few pounds off.

The altar, closed up.

One of the improvements I recommended were slots to place altar cards. He added them!

This version of the altar has a storage compartment under the element that holds the altar stone.

On the altar stone you can see a certificate of its provenance, that it was duly consecrated. I checked out the sepulcher for relics.

This version utilizes supports for the “wings” that fold out. Mine uses the drawers that pull out from the sides. Mine doesn’t have the central compartment.

The only concern I have is that the surface has to be pretty level and even for these side supports to work. Great if you are on a table.

The carpenter’s wife makes altar cloths to fit the altar! That’s really helpful. My altar didn’t come with cloths.

Not only are the cloths fitted, one of them is a cere cloth! This is important with a wooden surface.

The Cross sits atop. However, he added a little tongue/groove – one of the improvements I suggested – so that it will more easily stay in place.

My friend told me that there was a little book stand, too. I didn’t see it.

Pretty spiffy.

I would like to swap mine out for this, or at least have some of the upgrades!

This might be the coolest priest gift ever. It might also, in the future, be one of the most useful.

As the persecution of the Catholic Church mounts, it may be that we will lose a lot of our properties. Priests might have to take things on the road.

Also, lay people might want to have one of these stored away. Stock up on altar wine, hosts, candles and squirrel them away with your altar.

Otherwise, leave it set up all the time as a home altar! You could put a shelve over it for statues and hand a fine piece of religious art over it…. even a baldachin, much in the style of some home chapels I saw in palazzi in Rome.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, Priests and Priesthood, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged portable altar, St. Joseph's Apprentice
17 Comments

Minnesota: Extraordinary Form with preaching in Spanish

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Brick by brick in Minnesota!

From a priest in my email:

This Friday, July 3, I will be offering Mass at 7pm at St. Mark’s -350 Atwood St, Shakopee -in the «Extraordinary Form» – also known as the Old Latin Mass, some think of it as the Pre-Vatican II Mass. I think of it as the Mass of full pews, convents and seminaries and the Mass of my ancestors…but I digress. It is at the normal time of our Spanish First Friday Mass so it will be a bilingual Spanish-English homily. All are welcome! We will have a guide for Mass but this time it will just be Spanish-Latin I believe. We will have an organist and I believe in the old calendar it is the Feast of St. Irenaeus.

Introibo ad altare Dei!

Do I hear an “Amen!”? The New Evangelization continues, one Mass at a time.

This is a project dear to my heart for these USA: Extraordinary Form and preaching, etc. also in Spanish.

Vetus Ordo
Uniting Communities Since 1570

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged Archd. St. Paul and Minneapolis, Extraordinary Form, Spanish
7 Comments

Something to amuse

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Did you see the new Jurassic Park movie? I… yawn… did.

This might amuse:

And then there’s this:

Posted in Lighter fare | Tagged Jurassic Park
7 Comments

Brick by Brick in Knoxville: 1st TLM of new priest!

Posted on 1 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

And I don’t mean goldbrick, either. From a long-time reader here comes this great story and great photos:

Having viewed images from time to time of first EF Masses in fancier places (like Madison), WDTPRS readers might see interest in one in a remote location like Knoxville off the beaten path:

Following his June 27 ordination in Knoxville (TN) by Bishop Richard F. Stika (Knoxville, TN), Fr. Michael Hendershott celebrated on June 28 at Knoxville’s Holy Ghost Church his first solemn high Mass in the extraordinary form, accompanied by the Knoxville Latin Mass Schola singing Mozart’s Missa Brevis in G. His first EF Mass was an especially significant event in the life of the Knoxville Latin Mass Community–as a high school student back in 2005, he was an altar server for our first Knoxville TLM under the indult granted by (then) Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz, now Archbishop of Louisville and President of the USCCB. Fr. John Orr, who celebrated that first EF Mass here, stood Sunday as the assistant priest at Fr. Hendershott’s side as he himself celebrated for the first time the traditional Latin Mass which he credits for his vocation. The deacon, subdeacon, and several priests attending in choro were fellow students of Fr. Hendershott’s during his years of study at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Philadelphia), Kenrick-Glennon Seminary (St. Louis), and finally at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Photos by Roy Ehman of the Knoxville Latin Mass Community are posted

HERE

PS1. Our longtime KLMC photographer Roy Ehman, responsible from the beginning for the visual image of our community, appreciates inclusion of the credit line “Photos by Roy Ehman” (as in the description above) when his photos are shown.

Nice vestments.

Fr. Z kudos. This is the true New Evangelization.

