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{]:¬)

Just Too Cool: a stamp … yes… a stamp

Posted on 19 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Some of you long-time readers know that I sometimes write about things astronomical and that I have mentioned the fascinating Jesuit mathematician Christopher Clavius (+1612), who worked out the reform of the calendar for Pope Gregory XIII.

For your Just Too Cool file, or at least for my Just Too Cool file, the Vatican Post has put out a stamp with none other than Christopher Clavius!

Here is a shot from the tomb of the aforementioned Roman Pontiff, depicting the moment Clavius presented his scheme for the reformation of the Julian calendar.

Clavius did all his calculations without the use of the decimal point! The decimal point, or mark, was known at the time, but it wasn’t commonly used. Clavius would pioneer it’s use in later work.

I think it is interesting that of all the things Gregory XIII could have selected for his monument, this is the moment.

BTW… note the guy to the far left, with the eye-glasses!

Clavius is one of many Jesuit mathematicians who have a crater on the Moon named after them.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged Christopher Clavius, Gregory XIII
7 Comments

Please, Sisters! Save our planet!

Posted on 19 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I noted on the site of the BBC that obese people are contributing to the world food crisis and climate change.

This is such a worrisome problem that the Sisters of St. Francis in Philadelphia have decided to go after McDonalds.

Since the nuns are global, and since they are so deeply concerned about the environment, it seems to me that the Leadership

Conference of Women Religious (LCWR – a subsidiary of the Magisterium of Nuns) could both satisfy the concerns of the Holy See and help to save the planet, were they to to change their agenda for the August Assembly and ask all the sisters to lose weight.

A nun has a Big Mac Combo in Milwaukee and a Ethiopian child goes hungry because of global warming!

Come on, sisters! Save the planet!

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare, Magisterium of Nuns | Tagged LCWR, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
29 Comments

Benedictio ad barbam

Posted on 19 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Over at The Art of Manliness there is an interesting entry about shaving. Under that entry we find this about beards, shaving, and the Early Church [with my corrections to the Latin]:

While the ancient Jews and Muslims were commanded not to shave off their beards, the acceptability of beards among the early Christians waxed and waned.

Sometimes beards were seen as symbols of piety — other times as diabolic. In the faith’s early days, the beard took on the former meaning. A man who decided to devote himself to a monastic life would often undergo an initiatory first shave (in addition to the tonsure — the cutting of the hair on the crown of the head) that was observed by the other monks in the monastery. Before the shave, a prayer called the benedictio ad barbam, or “blessing of the beard” would be said. One version used in the Abbey of Bec in France went like this:

Dominus vobiscum.

Oremus, Dilectissimi, Deum Patrem omnipotentem, ut huic Famulo suo N., quem ad iuvenitem perducere est aetatem, benedictionis suae dona concedate; ut, sicut exemplo Beati Petri, Principis Apostolorum, ei exteriora, pro Christi amore, sunt attondenda iuventutis auspicia, ita praecordiorum divellantur interiorum superflua, ac felicitatis aetermae percipiat incrementa. Per eum qui unus in Trinitate perfecta vivit et gloriatur Deus per immortalia saecula saeculorum. Amen

[…]

After their initial shave, monks were put on a strict shaving schedule. In a convocation held in 817 AD, French monks decided that they should shave once a fortnight, but would take part in an occasional razor and shaving fast during certain times of the year.

[…]

Does anyone want to take a crack at a perfect and smooth English version?

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare | Tagged Abbey of Bec, beards, benedictio ad barbam, shaving
5 Comments

Card. Dolan’s new book on Religious Liberty available: $0.99!

Posted on 19 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Available as of today: the Kindle edition of Card. Dolan’s book, True Freedom: On Protecting Human Dignity and Religious Liberty.

Cost: $0.99

Buy a Kindle HERE (UK HERE).

I really enjoy my Kindle.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

Adding a couple books to my Kindle Wishlist

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I am adding to my Kindle Wishlist Hugh Hewitt’s new book The Brief Against Obama: The Rise, Fall & Epic Fail of the Hope & Change Presidency.

This give people in one handy place lots of good information and arguments for your discussions.

Also, check out the Kindle edition of Card. Dolan’s book, to be released tomorrow 19 June, True Freedom: On Protecting Human Dignity and Religious Liberty.

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged 2012, Card. Dolan, Hugh Hewitt, Pres. Obama
3 Comments

Some Z-Swag “in the wild”!

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Over at The Chant Cafe I saw a couple photos of some Z-Swag “in the wild”.

Fun!

And since a motorcycle fuel tank has two sides…

I saw Lex Orandi car magnet out on the highway the other day. Gratifying.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare |
4 Comments

Group funded by George Soros poised to attack US Bishops for the “Fortnight for Freedom”

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This came via The Catholic League:

SOROS-FUNDED GROUP SET TO NAIL BISHOPS

June 18, 2012

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments as follows:

June 21 marks the beginning of the “Fortnight for Freedom” events, the campaign for religious liberty being conducted by the nation’s bishops. Fair-minded persons may disagree with this effort, but there is something unseemly going on when those who work for a George Soros-funded group are quietly providing talking points to the media.

