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{]:¬)

QUAERITUR: The collection basket when you are poor.

Posted on 29 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

I experienced something today at Mass I’ve never experienced before.
When the collection basket got passed around and I put nothing in, the lady sitting next to me “tsk’d” me.

I’m a student with no money, and I just finally got a job making minimum wage. I’m expected to save the money I make during summer for school, so I live very frugally during the summer. Granted, I don’t look poor because I’ve learned how to look presentable on a low budget, so she likely wouldn’t have known.

This left me wondering just what my financial responsibilities are to my parish when I’m literally nickel and diming it every month? Also, because I live at home right now, and still registered under my family’s address and name, does their monthly lump sum offering cover me as well, even though we attend different Mass times?

I suppose it was not the best moment loudly to tell the nosy old trout to mind her own business.

We have all at one point or another not been able to be as generous as we would prefer, when it comes to the obligation to see to the material support of the Church.

It seems to me that at a certain age you begin to contribute your own contributions.

But perhaps it might be helpful to remember that we can contribute on more ways than simply by giving money. Sometimes we talk about supporting parishes through

Time
Talent
and Treasure

If you are not able to give money at the moment, perhaps there are other ways to help around the place, ways to get involved.

In the meantime, if you had more disposable cash, you could print some cards saying something like:

“Congratulations, you just committed the sin of rash judgment. Furthermore, in your desire to feel morally superior, like the Pharisee praying in the temple, you may also have also scandalized your neighbor. Since you are probably closer to the end of your life than its beginning, do confess these things as soon as possible. And if you can’t pay attention to MASS during Mass, at least mind your own business instead of everyone elses. Have a nice day!”

And put a little smiley face on the card, and maybe some daisies.

UPDATE:

I hope people understand that I was being somewhat satirical to make a point. I am not advocating actually giving people cards like that, which is fraught with its own problems in the realm of fraternal correction.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged collection basket, material support of the Church, Precepts of the Church
48 Comments

FOLLOW UP: The storm building in the D. of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Posted on 29 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I wonder if we have gotten to a point in the wealthy West where the erosion of culture and mores is so advanced that the notion of fatherhood is simply an option. In vast swathes of society fathers are optional or perhaps even disposable.

As a follow up to the entry about the storm building in Kansas City, MO over the priest who had child pornography, and in reference to the blog entry at SERVIAM (go there to discuss this – the combox is open), I found this exchange interesting.

Context: Some will assert that Bp. Finn must resign. That’s rubbish, of course.

Nevertheless…

Brindle

May 29th, 2011 :

goodbye Bp Finn as a mother of seven children I see no other way
MDB

May 29th, 2011 :

So Bishop Finn should give in to the jackals in the media and just quit? Did our Lord not promise all of us persecution and trials? “Quo vadis?” “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” Should the good bishop flee his own cross and leave his flock to fend for themselves against marauding wolves? If he does resign, there’s not a priest in that diocese that will be safe. Merely an accusation will be enough to ruin a priest’s life and reputation. If the liberals in the Church and the hate mongers in the media can bring him down, nobody is safe. God help the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph if that occurs.

Do I hear an “Amen!”?

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, Clerical Sexual Abuse | Tagged Bp. Finn, D. Kansas City-St. Joseph, fatherhood, fathers
Comments Off

Shakespeare: Catholic

Posted on 29 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

When I was seven, I discovered Shakespeare. Ever since his works have never been far from my reach. In my seventh year I was given sets of LP records with some of the greatest actors in the world reading the plays. I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about, but I was enthralled. I was driven to a dictionary, and to the texts of the plays in print. Slowly but surely, it all started to make sense. The language provided endless treasure hunts. I was ensorcled.

We’ve even observed “Talk Like Shakespeare Day” here (skipped this year for obvious reasons).

I am convinced that Shakespeare was Catholic and that he put all sorts of Catholic content in his works.

