Daily Rome Shot 1202 – Lots of stuff!

Posted on 17 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the presepio at The Parish™ in Rome.

Welcome registrant:

Roxydog

Thanks to EW for making the donation switch from Continue To Give to Zelle.

Please remember me when Christmas 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.

On the churchy side of things, a couple articles of note.

First, Larry Chapp eviscerates Card. Cupich’s recent clericalist attempt to force people to receive Communion according to his 70’s preferences. He also looks at the “sham” of “walking together” and what went on at Vatican II. HERE

At Crisis they are – deservedly – piling on. There is another opinion piece about the dreadful Communion letter. HERE A taste:

taking a moment during the blessed Advent season to cast judgment on people’s piety would not aid in a deeper appreciation for Christ in the Eucharist.

Also, there is a review of Edward Feser’s book: Immortal Souls: A Treatise on Human Nature HERE I haven’t read this yet, but I’ve read other things by Feser which touch on the topic. He’s good. I think the book will be hard, but rewarding.

Michael Matt of The Remnant has a great piece about Joselito, St Jose Sanchez del Rio.

Lately my friend Fr. Carlos Martins has been in the press.  It is not a coincidence that the very day that his book on exorcism is released he is accused of something “inappropriate” with a child, and the reportage from a particular source irresponsibly make it sound as if it were something sexual (hence, doing the Enemy a great favor).  Fr. Martins has been, for now, silenced by his superiors.  He has engaged representation.   Meanwhile, some people who have listened and read have retained their heads in the correct direction.  A good example are the folks from Catholic Unscripted.  Two of their team made a video which pretty much sums up the state of the situation.

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Fr. Martins has changed lives through his apostolate Treasures of the Church with relics.  Will he be cleared to the point that it can continue?   I pray so.  May the agents of the Enemy fail.

In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 4.

By FSSP seminarians

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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Daily Rome Shot 1201 – UPDATED

Posted on 16 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Christmas gifts!

Another view of the presepio at The Parish™ in Rome.  So much going on!

Please remember me when Christmas 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.

There is an informative piece at One Peter Five about Callixtus II and the Schola Cantorum Romana. Engaging history!

Chessy news… HERE.

Black can mate in 2.  How long did it take you?

UPDATED:

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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Daily Rome Shot 1200 – Refutation

Posted on 15 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

More from the Archconfraternity’s day for feeding those in need.

Many thanks to BS who cancelled his Continue To Give donation so as to set up a new way to send a donation each month. I appreciate his prayers and kindness.  More about this and what it means to me HERE

Thanks also to WW who switched away from Continue.  

And over at San Damaso…

Please remember me when Christmas 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.

 

The other day the Arch of the Windy City made it clear in his archdiocesan paper that he didn’t want people to kneel to receive Communion, because – get this – it’s against tradition.  Yes, that’s his argument.  Here it is in a nut shell (and I do mean nut): Communion time involves a procession, processions are traditional, stopping to kneel is contrary to the procession, therefore kneeling is against tradition.  You can’t make this stuff up.

In any event, this nonsense has been refuted by Edward Feser HERE

Cardinal Cupich’s concerns are about procedural efficiency and human community. The Eucharist is about communion with God, which infinitely outweighs such considerations – and the awareness that it does is precisely what the practice of kneeling helps inculcate.

and Anthony Esolen HERE.

Even at that, he’s wrong, dead wrong, about the sense of human community. At the Communion rail, you will have an experience you will otherwise never have, and it will be precisely one of community: kneeling beside a stranger, while the Lord approaches, and not having to worry about stepping on his shoes or getting out of his way. You can see people’s faces as they receive. He is dead wrong. I won’t speculate as to how he came to be so insensible to such moments.

Furthermore, the Holy See made it crystal clear that the faithful ALWAYS have the right to kneel to receive, and to receive on the tongue, in Redemptionis Sacramentum.

Chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 4.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
5 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 3rd Sunday of Advent – Gaudete

Posted on 15 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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 traditional 3rd Sunday of Advent?

Tell us about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

[…]

When the Lord returns, He is going to come by the straight way, whether you have helped to straighten it or not.   Right now, that straightening can be gentle and merciful, even if there are repentant tears and the burdens of repairing wrongs and doing penance.  However, when the Lord returns as Just Judge, King of Fearful Majesty, it will not be with gentle mercy.  This week’s Gospel and next week’s from Luke 3 coordinate in Isaiah 40 about the ultimate Advent.

[…]

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My View For Awhile: back again – and a Rome Shot (1199)

Posted on 14 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the presepio at SS. Trinità dei Pellegrini in Rome. The Pope stopped for a visit.