Posted in Brick by Brick, HONORED GUESTS, Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM |
11 Comments

New Commissar appointed over the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate

Posted on 1 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I saw at Corrispondenza Romana the news that a new Commissar has been appointed over the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

The new Commissar (Apostolic Commissioner) is a canonist, Salesian Fr. Sabino Ardito. Two assistants were also appointed, also canonists, a Cappuchin and a Jesuit.

The first, former, Commissar, Fr. Fidenzio Volpi died in June.

Let us pray that prudence and justice are applied in all judgments concerning the FFIs.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged FFI, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
2 Comments

SSPX Bp. Fellay: “we are on the eve of important events that we cannot yet define”

Posted on 1 July 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In other news, the head of the SSPX, Bp. Bernard Fellay, gave an interview to Present in which he spoke of the status quaestionis these days, both within the Society (a priestly society, remember) and outside. HERE

Samples:

Present: In an interview with Fideliter in 2001, you mentioned the “movement of profound sympathy from the young clergy for the Society.” Has this movement grown, especially with the motu proprio in 2007?

Bishop Fellay: Without a doubt! The motu proprio gave this movement a new impetus. And it is important to insist upon Benedict XVI’s interest for the liturgy in general. He truly wished to put the entire traditional liturgy, not only the Mass, at the disposition of the priests and the faithful; this did not happen because there was too much opposition. But the young priests identify with this liturgy, precisely because it is timeless. The Church lives in eternity.

The liturgy does also too, which is why it is always young. Close to God, it is outside of time. So it is no surprise that the baptismal character makes this harmony resound even in souls that have never known the liturgy. And the way the young priests react when they discover this liturgy is moving: they have the impression a treasure has been hidden from them.

[…]

A few weeks ago, the Society’s seminaries were visited by Cardinal Brandmuller and Bishop Schneider. These visits are a public connection with the “official Church”. Isn’t that vital?

The link with the Church is vital. The manifestations of this connection can vary. The dates and places for these visits were left up to me; the Vatican chose the names. I chose the seminaries because they seemed to me to be the most eloquent and representative for the bishops.

What were the first reactions of these bishops?

They were very satisfied. “You are normal people,” they told us…which goes to show the reputation we have! They congratulated us on the quality of our seminarians. There is no doubt that their conclusion after this first closer contact was that we are a work of the Church.

Have you been in contact with any bishops who support you discreetly?

Of course! When we see that priests are coming closer to us today and entering into contact with us, we can easily conclude that the same is true on the higher level…

[…]

Where is the Society today? What are its strong points and its weak points? What future do you foresee for it?

I see a peaceful future. It is a work that has been entrusted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; all we have to do is remain faithful to their will. This Church is the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who remains her head and will not allow her to be destroyed.

The Society’s weaknesses? The risk of separation is serious. Look at the caricature of Tradition that calls itself the “Resistance”, for example: it is a non-Catholic spirit that is almost sectarian. We wish to have nothing to do with it; it is a movement that is withdrawn into itself, with people who think that they are the only good and just men on earth: that is not Catholic. It is an objective, but relative danger. Most of the Society is healthy and will not fall into these illusions. This encourages us to rely upon supernatural means. God will show us what He wants of us; He will speak through circumstances.

The strong points? The living fidelity that bears fruit and shows the world today that the Catholic life, even with all its requirements, is possible. But—another weak point—we are men of our times, and it would be a dream to pretend that we are immunized against the influence of the modern world. To be more precise, we must avoid the caricature of wishing for a Church without wrinkles or stains here below: that is not what the good Lord promised us on this earth. That is not what the “Holy Church” means; it means that she is capable of sanctifying using the means given by Our Lord: the sacraments, the Faith, discipline, religious life, the life of prayer.

What do you think of Cardinal Sarah’s suggestion of introducing the traditional offertory into the New Mass?

It is not a new idea; it has been around in Rome for ten years. I am glad it has been taken up again. Some criticize the idea, saying it is a way of mixing the profane with the sacred. On the contrary, in the perspective of bringing health back to the Church, I think it would be a great step forward, because the Offertory is a summary of the Catholic principles of the Mass, of the expiatory sacrifice offered to the Blessed Trinity, offered by the priest to God in reparation for sins, and accompanied by the faithful. And that would gradually bring the faithful back to the traditional Mass they have lost.

How would you like to conclude, Your Excellency?

In my opinion, we are on the eve of important events that we cannot yet define very well. I would like to call for prayers and end with a gaze towards God, which allows us to always have hope.