Where you are!

Posted on 22 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is a snapshot of some of the places, and they could be approximations, of where some visitors to this blog are.  I cut out the “Unknown” and vaguer references to countries without additional specification.   This snapshot covers about 15 minutes.

New Haven, Connecticut
Columbus, Ohio
Unity, Maine
Reston, Virginia
Washington, District of…
Roseville, California
Washington, District of…
Leesburg, Virginia
Mountain Top, Pennsylva…
Avils, Asturias
Tarragona, Cataluna
Birmingham, Alabama
Sacramento, California
Houston, Texas
Egypt
London, London, City of
Sevilla, Andalucia
Simpsonville, South Car…
Charlotte, North Carolina
Providence, Rhode Island
Belleville, Illinois
Burgos, Castilla y Leon
Dudley
Arvada, Colorado
Madrid
Decatur, Georgia
Frisco, Texas
New York
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Columbus, Ohio
Cambre, Galicia
Rapid City, South Dakota
London, London, City of
Vitoria, Pais Vasco
Bilbao, Pais Vasco
Cabanillas Del Campo, C…
Ciudad Real, Castilla-L…
Savannah, Georgia
Whitestone, New York
Trumbull, Connecticut
Mountain View, California
Hico, Texas
Taunton, Somerset
Tonawanda, New York
Colorado Springs, Color…
Washington, District of…
Decatur, Alabama
Oceanside, New York
Fair Haven, New Jersey
Sydney, New South Wales
Avon, Connecticut
Helsinki, Southern Finl…
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Munich, Bayern
Jamaica, New York
Little Rock, Arkansas
Perth, Western Australia
Memphis, Tennessee
Saint Marys, Ohio
Islip, New York
Kitchener, Ontario
Belleville, Illinois
Schenectady, New York
Batavia, Illinois
Leavenworth, Kansas
Brampton, Ontario
Overland Park, Kansas
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Barcelona, Cataluna
Madrid
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
White Haven, Pennsylvania
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dallas, Texas
Konstanz, Baden-Wurttem…
Mountain View, California
Fort Myers, Florida
Washington, District of…
Raynesford, Montana
Medina, Ohio
Madrid
Madrid
Raleigh, North Carolina
Tallinn, Harjumaa
Saint Louis, Missouri
Leesburg, Virginia
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Colorado Springs, Color…
Media, Pennsylvania
Clinton Township, Michi…
Morayfield, Queensland
Bethpage, New York
Bel Air, Maryland
Frome, Somerset
Almera, Andalucia
London, London, City of
Troy, New York
Burlington, Vermont
Paducah, Kentucky
Chicago, Illinois
Washington, District of…
Watertown, Connecticut
Malden, Illinois
Brainerd, Minnesota
Sevilla, Andalucia
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Boston, Massachusetts
London, London, City of
Webster, New York
Milan, Lombardia
Houston, Texas
Phoenix, Arizona
Liphook, Hampshire
Dunbarton, New Hampshire
Markham, Ontario
Madrid
Vigo, Galicia
Solna, Stockholms Lan
Pittsburg, Kansas
Horsham, West Sussex
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Madrid
Trenton, New Jersey
Grinnell, Iowa
Washington, District of…
Denver, Colorado
Rochester, New York
Unity, Maine
Sacramento, California
Trenton, New Jersey
Ostrw Wielkopolski, Kal…
Mountain View, California
Platteville, Wisconsin
Florence, Kentucky
Perth, Western Australia
New Canaan, Connecticut
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Oslo

I always find it fascinating to see where people are.  Today I noticed lots of visitors from Spain.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare |
22 Comments

MUST READ: Young person’s account of harassment and violence at WYD

Posted on 21 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Nolite mirari fratres si odit vos mundus.

Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.

1 John 3:13

In Madrid during WYD the were no lack of twisted, benighted wing-nut protesters harrassing the pilgrims and young people.

One of the readers here has a daughter who was in the midst of the unrest the protesters caused.  She wrote to me about her daughter’s description of what happened.  I asked her permission, and through her her daughter’s to post the young lady’s account here, which I believe was posted on her Facebook page.  I am anonymizing it for now.

The the reader and/or her daughter want to identified, they can chime in.

You might remember the photo I posted of the protests.  The girl who wrote what follows was in one of the photos.