This is the subject of some books (which you readers have sent me from my wish list), such as Clare Asquith’s engaging but uneven book Shadowplay Joseph Pearce’s critic-provoking The Quest for Shakespeare and Through Shakespeare’s Eyes: seeing the Catholic presence in the plays. And it is has been advanced that he studied for the priesthood, in Rome.

Today I saw this in The Telegraph:

William Shakespeare was probably a Catholic, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who discussed spirituality and secularism in the Bard’s plays with the actor Simon Russell Beale. [Beale, by the by, is the fellow who narrated that great BBC 4 series on Sacred Music. It’s on DVD.]

Little is known of Shakespeare’s life and there is no direct evidence of his religious affiliation, but Dr Rowan Williams said he believed him to be a Catholic. “I don’t think it tells us a great deal, to settle whether he was a Catholic or a Protestant, but for what it’s worth I think he probably had a Catholic background and a lot of Catholic friends and associates. [With due respect to Dr. Rowan’s erudition, I do think it makes a difference. We may read his plays differently.]

“How much he believed in it, or what he did about it, I don’t quite know. He wasn’t a very nice man in many ways – it’s always very shocking, that. The late Shakespeare was hoarding grain and buying up property in Stratford – it was not terribly attractive.”

However, he went on: “The extent to which I want to call him a Christian is not [an attempt] to kidnap him for the tribal trophy wall, but a) because everybody at that time was some sort of Christian, and b) there are things in his plays you can’t understand without understanding the notions of forgiveness and free grace.

“He wrestled with human questions and he ends up saying there is a great deal more to all this than some might think. That mysteriousness is part of what the plays are about. That seems impossible without something of the sacred.” [Do you suppose this is brought up in public schools when Shakespeare is read. No… wait… is any Shakespeare read any more in public schools?]

Asked which Shakespearean character he found most compelling, Dr Williams chose Macbeth, but quickly added: “That’s not to say I identify with him, because you don’t really want a serial killer as the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare, The Drill | Tagged Archbp. Rowan Williams, Clare Asquith, Joseph Pearce, Shakespeare, Simon Russell Beale
16 Comments

Card. Pell: “Young people don’t see the Catholic Church as being inevitably in decline”

Posted on 29 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Remember the Tumult in Toowoomba? Bp. Morris, removed from governance of the diocese after years … strange stuff?

From CNA:

Cardinal Pell says Bishop Morris sacking ‘a tragedy’ but also ‘a useful clarification’
By David Kerr

Sydney, Australia, May 28, 2011 / 04:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- It’s been nearly a month since Bishop Bill Morris of Toowoomba in Australia was dismissed from office by Pope Benedict XVI. Now the country’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, has given his first in-depth interview on the controversial sacking to CNA.

“Well, it was a tragedy. It should never have come to this,” Cardinal Pell told CNA while on a visit to Rome.

“Rome was very patient. You could say the dialogue had continued on for 13 years and unfortunately Bishop Morris felt unable to give satisfactory clarifications.” [13 years … ?!?… who appointed him in the first place?]

Bishop Morris’s dismissal followed comments he made in a 2006 pastoral letter. In it he called for the ordination of women and married men, and suggested that protestant ministers could offer Mass to compensate for the lack of priests in his diocese. This in turn led the Vatican to order an investigation.

“Catholics stand with the Pope as the successor of Peter and his role is to strengthen his brothers and to defend the apostolic tradition, and it’s now Catholic teaching that women cannot be ordained priests. That’s not an optional belief; it’s now part of the Catholic package,” said Cardinal Pell. [So is Summorum Pontificum.]

Critics of the bishop who’ve spoken in recent weeks to CNA suggest that the problems in Toowoomba went far beyond the bishop’s public disagreement with Catholic doctrine on the priesthood.

They’ve claimed Bishop Morris – who preferred a shirt and tie to a priestly collar and bishops’ attire – did much to undermine Catholic identity and teachings during his 18 years in office.

Cardinal Pell was both balanced and charitable in his assessment of Bishop Morris’s legacy.