For those of you in Columbia Heights, that’s was the Rome shot

This is not from the presepio….

It was bracing cold for a couple of days and remarkably refreshing. Now, it’s time to go, hopefully with no adventures- especially like a few days ago.

Meanwhile, back in Rome the Archconfraternity that St Philip Neri founded at Ss. Trinità hosted a meal for street people and the poor.  They do this regularly.  Right now they have to do it at the little oratory called the Caravita, next Sant’Ignazio.  That’s because the octopus-like Community of Sant’Egidio has the Archconfraternity’s own refectory next the church in their tentacles and they cling to it, even though they have no need for it and it is underused.   Thanks.

Please remember me when Christmas 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.

White to move and win.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

UPDATE

AND NOW THE DELTA GLITCH

At the gate they started pre-boarding and then got people off the plane. The announcement: maintenance.

Next, they said: maintenance.

Next, they said: We have to get a different plane.

Next, they said: Once we get another plane it’ll be another hour after that.

I might get home tonight. Maybe.

Any readers in Atlanta?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
5 Comments

A few good causes for end of the year giving

Posted on 13 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At the end of a calendar year, good people like you readers are looking for good causes to support with their giving dollars.

We can’t trust many organizations which have the world “Catholic” in their title. Off hand, I can think of about… nope, not enough time or room.

I like and trust the Archdiocese for the Military Services. HERE

I like and trust Our Lady of Hope Clinic. HERE

I like and trust the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison. HERE

I mostly like and sort of trust myself! HERE

However, I got this in the mail today, and it looked interesting. The fact that my old schoolmate Bp. Schneider is favorable is a good sign.

This is what they sent me:

Dear Father Z,
Praised be Jesus Christ! I hope this message greets you well in the adorable Jesus and in the sweet Mother Mary, our Hope!
My name is Sister Loretta-Maria, and I am the founding Sister of a new Traditional Carmelite Community that is building a monastery in High Springs, Florida.
This building project is for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls through our vocation as contemplative women religious. Your assistance in helping us to spread the word to those who would be interested in helping us will be a wonderful blessing.
This building project will especially help traditional women in the religious world who have been persecuted for their love and devotion for conservative practices such as the Traditional Latin Mass.
His Excellency Bishop Athanasius Schneider blessed our building fund project, as we pursue our desire to build our autonomous Carmelite Monastery in the spirit of the Traditional Discalced Carmelites founded by Saint Teresa of Avila.
We have founded a 501c3 nonprofit corporation entitled “Habit Forming Sisters Corporation” in order to raise money through crowdfunding.
Our website showcases our community’s devotion to the traditions of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the charism of Saint Teresa of Avila.
https://habitformingsisters.wixsite.com/buildingproject
Our story was featured on several Catholic news outlets: https://habitformingsisters.wixsite.com/buildingproject/related-articles
Please help us with your prayerful support! We will keep you and the work of your priestly ministry very specially remembered in our life of prayer.
God bless you! Jesus and Mary love you!
In Christ,
Sister Loretta-Maria, OCD and Community of the future Our Lady Co-Redemptrix Carmelite Monastery

Many years ago I wrote in one of my foundations “manifestos” HERE:

Considering what is happening in the world now, I am pushed to think about the way Mass is being celebrated, even the number of Masses being celebrated. Once there were many communities of contemplatives, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament or in contemplation, in collective and in private prayer. There were many more Masses.

Many more people went to confession.

Who can know how they all lifted burdens from the world and turned large and small tides by their prayers to God for mercy and in reparation for sin?

For your opportune knowledge and consideration.

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Women Religious |
4 Comments

13 Dec – St. Lucy in the sky with her own eyes – UPDATED

Posted on 13 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

UPDATE:

One of you long-time readers here, FV, alerted me to the fact that his daughter contributed artwork for a post at NLM about St. Lucy. The idea was to contrast that hideous Jubilee mascot, the gay’d-up creepy Greta wannabe, Luce, with St. Lucy. Thanks to FV for this head’s up! I usually look at NLM but I appreciate the tip.

Here it is. I say, pretty talented! Fr. Z kudos.

__

13 December was the darkest day – with the least length of sunlight – of the old Julian calendar.  Hence, it was once the Winter Solstice.

Today in the Gregorian calendar is the feast of St. Lucy, whose name from the Latin lux, for “light”, reminds us who dwell in the still darkening northern hemisphere that our days will soon be getting longer again.

Lucy will usually be depicted in art with a lantern, or with a crown of candles, or – most commonly – with her own eyes on a platter.

Some accounts have Lucy slain by having her throat thrust through with sword.  Other accounts say that to protect her virginity she disfigured herself by cutting her own eyes out and sending them to her suitor, a plot likely to discourage him.  St. Lucy is therefore the patroness of sight.