With some editing and my emphases:

We had been wandering Madrid all day, chillin
The boys were wearing their kilts so we got stopped for photos many times
One guy who stopped us said there was an anti Catholic protest in Sol so we went to check it out
There was this HUGE crowd of people so Seamus & Louise didn´t want to come check it out with us, they sat at a corner
We went in and people were shouting filthy slurs and cursing the Pope and it was awful
So we knelt down and prayed a Rosary for them in the crowd and got surrounded by angry protesters, shouting and threatening and spitting and filming us and mocking us and trying to burn our flags.
A gay couple came and made out in front of us but whatever
Anyway, Dominic made us stand up because he felt threatened so we finished our Rosary standing but on the last decade, a fight broke out right next to us between the Catholics who had been standing behind us and and the protesters so some of the other Catholics lead us out of the crowd.
We went back and dropped our bags with Louise and this time Mim stayed back so it was just Me & Dominic & Greg & Billy who went back and prayed a second rosary on the side of the crowd and we got more of the same, people getting up in our faces screaming
We were met with a couple more of Juventutem but they left after we finished our second Rosary before one had an emotional breakdown.
Everyone left but the group I just mentioned above and we chanted BENEDICTO, BENEDICTO and VIVA PAPA and waved our Papal flag and so on up against the police line
Lots of people yelled at us still
Then, the police line broke and they charged at us and we had to run for our lives a little more urgently than after our Rosary
Then the riot police came out and beat the ___ out of the protesters
At least one guy lost a WYD pilgrim from his group in the crowd and a lot of medics showed up… A lot of people got lost & hurt

The cops wouldnt let us take the metro there so we went off to find a pub

That´s BASICALLY what happened

Expect more of this in the future, dear readers.

This is the cloaca secularism and even the liberal Catholic agenda brings us, allied as it is with secularism, because it undermines Christian values and therefore respect for human freedom and dignity.

Start think about this sort of thing every day.

Start getting used to the idea.

  • Jeremiah 20:11
  • Psalms 31:16
  • Psalm 44:22
  • Matthew 5:10-12
  • Matthew 5:44
  • John 15:19-21
  • Acts 5:29
  • Romans 8:35-39
  • Romans 12:2
  • 2 Corinthians 4: 8-11
  • 2 Corinthians 12:10
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3-6
  • 2 Timothy 3:12
  • 1 Peter 3:14-15
  • 1 Peter 4:12-14, 16
  • 1 John 3:13
  • Revelation 2:10-11
Posted in Brick by Brick, Modern Martyrs, New Evangelization, Non Nobis and Te Deum, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, TEOTWAWKI, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice, Throwing a Nutty | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
73 Comments

Storm Interrupts Papal Address at Vigil: “Your Strength Is Greater Than the Rain”

Posted on 21 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From ZENIT:

Storm Interrupts Papal Address at Vigil

Pope to Youth: “Your Strength Is Greater Than the Rain”

By Inma Álvarez

MADRID, Spain, AUG. 20, 2011 (Zenit.org).- After the intense heat that has marked these days in Madrid, a sudden and powerful rainstorm prevented Benedict XVI from giving the discourse he had prepared for this evening’s World Youth Day prayer vigil.

The Pope arrived to Cuatro Vientos around 8:30 p.m., as an estimated 1 million youth, who had endured the heat all day, awaited him at the park. The vigil began as planned, with an opening procession in which the WYD cross, given youth by Blessed John Paul II, was carried to the papal stage. The program then called for five youth, one from each region of the world, to address the Pope, sharing their experiences and questions with the Bishop of Rome. But immediately afterward, as the Holy Father began his discourse, the skies opened and the winds rose, and he was unable to continue.
Benedict XVI didn’t leave his post and continued to smile, as hundreds of thousands began chanting, “These are the youth of the Pope.” Despite attempts to cover the Holy Father with umbrellas, his clothes and the text of his speech were drenched.

After a few minutes in which everything was interrupted but the cheers of the young people, the Holy Father told them, “Young people, thank you for your joy!” as they responded with more cheers.

“Thank you for your resistance! Your strength is greater than the rain!” he added. “The Lord, with the rain, sends us many blessings. Also in this, you are an example.”

Omitting the rest of his discourse, the Pontiff gave the final greetings that he had prepared in several languages, joking as he greeted the Italians that this vigil “with all of our adventures,” will be an “unforgettable experience” in your lives.

“Guard the flame which God has lit in your hearts tonight. Never let it go out, renew it each day, share it with your contemporaries who live in darkness and who are seeking a light for their way,” he added.

The vigil continued with the main portion of the program: a Eucharistic procession and adoration, and benediction.

At the end, the Pope said good night in Spanish to the young people, wishing them well through the night as they await Sunday’s closing Mass. “Dear young people, together we have experienced an adventure. Firm in the faith in Christ, you have resisted the rain.

