Fr. Z's Blog

For the sun’s rising, I can report the hour of 07:34.  Sunset is still a bit in the future as I write at 18:14.

The Ave Maria is still in the 18:30 cycle.

It is the feast of St. Dimitri the 4th c. martyr.

Thank you for this day, Lord.

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St. Benedict saw the consistory list.

Last night took us to the Pantheon for Vespers for the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage.

Well attended.

The acoustics in there… horrible.   Quite simply.

One of my very favorite Crucifixes in Rome or anywhere.

I entitle this “Waiting for the bride… and waiting… and waiting…”.  She was over a half hour late.

Meanwhile, chess was played in the sacristy… but that’s about chess, so I’ll put it in the comments with the puzzle… a hard one.

(White to move and mate in 4.  Hard, but once you see it, you can’t un-see it.)

Chessy news… HERE

Please join up! I’ll get the credit.

In churchy news…. there is a good piece by the always interesting Janet Smith at Crisis.   We are on the brink.  We are on the brink of an election. We are more than one brink, more than one serious brink.    I believe she is right in her assessment of the severity of the situation in the USA.  A taste:

The only hope we have for changing the laws on abortion (and saving this country!) is to elect those who will work to defend free speech and freedom of religion, who will deport illegal immigrants, who will ensure that elections are fair. Bonuses may well be a recovery of the economy, disbanding the deep state, reducing government waste, and peaceful settlement of costly wars.

Another good read is Fr. Raymond de Souza at The Catholic Thing on the sinking ship the Holy See Ship Synodality (aka “walking together”).    A taste:

HSS Synodality set sail when Pope Francis announced in March 2020 the commissioning of a great new ship. The synodal process on synodality for a synodal Church will thus mark its fifth anniversary early next year. It has sailed through some rough waters, but even after five years, it is not clear where exactly synodality is headed. HSS Synodality has thus been on a voyage without a destination.

Perhaps the purpose is the voyage, not the destination…

You said it, Father.  That’s the point.  The outcome is the establishment of constant process that brooks no dissent that cannot be marginalized by means of listening and dialogue.  The goal is “permanent revolution” and that can only be achieved not through direct attacks on liturgy, law and doctrine, but by erosion through hints, dangling carrots, perpetual dialogue.   I grew up in a caucus state.

So, HSS Synodality (“walking togetherity”) has been sailing sailing sailing.  It has also been hulled a few times by the Holy See’s own torpedoes (e.g., Fiducia supplicans).

And… well… more chessy… At ChessBase there’s a good article about current World Champ Ding Liren, who is going to defend his title against Gukesh.  It’s going to be … painful, I think.   Ding talks about the psychological, emotional problems he has struggled with for years.  He is a compelling person with an interesting story.

I will never forget sitting where I am now and watching those last fatal moves in the tie breaker in Astana (… where Bp. Schneider is…) against Ian Nepomniachtchi (it’s pronounced Непомнящий, by the way). And Nepo’s reaction. He was pretty sure he had a draw. the commentators thought it was a draw. Then Ding pulled a fast one with a minute on the clock, playing Rg6. Ding refused a draw down on time and played for the win. Video of the end of that game HERE. Treat yourself.

And check out the great wines of the monks of Le Barroux, traditional Benedictines, in S. France.

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Behind the clouds over Rome, the sun rose at 07:32 and at 18:15 it will set, hopefully with no clouds, or at least no rain.  I have to be out and about this evening.

The Ave Maria ought to ring at 18:15 as established on the Vatican Curial calendar.

“This day is called the Feast of Crispian…”, indeed, Sts. Crispin and Crispinian. Here is their altar and urn in the church, San Lorenzo in Panisperna, which is nearly always closed (I suspect due to sheer laziness).

“This day is called the Feast of Crispian…”

A bunch of priests have descended on Rome for the Summorum Pontificum conference.  Red is laid out today for Sts. Chrysanthus, and his wife Daria, martyrs. As the Martyrology says,

“After many sufferings endured for Christ, under the prefect Celerinus, they were ordered by the emperor Numerian to be thrown into a sandpit on the Salarian road, where, being overwhelmed with earth and stones, they were buried alive.

Many thanks to the readers who were Red Vestment Donors.  The decorum of the days when red is used is greatly enhanced.  It is quite a sight to see all the side altars filled with priests saying Mass in these beautiful matching sets.

My street last night after supper (excellent Coda alla Vaccinara).

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK 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.

In churchy news…

Francis released a new encyclical about devotion to the Most Sacred Heart.  HERE  It is really long, some 28000 words of text in English and 227 footnotes.  He cites himself only about 9 times, as I culled at a quick glance.  That’s different.   The sources are many and various.   It shouldn’t surprise us that a Jesuit would issue something on the Sacred Heart, for the Jesuits were among the first strong promotors of the devotion.

Also, in churchy Roman news… everyone I talk to is so fed up with “walking together” that the whole thing is now an eye-rolling joke.   I was talking with someone in French who said that there is a French way of saying that a thing fizzles out, a word “Pshhhhtt” (which sounds like a well-known English scatological reference and something Francis talks about in unguarded moments. The onomatopoeic word is the sound of gas escaping a bottle when the cap is twisted off… indicating that its all over.