“He’s a very good man. He had a lot of pastoral strengths. He’s got a lot of good points. He’s done of lot of good work. He’s got quite a strong following in the diocese.” [I am convinced of all of that. I’ll bet he is a really nice who did great things for people. He would have been a great parish priest.]

“But the diocese was divided quite badly and the bishop hasn’t demonstrated that he’s a team player. I mean even at the end he didn’t wait for the official Vatican announcement.” [I’d say.]

“He sent around messages to every parish, to all his priests, the Australian bishops before the official announcement and since then he’s made a number of public announcements which haven’t been helpful.”

As for critics of the Pope’s decision to sack Bishop Morris?

“There’s been a predictable chorus from a minority but such is life.” [Such is life.]

The job of rebuilding things in Toowoomba now falls to Bishop Brian Finnegan of Brisbane who has now been appointed apostolic administrator until a new bishop can be found. Cardinal Pell said it’s time “to look to the future.”

“You know, life moves on, but also I think it will be a useful clarification for people that Catholic doctrine is there to be followed and bishops take promises to defend the integrity of Catholic teaching.”

Cardinal Pell believes that it’s this orthodox approach that is reaping apostolic benefits in many parts of Australia including Sydney. He points to an increased number of priestly and religious vocations, vibrant university chaplaincies and the legacy of World Youth Day in 2008.

“Young people don’t see the Catholic Church as being inevitably in decline at least in most parts of Australia.” [Do I hear and “Amen!”?]

“We’re doing what Christ wants, and I think that if you do that you’ve always got to be optimistic” [DO I HEAR AN “AMEN!”?]

“There’s life and energy and promise.”

Posted in New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged Bp. Morris, Card. Pell, D. Toowoomba
24 Comments

Lunch: Follow up to 20th Anniv. supper

Posted on 28 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I made chicken the other night. I am eating left-overs.

Sandwich from toasted bread with chopped garlic, watercress, goat cheese, chicken.

I found a sweet tooth today. Chocolate chip cookies in a pale imitation of my mother’s masterpieces.

Espresso.

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen | Tagged chicken, cookies, espresso
7 Comments

QUAERITUR: What do I call a friend about to be ordained a priest?

Posted on 28 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

My friend was just ordained to the Diaconate, and will be ordained to the Priesthood next year. This leaves me with a question regarding etiquette when addressing him now, and then later when he’s a priest.

Being that we’ve been friends since junior high, I’m left wondering if I’m supposed to start calling him Deacon N and later Father N out of respect for him, his changed state in life, and his vocation, or if it’s still fine to not use titles unless we’re doing something liturgical?

Definitely call him “Father” in public. In private too, until he makes it clear how the two of you are going to do this. He’ll let you know.

I am glad you were concerned enough to ask.

Aside: I am concerned about the erosion of decorum in our times. I would not be sad to see, rather hear, a return of the use of honorifics or titles even, say, between spouses. Think… Jane Austen:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”

[…]

I times past spouses would, in other languages, address each other by “vous”, “Sie”, “Voi/Lei”.

O tempora.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged honorifics, titles
57 Comments

The storm building in the D. of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Posted on 27 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You have probably seen news about the case of a priest in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph who had photos from different sources, some he took, of children.

Bp. Robert Finn is taking some heat about Fr. Ratigan, a bloke with some obvious issues. There are questions about how the priest was handled by the diocese.

Bp. Finn has made public statements, for example here. This statement has a lot of the facts of the case.

Leaving aside for a moment the issue of how the facts and concerns were reported to the bishop’s office and to the bishop himself, as I read in the news reports and statements from Bp. Finn and the diocese, a) in the first stage of inquiries made by the diocese the photos the priest had and which were given to the diocese did not arrive at the legal definition of child pornography and b) there were no victims of sexual abuse, c) while concerns were raised about Fr. Ratigan, he didn’t seem originally to have broken civil laws, d) only later were more photos discovered – previously unknown – which did, in fact, meet the definition of child pornography.