“Before leaving I want to tell all of you good night. Rest well. Thank you for the sacrifice you are making. And which I don’t doubt you will offer generously to the Lord. We’ll see each other tomorrow, God willing. I await you all. I thank you all for the marvelous example that you’ve given. Just like tonight, with Christ you will always be able to take on the tests of life. Don’t forget that. Thank you to all!”

[Reporting by Jesús Colina]

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged , , ,
14 Comments

Catholic New Media Awards: Voting is still OPEN.

Posted on 21 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The great Catholic New Media Awards are going on now!

Will you please give WDTPRS your support?

We are in these categories:

  • Best Blog by a Cleric
  • Best Blog by a Man
  • Best Produced Podcast

There are lots of other interesting categories as well and some very fine bloggers and Catholic websites represented.  I must say I was surprised that some obvious choices were missing from some of the categories… but… oh well.   It would be great if you could ensure they have a big turn out!

I especially wanted to give some support to Creative Minority Report and Badger Catholic and the Catholic Underground podcasts and iPadre.

I also learned about a few new blogs and sites I hadn’t seen before.

Give the CNM awards your support!

Click HERE and vote today!  Voting is open until 26 August.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes | Tagged
12 Comments

Fr. Z’s Litany for the Conversion of Internet Thugs (2.0)

Posted on 20 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A work in progress.

Litany for the conversion of internet thugs (2.0).
(For private use only, when truly irritated, and when the alternative is foul language.)

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Lest internet thugs be eternally tormented by all the fiends of hell, convert them, O Lord.
Lest they pass eternity in utter despair, convert them, O Lord.
Lest they come to be damned for the harm they cause, convert them, O Lord.
Lest they roast forever in the deepest cinders of hell, convert them, O Lord.
Lest they suffer the unceasing pain of loss, convert them, O Lord.

Lest devils endlessly increase their physical agony, convert them, O Lord.
Lest devils twist their bowels and boil their blood in hell, convert them, O Lord.
Lest devils use them as toys and tools, convert them, O Lord.
Lest devils forever gnaw upon their skulls, convert them, O Lord.

Lest the innocent be harmed by the sins of thugs, convert them, O Lord.
Lest the innocent yield to thugs in weakness, convert them, O Lord.
Lest the innocent be drawn into thuggish traps, convert them, O Lord.

From faceless Facebook admin drones, spare us O Lord.
From tweeting Twitter idiots, spare us O Lord.
From from heart-hardened spammers, spare us O Lord.
From liberal nut-case smear-blogging hacks, spare us O Lord.
From thread-dominating combox trolls, spare us, O Lord.
From sophomoric drive-by commentators, spare us, O Lord.

From server memory resource difficulties, spare us O Lord.
From rss feed problems, spare us O Lord.
From DOS attacks, spare us O Lord.
From power outages and surges, spare us O Lord.
From viruses, trojan horses, and all manner of snares, Lord save us.
From wasting our time, Lord save us.
From our own stupidity, Lord save us.

St. Michael, defend us.
St. Gabriel, defend us.
Holy Guardian Angels, defend us.
St. Isidore of Seville, defend us.
St. Francis de Sales, defend us.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, defend us.
All ye angels and saints….. GRRRRR.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord,
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Christ, Jesus who died for our sins.
R. Please return, and return swiftly.

Let us pray.
Almighty and merciful God,
who according to Thy ineffable plan
hast called us into existence to do Thy will
amid the vicissitudes and contagion of this world
grant, we beseech Thee,
both protection for Thy servants who use the tools of this digital age
and confusion for evil-doers who abuse their neighbors and Thy gifts.
Through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, New Evangelization, The Drill, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
38 Comments

St. John of Avila to be proclaimed Doctor of the Church

Posted on 20 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here’s an interesting bit of news made by Pope Benedict in Spain:

Announcement of the Holy Father

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With great joy, here in this Cathedral Church of Santa María La Real de la Almudena, I announce to the People of God that, having acceded to the desire expressed by Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Spain, together with the members of the Spanish episcopate and other Archbishops and Bishops from throughout the world, as well as many of the lay faithful, I will shortly declare Saint John of Avila a Doctor of the universal Church.

In making this announcement here, I would hope that the word and the example of this outstanding pastor will enlighten all priests and those who look forward to the day of their priestly ordination.

