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{]:¬)

Disasters, Death, and You

Posted on 21 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Terrible things happen to people through natural disasters or attacks or human error. We now see the images virtually in real time splashed on our screens.

Misery, loss, pain come in the blink of an eye to people who, the day before… even hours or minutes before… were going about their daily lives.

Now and then I post here about the need to have a plan for when or if something really bad happens. I am especially concerned that parents of small children have some sort of plans in place for some different scenarios. Obviously you can’t cover every possibility, but some basic steps could make a difference. Having clean drinking water and food for 72 hours, warm clothing, a way to communicate, means of self-defense and so forth.

So, make some basic plans.

Also, because we have to be concerned not merely with the body, please look at this image…

This could be your life.

Please develop the good practice of examining your conscience every day and going to confession regularly. Please teach your children to examine their consciences and take them to confession, teaching them what to do and why.

Fathers, this could be your parish. You will be called to account for the souls entrusted to you. Preach about sin, about the Four Last Things, about the Sacrament of Penance.

“A subitanea et improvisa morte… From a sudden and unprovided death, spare us O Lord.”

A sudden death can be a blessing.

A sudden and unprovided death – unprovided in the sense of having no recourse to the sacraments when you are not in the state of grace – is a horrifying prospect.

Make plans for, provide for, the needs of both body and soul for yourselves and those in your charge.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Semper Paratus, TEOTWAWKI | Tagged A subitanea et improvisa morte, confession, examination of conscience, Oklahoma, reconciliation, sacrament of penance, sudden death, unprovided death
23 Comments

Learning from disaster

Posted on 21 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I watched with measures of horror and sympathy the TV coverage of the aftermath from the tornadoes in Oklahoma. I am sure all of you will offer prayers for the people there and perhaps also find other concrete ways to help them.

What I found interesting from the coverage, however, were a couple of snippets from CNN.

For example, a CNN reporter asks a fellow who has lost everything what he is going to do now. Without missing a beat, the man said “Pray.”

In another example, the same CNN reporter says to the governor “the country’s pulling for you”. The governor responded, “Thanks for the prayers.”

Apparently the separation of church and… all of public life has not taken place in Oklahoma.

Out here in fly-over country the first reaction of those suffering from the storm damage has not been to ask “When is the government going to help us?”

We Catholics in some areas of the country, perhaps in areas more heavily Catholic than Oklahoma, should take some notes.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Our Catholic Identity, Semper Paratus, The Drill, The future and our choices |
19 Comments

OLDIE PODCAzT 119: The Holy Name and Blasphemy

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From 2011:

Today is the feast of St. Bernardine of Siena (+1444) in both the Extraordinary and the Ordinary Forms of the Roman Rite, and therefore I use this opportunity to offer something from one of his discourses about the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

St. Bernardine was famous for his preaching about the Holy Name and against the horrible sin of blasphemy.

We hear today a short selection from St. Bernardine’s Discourse 49, about the glorious Name of Jesus chosen for today’s Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours. I read a bit of the Italian… sorry, it’s modern Italian… I don’t have the original version, alas, and then English.

Then I rant for while.

The piece is very thought provoking and useful for an examination of conscience. We are made in the image and like of God, brought into being by the Word, now the Word made flesh. We are made to speak with words. But we so often fail in speech to live up to our dignity as images of God. At least I do. We occasionally lapse, but sometimes people fall into habits of speech, sometimes even habits of blasphemy which causes scandal making it easier for others to sin.

We have to examine closely our habits of speech and not by our speech disfigure the image of God, the Word made flesh.

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Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back, Our Catholic Identity, PODCAzT, Saints: Stories & Symbols |
8 Comments

WDTPRS POLL: All-male sanctuary/altar service and vocations to the priesthood.

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have posted this poll before, but in light of another post, I thought I would revisit the question.

Please select a response and make comments on this subject in the combox, below.

And, yes, I know that some churches don’t even have an identifiable sanctuary any more. You know what I mean by the question.

I suppose the flipside of the question is: Does having girls or women serving at the altar in anyway discourage or weaken vocations to the priesthood? I’ll add that poll as well.