As I read it, the media is pressing that the policies and procedures of cases of sexual abuse of children, or possession of child pornography, were supposed to be applied, even before the priest had been found to have broken laws. As I read it, it is claimed that the bishop should have done something about this child-abusing child-pornography fiend, even before the priest was determined to have been either. They should have applied provisions before they knew they were to be applied.

If I am mistaken about that, I hope to be corrected. I think the priest right now is in jail for the pornography, but I don’t think he has actually been accused of child abuse.

That said, I think that once the diocese had received the information they did at first get, the diocese probably should have asked for a more thorough investigation. A lot depended, however, – I can’t believe I am writing this cliché – on what Bp. Finn knew and when he knew it. Sometimes that phrase actually is applied to men who are good a diligent! It seems that Bp. Finn was not shown everything that was presented to the diocese for consideration regarding this priest.

In any event, once all of the situation was revealed, the system kicked into action. The priest is now in jail and the diocese has obviously suspended him. It think it is pretty clear that this priest’s life is at present in a near total ruin.

A friend in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph with a fine blog, Serviam, has an interesting take on the situation building like a Missouri diocesan wall cloud.

More Double Standards From The Media

by RJS | 27th May 2011

I [RJS] recently posted this question in the comments section of a KC Star article dealing with the latest turn in the Fr. Ratigan case. As I don’t expect an intelligent response there, I thought I might ask the same question here. :-) [We’ve all seen the mindless and even demonic hatred of the Church and of Christianity and of anything Catholic in the comboxes of secular news sources.]

Someone help me understand something please. This reminds me of the “burn the witch” scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. What we have here is a priest who took pictures, likely downloaded others and obviously needs help. We have a diocesan office who did not do a good job of policing and following its established policies. However there are no allegations of abuse (which is what the policies were primarily designed to eliminate). [The policies, it seems, didn’t quite fit a bloke like this.]

[NB] Meanwhile, statistics show that children are up to 100x more likely to be sexually abused in public schools. Yet there are no media circuses, no cries of “I’m leaving the public schools”, no calls for resignations, no “SNAT” (which is surprising since it would provide a much more consistent revenue stream) and more concerning – no published policy on abuse prevention on the NEA website, the KCMO School District site, the Shawnee Mission School District site or others.

Why the double standard? Or is it simply a back-handed compliment to the Catholic Church that it is expected to maintain a higher moral standard that was long-ago written off in our public schools?.

Please do say some prayers every day for the near future for Bp. Finn.

The media and, no doubt, the FIshwrap, are going to put him through the grinder for all manner of things imagined not to have been done properly.

Also, say a prayer for that priest, who has issues. Along the line he tried to commit suicide.

Don’t expect to see much reason applied during this media storm. I once heard Card. George make the comment that Americans are simultaneously hedonistic and puritanical.

Another thing… I know a lot of priests who are nearly terrified of being around children of any age. What a sad sad sad state of affairs.

Lastly, by all means discuss this also at SERVIAM.

UPDATE 28 May 1319 GMT:

In a comment below we read:

[W]hen is it incumbent upon the citizen who is reporting the facts to “ask” the police to carry out a more thorough investigation?

So, it seems easy to pass the buck to the bishop.

But if you as, say, a school administrator, suspect that someone is doing something wrong, should the first call be to the police (in countries where is still reasonable treatment of the Church by the state) and the second call be to the bishop? If, later, something were found to be truly wrong with that, for example, priest. wouldn’t the school administrator actually be the one to blame for the situation?

Just wondering.

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, Clerical Sexual Abuse, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged Bp. Finn, D. Kansas City-St. Joseph
53 Comments

REVIEW: 1962 Roman Breviary iPhone app

Posted on 27 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate created an app for the 1962 Breviarium Romanum. It is now available, FREE, for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

This may be a way for some of you to get more familiar with the older form of the Office.