St. Lucy shows up fairly often in Dante’s great Divine Comedy.  She is first in the Inferno.  It is Lucy who asked Beatrice to help Dante.  In Purgatory the eagle that bears Dante upward in a dream is actually Lucy who is bearing him to the gate of Purgatory.  Eagles, of course, are “eagle-eyed” and see very well.  In the Paradiso she is placed directly across from Adam in the Heaven of the Rose.  She can gaze directly at God.

Imagine.  Our human, physical eyes will be enabled to see God.  Our human eyes, in Christ and Mary, are already there.

St. Lucy was something of a patroness for Dante and that he was devoted to her because, as we glean from various works, he may have had a problem not just with his eyes but also struggling with sins of the eyes.

Next week we also have Ember Days, which in Advent come after the Feast of St. Lucy.   Do you remember the little mnemonic poem?  “Lenty, Penty, Crucy, Lucy”, or else “Fasting days and Emberings be / Lent, Whitsun, Holyrood, and Lucie.”

Ember Wednesday will be the Missa aurea.

In the meantime, let’s have a look at Lucy’s Collect in the Novus Ordo.   While the Vetus Ordo oration is a solid and standard prayer, it isn’t as rich.

This prayer was not in the pre-Conciliar editions of the Missale Romanum. It is based on a prayer in the ancient Gelasian Sacramentary for St. Felicity (VIIII KALENDAS DECEMBRIS).

Intercessio nos, quaesumus, Domine, sanctae Luciae virginis et martyris gloriosa confoveat, ut eius natalicia et temporaliter frequentemus, et conspiciamus aeterna.

First, you will have immediately caught the elegant hyperbaton, the separation of intercessio and the adjective that goes with it, gloriosa.  There is also a nice et… et construction.

Confoveo is “to cherish, caress, keep warm.”  It is a compound of foveo which essentially is “to be hot, to roast”.  It obviously deals with heat, flame, light.  This is a good word for this time of year in the northern hemisphere (unless you are in, say, Florida).

Conspicio is “to look at attentively, to get sight of, to descry, perceive, observe”. We are obviously dealing the seeing and sight.  This word should ring mental bells for the throngs of you readers who attended Holy Mass in the Novus Ordo celebrated in Latin.  Conspicio is in the Collect for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, used in a an extremely clever way juxtaposed to exspecto.  They share a common root.  But I digress.

Natalicia refers to birthdays.  In the Christian adaptation of this word, we are always referring to the saints being “born” into heaven.

CURRENT ICEL (2011):

May the glorious intercession of the Virgin and Martyr Saint Lucy give us new heart, we pray, O Lord, so that we may celebrate her heavenly birthday in this present age and so behold things eternal.

Perhaps you might say a prayer today to St. Lucy, that she will intercede with God and implore Him, for us in the vale of tears, to open the eyes of so many of our Church leaders.

Also, let anyone having problems with their eyes, literally, pray to St. Lucy for help.

Posted in ADVENT, Fr. Z KUDOS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols, WDTPRS |
5 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1198 – I deny the premise

Posted on 13 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The angelic choir in the presepio at the great Ss. Trinità in Rome.

THANK YOU to JM and Fr SZ for switching their donations to ZELLE.  

I hope soon to be able to add more !

UPDATE: 

Thanks MM for using Zelle!
Thanks GD for moving to Zelle!

On the churchy side…

St. Thomas Aquinas on effeminacy. Effeminacy is on the rise. What is “effeminacy”? HERE

One of the new cardinals says that denial of Communion to adulterers is an injustice. HERE

Nice people! Great service!  Christmas gifts!

“Now you see it. Now you don’t”. First, there was going to be a homosexuality element to the Jubilee Year. Then there wasn’t then there way. First, in the Vatican nativity scene, Baby Jesus was lain up on a keffiyeh (sending an interesting signal to Israel and Jews everywhere). Now the keffiyeh is gone.

Does anyone have the whole article in the Atlantic about Bp. Barron? HERE

‘Dumbed-Down Catholicism Was a Disaster’
America’s most watched bishop, Robert Barron, is scouting out a new future for Christianity.

By Molly Worthen

Speaking of cardinals, he of the Windy City – where I am as I write – issued a letter in the diocesan paper with an admonition for the faithful to stop kneeling to receive Communion.  Why?  Processions!

He starts with this as if it were undeniable writ: “We all have benefited from the renewal of the church ushered in by the Second Vatican Council.” I’m not sure that this is universally acknowledged or can be easily backed up. No matter, just accept it as a FACT and move on to where he quotes the adage about the relationship of worship and belief, in his version, (emphasis added)

“lex orandi, lex credenda,” a phrase often associated with Prosper of Aquitaine…

Hey, don’t blame me.