John Gehring is an official at Faith in Public Life, and it is his organization that lives off the bounty of the left-wing atheist billionaire, Mr. Soros. On June 7, Gehring sent a memo to his buddies in the media (a copy of which was generously leaked to me—click here) instructing them on how to handle the bishops.They should begin by questioning the prelates why the Obama “accommodation” wasn’t good enough. “You have to ask why the bishops can’t take yes for an answer,” he wrote. [Sounds like Sandra Schneiders. No?]

Teaching them how to handle the “war on the Catholic Church,” Gehring advises, “Several bishops have used inflammatory and irresponsible rhetoric that conflates a process of working through complex policy issues with a fundamental attack on the Catholic Church.” He also frets over the politicization of the religious liberty campaign, an effort made possible, he neglects to say, because of the politicization of religion by President Obama.

Not to be outdone, Gehring presses his lackeys to victimize the victim, beckoning them to ask the bishops—all of whom refuse to prostitute their principles—“Are you willing to sacrifice Catholic charities, colleges and hospitals if you don’t get your way on the contraceptive mandate?” [“But, for Wales?”]

Finally, Gehring provides a go-to list of Catholic activists who can be counted on to subvert the bishops’ message. It’s what we would expect from a George Soros group. [I think we should see that list!]

Contact Gehring: Gehring@faithinpubliclife.org

Contact our director of communications about Donohue’s remarks:
Jeff Field
Phone: 212-371-3191
E-mail: cl@catholicleague.org

Take a look at the PDF which is linked in the post, above, and HERE.

It would be good to discuss language to address the talking points these people are giving liberal newsies in order to attack the bishops.

It was interesting to see the names on the PDF:

Nicholas Cafardi (once at Duquesne)
Terrence W. Tilleyu (chair of the theology department at Jesuit-run Fordham)
Lisa Sowle Cahil (theology prof at Jesuit-run Boston College)
M. Cathleen Kaveny (prof at Notre Shame)
Fr. Tom Reese, SJ (ousted editor of Jesuit-run America)
John Gehring (writes for Fishwrap and HuffPo)
Paul Lakeland (Fairfied U)

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, Magisterium of Nuns, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged Faith in Public Life, Fortnight for Freedom, George Soros, HHS mandate, John Gehring, Obama Administration, Pres. Obama, religious liberty
29 Comments

VIDEO: An Ordinary Vocation

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A priest friend sent this with the note: Times are a’changin’!

I especially like the Mass at about 4:50!

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged priesthood, vocations
28 Comments

The Feeder Feed: various colors and killing chipmunks

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It has been a while since I have been able to report to you on the doings at the feeder.

First, the black squirrel is back.

Card. Ray is rubbernecking a bit.

A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird having a bit of a rest.

This Oriole was determined to get into my office.

It checked every window several times before giving up.

Meanwhile, a local barn cat scored a nice juicy Chipmunk! I hope his name was Alvin.

Not everything with wings is a bird. This Monarch Butterfly was having a snack on the jasmine blossoms.

Purple Finch.

Indigo Bunting and Goldfinch.

Nuthatch and Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.

Feeding the birds is more than tuppence a bag. They eat here because you out there …

Posted in The Feeder Feed | Tagged Baltimore Oriole, black squirrel, Cardinal, goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Monarch Butterfly, Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
14 Comments

ENGLAND Friday 29 June is a Holy Day of Obligation

Posted on 18 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

My friend Fr. Tim Finigan, His Hermeueticalness, has on his parish’s website a good reminder for his readers in the UK that Friday 29 June, the Feast or Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul is, for them, a Holy Day of Obligation. Since I have quite a few readers across the pond, it seemed a good idea to help H.H. with this reminder.

Moreover, a plenary indulgence may be gained on Sts. Peter and Paul, under the usual conditions. Fr. Finigan describes the conditions: by devoutly praying with a pious object (rosary, holy card etc.) which has been blessed by the Pope or any Bishop, or by visiting a (Catholic) Cathedral Church. In either case, the Our Father and the Creed should be said.

Also, Sts Peter and Paul is a on the post-Conciliar liturgical calendar “Solemnity”. Therefore, people in England and Wales are free if they wish to eat meat on that Friday. Fr. Finigan adds: “It would be a devout practice (though not obligatory) to abstain from meat on the day before, on the Vigil of the feast.” Fr. Z nods approvingly.

For an explanation of indulgences, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church n.1471 ff.

For an explanation of the conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence, see fr. Finigan’s article Plenary indulgences not impossible.

In the United States, we observe six Holy Days of Obligation in addition to all Sundays of the Year (yes, Sundays are “days of precept”).

Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
The Ascension of Our Lord
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
All Saints Day
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas

The Latin Church’s 1983 Code of Canon Law lists 10 Holy Days of Obligation. However, bishops’ conferences can reduce that number. In the USA, some days are routinely moved to Sunday, such as Epiphany and Corpus Christi – which is a bad idea, but they didn’t ask me. The US bishops removed the obligation – and this was also a bad idea -for St. Joseph, and Sts. Peter and Paul.