Anyone can vote, but only registered participants can leave comments.

And there is this

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, POLLS, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices | Tagged altar boys, altar service, poll, priesthood, sanctuary, vocations
112 Comments

QUAERITUR: The colors of altar boy cassocks

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Is there any significance between altar boys who wear black cassocks as opposed to those who wear red ones in the TLM?

No, there is no significance. This is a matter of aesthetics. Back in the day colored cassocks were tolerated by the Sacred Congregation for Rites. To my mind it is a thing of fairly small importance.

I prefer to see black cassocks… but… hey!

That said, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the servers wear paonazza, the same violet color that monsignors, canons and bishops use. That is a long established honor. The boys also attend the Pre-seminario San Pio X. They are as close to being the chierichetti that chierichetti once were, if that makes any sense.

Also, the MC for a bishop or cardinal often wears paonazza, by custom. I believe also the guy who carries the end of the prelate’s cappa magna wears paonazza.

The most important thing, however, is that they treat the cassock respectfully. It is a privilege to serve at the altar, not a right. The cassock helps establish a good esprit de corps, which is important for boys. The cassock is an indication that the boy or man is substituting for a cleric. It could help inspire some of the boys and young men to think about priesthood.

UPDATE (brought to you by…..:

A reader asks:

Related to the recent post on the color of cassocks, how do you feel on an alb and cincture being used to replace a cassock and surplus?

Feel? FEEL? I feeeeeeeeellllll….. ill.

(I don’t like it.)

And a surplice is almost never surplus.

On a slightly related note, is there a specific side the cincture hang down on? I believe I heard a seminarian saying that lay people should wear it on one side, and seminarians on the other.

I’ve never heard of such a thing.

This sounds like moving your tassel from one side of your mortar board to the other when you get your diploma.

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged altar boys, cassocks, clerical dress
44 Comments

Quilisma by Quilisma! ROME: A Masters Degree in Gregorian Chant!

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Who’da thunk it?

Sant’Anselmo, the Roman liturgical institute (which hasn’t always been a bastion of tradition), is going to offer a Masters degree in GREGORIAN CHANT.

From CNA:

Rome university launches course on liturgical music
By Estefania Aguirre

Rome, Italy, May 20, 2013 / 09:34 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A pontifical university in Rome has launched a master’s program in Gregorian chant and the use of the organ at Mass so as to build unity among Catholics world-wide. [I just about fell off my chair.]

“The most important thing is that music, when it is truly liturgical, creates community,” Father Jordi Piqué, dean of the Pontifical University of Saint Anselmo’s liturgical institute, said May 20.

“When one hears a Mass that is sung or the organ interpreting a beautiful melody, it’s never individualistic, it’s always as a group,” he added at the Benedictine Abbey where the university is located.

Fr. Piqué, who plays the organ, is from the Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat, Spain, and was named dean of the program six months ago.

“The Pontifical Liturgical Institute has always had liturgical sources as its base and since the Second Vatican Council studies have been adapted to spread and make liturgy be valued by the faithful,” he explained.

“A very important part of liturgy is the music and chants, and now we’ve been able to unite with the Pontifical University of Sacred Music and offer this Master’s.”

The degree will require that students study Gregorian chant with “a scientific reflection” as well as seeing its central place, “directed within the liturgy.”

[…]

Read the rest there.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Non Nobis and Te Deum, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged Gregorian chant, Sant'Anselmo
13 Comments

YOUR URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please use the sharing buttons! Thanks!

Registered or not, will you in your charity please take a moment look at the requests and to pray for the people about whom you read?

Continued from THESE.

I get many requests by email asking for prayers. Many requests are heart-achingly grave and urgent.

As long as my blog reaches so many readers in so many places, let’s give each other a hand. We should support each other in works of mercy.

If you have some prayer requests, feel free to post them below. You have to be registered here to be able to post.

Finally, I have a serious personal petition.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
55 Comments

Your Good News

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Do you have some good news for the readers?

Share it here and brighten our days.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
49 Comments

St. Golden Girl

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today is the feast of St. Aurea (in Greek Chryse, “Golden Girl”) of Ostia. She is an ancient martyr. You can read about here in these ancient Acta, HERE.