There are some typos, throughout, but that doesn’t make much of a difference if you pay attention. I am sure they will be corrected along the way. We hope.

You can download texts a week in advance, and thus use it even when you don’t have a connection.

The texts in order, so you don’t have to flip back and forth between pages. The size of the text can be changed.

There is the option of a parallel English translation.

Since the Vatican’s website has only Latin and Hungarian for Summorum Pontificum, this app has Latin, Hungarian and English. So the app is one up.

You can adjust the size of the text.

Text smaller.

There is a section with additional prayers useful to priests, such as certain commonly requested blessings and prayers for before and after Mass.

And…

They accept donations. If you get it, give.

The app can be found here.

More information can be found here.

WDTPRS KUDOS!

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, REVIEWS, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged breviarium romanum, divine office, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, ipad, iPhone, iPod touch, Liturgy of the Hours, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Universae Ecclesiae
24 Comments

20th Anniversary Supper: chicken

Posted on 27 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have been trying to recapture some verve for cooking. The kitchen hasn’t been very interesting lately.

But yesterday, with the help of a couple donations which came in for my 20th anniversary of ordination, I picked up some groceries and set to work, also using something I have had for a while and needed to use. This was, in a sense, a collective project with readers here who have sent things from my wishlist or have given donations. And I do remember, as I use things, that people sent them.

Some ingredients.

“But Father! But Father!”, some of you are assuredly saying. What’s in the little jar?”

You’ll see.

I decided to work from the basis of a recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, vol. 1 (sent by a reader).

I worked with Suprêmes de volaille à brun, Chicken breasts sautéed in butter… with a variation.

The first step was to clarify the butter. To clarify butter you melt it and as the solids and fats foam up, you remove them. You can cook at a higher temperature with clarified butter because it doesn’t have the stuff in it that burns.

Once it was well-foamed and as it was just starting to darken, I put it though a sieve of fine wire mesh covered with cheesecloth I moistened with water.

TIP: If you moisten the cloth with water first, it won’t absorb the butter.

I started to sautée a variety mushrooms. Don’t put too many in at once or they steam each other, rather than browning.

Chicken breasts dredged in flour, with some salt and pepper.

Into the clarified butter they go. Watch your temperature. Clarified butter heats to a higher temp than regular, but it will burn of you are not careful.

I gave them about 5 minutes per side, until they were springy to the touch.

Once removed to a platter, I added chopped parsley and tarragon and deglazed with about a 1/4 cup of Madeira and a squeeze of lemon.

Then came a couple small spoons full of stuff from the jar.

Black truffle paste.

I brought a passle of these small jars from Italy and they have been living patiently in my fridge for they apotheosis.

Reduce.

I added the mushrooms, which had cooperated by carmelizing.

Plated up with steamed Brussels sprouts, I wound up enjoying….

Butter sautéed chicken breasts and mushrooms with black truffle and tarragon infused Beurre noisette and Madeira reduction.

I also had some crusty bread with chopped garlic in it, warmed in the oven, for the sake of cleaning up that butter. I didn’t make the bread. I am a hopelessly lousy baker.

A 2007 Château Greysac Médoc, which I found on sale, pulled this all together.

Then I extracted from out the humidor one of my last 2000 Upmanns which were a gift from my mother back when.

Thus, dessert was a couple ounces of Lagavulin 16 and the Upmann.

Just a glimpse of Penjing’s trunk in the background.

Once in a while it is nice to aim a little higher than grilled cheese and tomato soup, which I will probably have today, it being Friday as I write.

So, that was supper on 26 May 2011, my 20th anniversary of ordination.

Thank you for your kind attention and collaboration.

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen | Tagged chicken, Lagavulin 16, Penjing, Upmann
29 Comments

The Feeder Feed: Z-CAM edition

Posted on 27 May 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here are a few screenshots from the live Z-CAM which I have running again. I still have some technical problems, but it is running. I have chaplets of the Rosary in Latin, prayers for the Pope, and other prayers.