In chessy news…

(White to move and mate in 5)

While the sunset tonight will be at Rome’s 18:17, the sun rose behind rain clouds at 07:31. And I do mean rain.

Tonight there ought to ring the Ave Maria in the 18:30 cycle in Roman Curia. However, I thought I heard it last night in my zone. I’ll set my thing to ping.

Also at that time, there will be a live streamed seminar from the Penitenzieria Apostolica from the Palazzo della Cancelleria (where the Church’s three tribunals are housed) about the Sacrament of Penance. I recall that this was done in the spring… maybe they do it twice. I signed up for the remote participation my live stream Priests and seminarians who know Italian might sign up from where ever you are. I have no idea about the quality of the talks, by the way. I know what they were like back in the day and they were pretty good. Now… the age of… who knows?….

To stay awake during the, no doubt, fascinating talks.

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Today is the Feast of St. Raphael the Archangel.  Therefore, the candles were lit by the beautiful painting at The Parish™ by the painting of Raphael with Tobit and a really big fish.  The parish Mass was said there this morning because there is still scaffolding about the main altar.

The copy is in place.  It’s a REALLY good copy.

Speaking of copies.  These are lovely fresh copies ready for purchase.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK 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.

In churchy news…  Francis praised Latin.  He praised it as something for research and culture.  Gosh, Latin is great.  HERE

Pope Francis praises Latin: yes that’s right: it represents “the roots of Western civilization, and, in many ways, our very identity.” https://t.co/HCmY06cexw

— Fœderatio Internationalis Una Voce (@UnaVoceOfficial) October 23, 2024

Hmmm

[Latin] represents “the roots of Western civilization, and, in many ways, our very identity.”

Latin… our “identity”… hmmm…. something about that is familiar.

Anyway, actions speak louder than words in any language.

And this….

[Latin] “can become a tool for harmony among peoples, promoting mutual respect and human dignity.”

If only the Church had a liturgical language that could do that, so that people could worship together, in one place, rather than segregated into Masses according to languages, a sort of anti-Pentecost.

In chessy news….  HERE

(White to move and mate in 3)

At 7:30 the sun rose here in Rome.

It set at 18:18.

The Ave Maria is at 18:30

I think a church in the neighborhood is ringing the Ave Maria.  I’ll try to capture it.  It was 3-4-5-1 at exactly 18:30.  Hmmm.

At Ss. Trinità (aka the Parish™) the great main altar painting of the Trinity by Guido Reni was taken down.  It was quite a project.  I’ll have a video of the process processed soon.  The painting will go to an exposition.

On a cool rainy day, this was a good lunch, though it required a nap.

Risotto milanese with ossobuco.

This was at one of my favorite places, one of the consistently best in the rione, Rosina.  I really enjoy this place.  It is not for large groups.

Thank you, O Lord, for this day.

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Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK 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.

In churchy news… the Cardinal elect from Indonesia has declined to become a Cardinal. HERE I wouldn’t mind if a few more did, too. I have a little list.

He saw the list.

Pray for the soul of liberation theologian Gustavo Gutierrez, who has died.

Scomparso a Lima, a 96 anni, il teologo domenicano #GustavoGutierrez tra i fondatori della teologia della liberazione che chiedeva alla Chiesa “un’opzione preferenziale per i poveri”. #PapaFrancesco sei anni fa lo ringraziò per il suo servizio
Leggi ?? https://t.co/Wpu48zvzb4

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it) October 23, 2024

At walking together about walking togetherity a couple things.  The final document has been given to the participants: paper copy.  Not email.  Not electronic.  They have been admonished, virtually threatened, not to share it, take photos of it, quote it.  Of course who would?  Canary trap.  Just as the Stasi could put variants into texts to see where the leak came from, the walkers togetherers could just as well do that.   So, the meeting isn’t over but its over.

But it’s not over.  There is going to be three-day conference at the Jesuit university (where else) about walking together and Vatican II.   You can imagine what this will be about: the synod is the natural outcome of the fons and culmen of Vatican II which (now) requires that everything imaginable must be completely redefined and retooled: Cult, Code, Creeed (liturgy, law, doctrine) … everything.  Even history (read: memory hole).

Will this every end?   Not for a while: the point of the whole thing is PROCESS.

In chessy news… HERE

(White to move and mate is 2)

07:29 for the sun rise and 18:20 for the sunset here in Rome. It was a lovely midday and not so lovely late afternoon.

The Ave Maria is 18:30.

It is/was the Feast of St. John Paul II.

Lord, thank you for this day.

Although… I hear that there is another encyclical coming.

I went across the river today for the first time since I’ve been here.   No, that’s not right.  I went over the near me, but not toward the Vatican, which I avoid as much as possible.

However, I had an errand there… a pleasant one as it turns out… to meet up with some well-known Catholic writers (whose names you would know).

I spotted that the Angel Bridge is all boxed up.   This is really a bad time to come to Rome for sightseeing.   Everything is entombed and being restored.

Then…

A quick stop in one of St. Philip Neri’s churches, San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.

This one saw the consistory list.  Poor little guy.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK 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.

Thanks to readers for flower money. I have some roses going. And Pippo gave me the outlier today when I stopped for alstroemeria.

Hey Fathers!  How about a clerical Guayabera shirt?

In chessy news… HERE.

(White to move and mate in 4)