Fr. Z's Blog

Meanwhile, the actual teenagers… https://t.co/Fem7TaV6vC pic.twitter.com/iFZFsZq64t

— Samuel J. Howard (@Jahaza) October 28, 2024

UPDATE:

The boomers at the Vatican have no idea what they have unleashed. https://t.co/Df7wFB19N9

— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) October 29, 2024

UPDATE:

Once the Church inspired the young with noble models like St. Dominic Savio and his motto “Death rather than sin.” Now we have… whatever the hell this “Luce” thing is. Infantilizing the young with a dumbed down version of Catholicism does them a disservice pic.twitter.com/33dwpdomuo

— Edward Feser (@FeserEdward) October 29, 2024

On this Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude, when some of our thoughts turn to impossible causes, the sun rose NOT at 07:36 as the screwed up Vatican calendar says, but rather at 06:38 at 107° East.  It will set, again NOT as the curial calendar suggests at 18:11, but rather at 17:09 at 253° West.

The Ave Maria they got right at the 17:30 cycle which lasts until 4 November.

Speaking of impossible causes, my friend Fr. Carlos Martins is taking the relic of the arm of St. Jude – Apostle of the Impossible – all around the country.  I spoke with him the other day: he was in Colorado.

Click – pre-order
20% off

Fr. Martins has a book coming out.  I’ll write about that in a different post.  However, you don’t have to wait to get it. The Exorcist Files: True Stories About the Reality of Evil and How to Defeat It. As I write it is available for PRE-ORDER at 20% off! US HERE  Card. Burke wrote the forward.  I’ve read it.  It is highly instructive and practical!

Also with impossible causes, today is my natal day.  I’m officially old.   It may just have happened that Sts. Simon and Jude came through for me in the apartment search.  Something came in the email today which is perfect.  I immediately swarmed over to the wonderful octogenarian lady realtor whose shop was miraculously open and with her in it!   She was introduced to my by my octogenarian vegetable stand lady.   These old ladies in the area know everything and everyone.  I’ve been so frustrated with my hunt because no one responds.  So, I went into the little office begging for help.  She got on the phone and we have an appointment to see the place.   It would be perfect.

Today I ask you humbly for prayers for my parents.  For my mother in her ongoing struggle with her grave and progressive malady.  For my father who, as a text this morning at 4AM indicated, was taken to the hospital for some emergency surgery – which went well.  Both are 89.

A prayer please also for me, also an impossible cause.  My Jesus, mercy.

Thank you, Lord, for this day.

The tomb of the Apostles Simon and Jude in the Vatican Basilica.

A detail from the Pontifical Mass for the Feast of Christ the King. Some of you will know what is going on here.

After Mass at The Parish™ the incense lingers.

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.

Here’s a nice inscription from Saturday at the Pantheon.  For me, its the fire extinguisher that really adds dignity to the view.

Getting things laid out for today. In the morning, many priests – some still around for the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage – have their Masses.  NB: A few of you readers donated for these beautiful red vestments, contributing to the decorum of the sacred liturgy and edification of the faithful and of the priests who wear them.

In chessy news… HERE

In churchy news… my friend Robert Royal has a great piece at The Catholic Thing.
Cardinal Müller’s talk for the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage.

The people who put out the three movies about the Traditional Latin Mass have a new offering. (I spotted The World’s Best Sacristan™ in the first minute.

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

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Mass of obligation for this Feast of Christ the King, or the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time?

Tell us about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

A couple thoughts: HERE  A taste…

[…]

The theme of the Kingship of Christ was further stressed in his 1925 encyclical Quas primas.  With this encyclical Pius established the Feast of Christ the King, fixing it on the last Sunday of October, a month which Communists had hijacked for the exaltation of their “permanent revolution”.

“Permanent revolution” is the strategy in Communist praxis that goals should be pursued without compromise with the opposition.  Some might point to a possible parallel with the now seemingly endless “walking together” in October after October after October of trying to create a stable process in the Church of re-doing pretty much everything (which seems like a not inaccurate definition of “revolution”).  Create listening groups to isolate voices which might run counter to the determined ends and issue concluding statements.

By the way, the Latin for “revolution” is res novae… “new things”.  “New” was perceived by the ancient Romans as bad by default.

[…]

The sun rose today at 7:35 on the Vatican curial calendar but the hour is now different since daylight savings ended at 03:00 here in the Central European Time zone: hence 6:37 (the calendar is off a couple minutes according to more accurate online clocks).  Sunset is at 18:13 on the Vatican calendar, hence: 17:35 (or really 17:10).

The Ave Maria is in the 17:30 cycle on the curial calendar.  It was adjusted!

So, the Vatican screwed up its own calendar.

Click for larger.

Welcome registrant:

Ollie

A detail from Guido Reni’s Angels Adoring the Holy Trinity which just came down from above the main altar of The Parish.

St. Ann, please help me with my apartment.  Oh… sorry… I didn’t realize that you saw the consistory list, too, and Baby Jesus is consoling you.

Gotta love these.

A nice quiet humble place I go to once in a while.  I was here with The Great Roman™ for a bowl of fettucine with a cream of artichoke, caccio e pepe.  It was good.  Nice guys there.

Since it still got dark before closing time before the change of the legal hour last night, on Saturday I caught the illuminated window of Gammarelli with classic cardinalatial gear.

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.

A great view.  In the foreground one of the 18th c. mondazzaro signs.  In the background on the wall behind the black car, a pomerium marker of the Emperor Claudius.

In chessy news…. HERE

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.

Welcome registrant:

N2SRK

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.

Welcome Registrant:

ROBTHOL7

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)