I invite everyone to look to St John of Avila and I commend to his intercession the Bishops of Spain and those of the whole world, as well as all priests and seminarians. As they persevere in the same faith which he taught, may they model their hearts on that of Jesus Christ the good Shepherd, to whom be glory and honour for ever. Amen.

I think we may need some direction from the Pontifical Council “Ecclesia Dei” about how to observe his feast, now that he will be a Doctor of the Church.

Posted in Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool | Tagged ,
17 Comments

Help from readers? Prayers for altar boys.

Posted on 20 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A reader sent this:

We are starting an altar boy bootcamp this September for the EF, and we need prayers before and after serving. Can you send us some, or point us in a direction where we could find some? The prayers should be in Latin!

Okay, there is a request for Latin there, but I think we could include English as well.  Common sense, right?

I know that there are prayers to St. John Berchman’s for altar boys.   Also, the Archconfraternity of St. Stephen would have booklets with prayers.

Can you readers help this fellow?  It sounds like a good cause.  Putting together some texts here could be useful to many parishes.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Brick by Brick | Tagged ,
11 Comments

Remember: All it takes is a spark

Posted on 19 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Thomas Peters posted a few photos of anti-Catholic bigots in Spain harassing young Catholics at WYD.

Here are two.

Consider this well, friends.

It could happen where you are.  It could happen to you.

Posted in New Evangelization, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged ,
68 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can FSSP priest say Mass in the Ordinary Form?

Posted on 19 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

My diocese has a priest shortage, [you are not alone] and the priests we do have, many are well-passed retirement age in their 80’s and getting close to their 90’s. There’s a major concern that in the near future our diocese will experience an even greater shortage of priests because the amount of priesthood vocations are significantly less than the current rate that we are losing priests. [That is the situation in many places.]

The bishop in trying to handle the numbers is inviting two priests from the FSSP to our diocese. I’m assuming he believes people will choose the EF Mass rather than a communion service when no diocesan priest is available, and we already have a significant Latin Mass society in our diocese, which would free up a diocesan priest.

Also, I was reading a statement released by our bishop regarding lay-led funeral liturgies outside of Mass for when there’s no priest available to offer a funeral Mass (a common occurrence in the rural parishes), which made me sad because I think Catholics deserve to have a Funeral Mass unless it would cause scandal.

This made me wonder if, given the priest shortage that’s only going to get worse, would (or even could) a priest from the FSSP offer an OF Mass in such or other special circumstances if an EF Mass would not be best suited?

I cannot speak for any FSSP priest and whether or not he would say Mass in the Ordinary Form, but he certainly could do so.

As priests of the Latin Church with faculties to say Mass FSSP priests can use either form of the Roman Rite.  However, as priests of the FSSP they have a particular apostolate which involves the use of the Extraordinary Form.

It could be unfair to pressure a priest of the FSSP to use the Ordinary Form, because of the identity of the group to which he belongs and their particular apostolate.  It seems to me that this is one reason why some bishops might hesitate to bring them into the diocese.

However, it may be in the future, and not so distant, that having Mass in any form will overcome any resistance to limit Mass as much as possible to the Ordinary Form.

Communion services aren’t Mass.  Nothing is comparable.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged ,
74 Comments

Hackers attack WYD website

Posted on 19 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From CNA:

Hackers create problems for World Youth Day website
By Alejandro Bermudez

Madrid, Spain, Aug 19, 2011 / 10:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Issues with World Youth Day’s official website are due to hacking attempts, the event’s press office announced Aug. 19.

While Pope Benedict XVI ate lunch with 12 youth from around the world, the press office issued a statement explaining that “out of respect for the millions of people who are following us around the world and the 4,900 accredited communication professionals at WYD, we believe it is necessary to inform the public about this hacking attempt.”

The organizers said they regret “any distress caused” and confirmed they are working to resolve the issue.

The official site can be viewed at: www.madrid11.com

“WYD is also grateful for all the support that it continues to receive from the overwhelming majority of Spanish people and people worldwide, who share with us the desire of freedom for all, always through peaceful and respectful means.”

The website began experiencing problems on Aug. 15, when organizers confirmed that the site was being relentlessly attacked. Although technicians were successful in preventing the destruction or modification of the content, they were not able to stop several “Denial of Service” (DOS) attacks, which took temporarily down the site on several occasions.

The delivery of electronic press releases to journalists has also been affected.

“While we recover the normal functioning of the website, we invite you to continue the conversation through our news aggregator www.somos.madrid11.com,” organizers said.

May they, like spammers, rot in the deep cinders.

Where would Dante put people like these?

Posted in The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , ,
14 Comments