There follows an explanation that in the Mass there are processions. We’ve always had processions at the beginning, offertory, and Communion. This is true. So, processions are traditional. I’ll bite. Anything that inhibits a procession, like kneeling, is against processions. … ? … So, because bishops tell you not to kneel for Communion,

Disrupting this moment only diminishes this powerful symbolic expression, by which the faithful in processing together express their faith that they are called to become the very Body of Christ they receive. Certainly reverence can and should be expressed by bowing before the reception of Holy Communion, but no one should engage in a gesture that calls attention to oneself or disrupts the flow of the procession. That would be contrary to the norms and tradition of the church, which all the faithful are urged to respect and observe.

Get that? Processing expresses “their” (your) faith. Faith is what? “that (you) are called to become the very Body of Christ (you) receive.” So, Communion is a communal thing more than it is an individual act. If someone is out of lock step, so to speak, and does something against The Procession, then he is breaking the communal experience and, I suppose, diminishes the faith because of what he wrote: lex orandi, lex credenda (sic). Moreover, you haven’t realized how selfish you are being because by your kneeling you are calling attention to yourself (not the communal processional hive action. Not only that, since processions are traditional… this is the good one… kneeling is against tradition.

Wasn’t there a video on Twitter/X of a procession in Chicago wherein the participants are practically power walking?

Please remember me when Christmas 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.

Next, In New Hampshire some jackasses set up a monument to the Devil which was promptly destroyed. HERE

And this is very cool:

In chessy news…

White to move and mate in 4.

UPDATE:

I must add this.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
12 Comments

Fishwrap and Pelosi. What a pair.

Posted on 12 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fishwrap says that Pelosi appealed to Rome regarding Archbp. Cordileone’s application of can. 915 in her regard as a scandalous recalicitrant public supporter of abortion.

Cordileone notified Pelosi in a public letter that stated: “You are not to present yourself for Holy Communion and, should you do so, you are not to be admitted to Holy Communion, until such time as you publicly repudiate your advocacy for the legitimacy of abortion and confess and receive absolution of this grave sin in the sacrament of Penance.”

She has simply defied him, and continued to receive Communion, apparently in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Fishwrap and Pelosi. What a pair.

Posted in 1983 CIC can. 915 |
8 Comments

Face to face with Our Lady of Guadalupe

Posted on 12 December 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Church, as God’s Subcreator, has given to the world two great gifts which reflect God’s love, truth and beauty.  Art and Saints.  In art, truth, beauty and love are manifested in the arrangement of matter or physical sound waves.  In saints, love, beauty and truth are manifested in the actions of one of God’s images, a person.

Studying the lives of saints and gazing at an image crafted by a true master, hearing a composition of a devout composer who intended to open us up into mystery can, over time, produce great fruits.

For example, consider the famous 6th c. Byzantine icon of Christ Pantocrator.  Christ’s face is odd.  One might be inclined to say that the artist botched it.  On deeper inspection we see that His face reveals two attitudes, in the two halves of His face.  On the right side He holds perhaps the Gospels – perhaps the Book in which all things are written – and His attitude is that of the severe Judge whom nothing shall escape.  On the left, His hand blesses and his face is gentle.

This artistic treasury yielding spiritual dividends is made by a man.

How much more might it be true of an image made by God?

First and foremost, we contemplate Christ Himself, the Eternal Word made flesh.  The Son is the perfect invisible image of the invisible Father, begotten but not made.  In His Incarnation and Birth, the Son takes His Body, made with the Virgin Mother, and becomes the perfect visible image of the invisible Father.  In contemplating Him we find infinite mysteries, awesome and alluring.

Next, each one of us are images of God.   Each person reflects mystery, as do especially the saints who beautifully reflect God in living flesh.

However, our fallen nature’s solitary boast, Mary the Mother of God, presents mystery to us in her own way.

Let’s see the the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast it is.

The tilma has revealed many mysteries.  As science advances, more and more fascinating – and hitherto unknown elements – are discovered in it, much as what is happening with the image of Mary’s crucified Son, the Shroud of Turin (which I happen to accept as being authentic).

That said, there are things to be discovered not through tech, but through attention.

The writer, Pete Baklinski, gazed at the image of Mary in the tilma.  It eventually occurred to him that one side of her face looked happy, pleased, while the other side looked said.

The left side

The right side

He explored Mary’s message at Guadalupe and found themes of both joy and sadness.  He suspects that her image means to reflect both.

You might go over there and read the whole account.

 

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