There is on the edge of Ostia Antica, the fascinating ruins of Rome’s ancient seaport, a little church dedicated to St. Aurea. It has been of special interest to me because St. Monnica, the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, was for a time interred there.

You remember the story of Monnica dying in Ostia. Augustine and his family were travelling back to North Africa after his baptism in Milan. There was civil unrest at the time and Ostia was blockaded. While they were waiting, Monnica became ill and died. She famously told her son, (conf. 9):

“Ponite, inquit hoc corpus ubicumque: nihil vos eius cura conturbet; tantum illud vos rogo, ut ad Domini altare memineritis mei, ubiubi fueritis…. Lay this body anywhere, she said: let the care for it trouble you not at all; I ask only this, that you will remember me at the Lord’s altar, whersoever you may be.”

She was buried there in Ostia. In the 6th century she was moved to the little church of St. Aurea. In 1430 her remains were translated by Pope Martin V to the Roman Basilica of St. Augustine near the Piazza Navona.

If you are in Rome and you have some time, a trip out to the ruins of Ostia Antica is worth while, especially if you don’t have time or energy to go all the way to Pompeii.

Also, for you who are in London, go to the Sainsbury wing of the National Gallery and find the beautiful Virgin and Child with Sts. Dominic and Aurea by one of my favorites among the Sienese painters, Duccio di Buoninsegna.

So, perhaps today you might ask for St. Golden Girl’s intercession for something you need help with or for someone else who has a burden.

Posted in Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged Ostia, St. Augustine, St. Aurea, St. Monnica
7 Comments

QUAERITUR: Wives of deacons aren’t deacons too, are they?

Posted on 19 May 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Over Mother’s Day weekend I attended mass at a church I do not usually attend. I noticed their bulletin listed a “Deaconite Couple.” Is that allowed? Women aren’t allowed to be deacons are they? This church is very progressive; they do not even have kneelers, which is why i question the validity of a couple filling the role of a deacon.

Deaconite? Deaconite?

I know – and I fear – Kryptonite, but I have no knowledge of this ominous Dea-con-ite. I don’t like the sound of it at all.

Is this stuff that makes my head nearly explode when I hear some permanent deacons preach? Hmmmm…. I wonder if it comes in different colors.

A good book on women and the diaconate. Click to buy.

No, friend. On your planet, women cannot now nor ever be in the future ordained deacons. Not even the strengthening rays of your Earth’s yellow Sun can give Holy Church the power to ordain women.

There are some pretty strange things in some places when it comes to the permanent diaconate, however. (I suspect the word you were after, friend, was “diaconate”.) I have seen goofiness galore, such as the parading of the permanent deacons’ wives into church during entrance processions and having them sit with the clergy. Very strange. A very bad idea.

At different points in history and in various places, the word “deaconess” has been used equivocally to indicate a certain ministry some women served. They were not ordained as the men who were deacons were and are now ordained.

The diaconate can, under the right circumstances, be conferred also on married men. On the men. Couples are not ordained. The deacons’ wives remain the deacons’ wives, no matter what good support they can give to their reverend husbands as they carry out their ministry. Any blurring of that boundary is probably done from either a lack of understanding of what Holy Orders are about or perhaps a ideological bent that seeks to shift or avoid the Church’s teachings and disciplines.

All in all, I think a lot of the silliness that surrounded the permanent diaconate is fading out. Programs of formation (where there are any) are getting better, longer, sounder. Younger men interested in the permanent diaconate are not carrying aging-hippie baggage. Fewer and fewer priests they have to work with have screwy notions about liturgy and doctrine.

A final note:

A deacon is a deacon is a deacon.

For those of you out there who send in questions about whether or not a permanent deacon can function as a deacon in a Solemn Mass in the older, Extraordinary Form…. YES. What part of their being a deacon is not getting through? They are no less deacons than transitional deacons (though there often can be quite a difference in training, which is understandable). A permanent deacon is ordained. A permanent deacon is a cleric. They are not hobby priests. A permanent deacon is a deacon and they are to do what deacons do.