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{]:¬)

Wheels coming off the wagon – update

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Update, below.

Originally posted 12 January.
____

There is a particularly annoying pattern in my life’s days. When it comes to my “tech stuff”, life goes along as smoothly as if it were zooming down a newly paved road. Then, all of a sudden and without warning, WHAM, not only do I find I have hit a stretch of deeply corrugated unpaved road but all four wheels are parting from the axles.

And so my day began.

I decided to update my old iPhone. It kacked on me, of course, and froze on the start screen. To make a long story short, after ineffectual trials and errors, I am now going through the process of restoring it and then jailbraking it again, which should take some time. At the same time, my mothership computer and my laptop has overnight both developed a snag without my having done any updates. My car is making a new, and unwanted noise. A usb hub has died.

Etc.

Commiserate with me, O Viator, unhappy wretch that I am, waiting for yet another shoe to drop.

Time for some…

[CUE MUSIC]

Mystic Monk Coffee!

You can still get their Christmas Blend as their Coffee of the Month for a few more days, I think.

Don’t make your next and upcoming Really Bad Day even worse by running out of coffee!

UPDATE 13 Jan 21:13 GMT:

I have managed to fix my spare iPhone 3GS. I successfully restored it’s software, only to find that it had flashed my baseband modems firmware with a new version that has caused problems (involving GPS). Bottom line: the phone’s antenna didn’t work properly and the the phone stayed in search mode looking for a network until it gave up looking… even when there was no sim inserted! To fix it I removed my sim and reflashed the firmware with the iPad baseband. Badda bing. I got the message that there was NO SIM rather than the searching message. It now works properly with my UK and Italian sims.

I have also fixed the desktop and laptop snags.

The usb problem is still a problem and the car noise is still a noise.

Irritation by irritation.

Posted in Lighter fare | Tagged bad day, coffee, Mystic Monk Coffee
26 Comments

The Feeder Feed: subdued by cold edition

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The feeder is busy right now, since there has been a cold snap.

This year I have Redpolls.

This cold fellow is a Junco. They are mostly ground feeders. Here is one sitting in a bush outside my kitchen window. He has been surrounded by active Chickadees who are gobbling the little berries on the bush.

Help feed the birds.

Posted in The Feeder Feed | Tagged birding, birds, Common Redpoll, Junco
7 Comments

Tebowing

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I picked this up from The Pulp.it:

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged Tebow
12 Comments

Bp. Bamerba (D. Scranton) intervenes with Jesuit school and their pro-abortion speaker

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Bishops in the USA are going to have to decide what to do about Catholic politicians who are openly causing scandal by taking a position against the natural law and the Church’s teachings either by public acts or by private choices which are nevertheless quite public.

Can. 915.

I learned this today from the Cardinal Newman Society which keeps an eye on Catholic schools.

Scranton’s Bishop Joseph Bambera issued an important statement today. Following The Cardinal Newman Society’s report that Jesuit University of Scranton’s intended lecturer for an event has been very active supporting abortion rights, Bishop Bambera contacted the University and issued a statement of disapproval. [The person in question is former Rep. Marjorie Margolies (D-PA), Jewish, not Catholic.]

Bishop Bambera expressed his “concern regarding the University’s evolving relationship with me as Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton.” See his full quote here: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Bishop-.html

WDTPRS kudos to Bp. Bambera.

Former Rep. Margolies is not Catholic, but there are plenty of pro-abortion Catholic politicians who are given free rein. That has to stop.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, Brick by Brick, Dogs and Fleas, Emanations from Penumbras, Fr. Z KUDOS, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged Bp. Bambera, D. Scranton
21 Comments

QUAERITUR: Priesthood ordination customs

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a seminarian:

As ordination season is fast approaching, I am hoping you can enlighten me concerning a custom relating to priestly ordinations which has become a topic of discussion among seminarians of late. Specifically, I am wondering whether you know how long the custom of a newly-ordained priest giving his mother the maniturgium [manutergium] (or other cloth) with the oils from his consecrated hands, AND how long the custom of giving to his father the stole used to hear his “first” Confession, have existed. Any information would be most helpful and appreciative.

I never had the chance to do these things.

However, I will open this up for responses and comments especially from priests and bishops.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Catholic customs, manitergium, ordination, priesthood, stole
24 Comments

ACTION ITEM! The “Soap Sisters” have a new Store: The Cloister Shoppe

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Dominican Nuns in Summit, NJ, the “Soap Sisters” (they have a lot more than just soap) have set up a new store.

They depend in great part in the sales of their products. Therefore, when you buy soap and other things from them, you are helping them.

Click the image below to go to their new store.

They have samplers, books, postcards and prints, and – this could be pretty useful – gift certificates.

Furthermore, they now have an affiliate program. When you help the nuns by buying their stuff, you are also helping me. This is a similar model to that used by the Carmelite men in Wyoming, with their Mystic Monk Coffee.

I had a note from Sister after I posted here their classy note to me (here). Sister wrote:

Dear Fr. Z,

Pax Christi!

When our little store suddenly gets a lot of orders I get suspicious.
I know this is hard to take but I don’t read your blog everyday! [REPENT!]
(There are quite a few OP Nun followers, btw!) Sure enough you posted a really lovely entry about our soap and more importantly about our life. THANK YOU!
It was posted for all the Sisters to read! It encouraged the novices who are the soap nuns and gave a little “push” to our prayer for you!

Bottom line… when you have gifts to give or hands to wash or faces to be shaved, remember the Dominican Nuns in Summit, NJ who need your help.

Encourage them in their new initiative by a sudden influx of orders! Boost their moral!

I am going to send something to my mother.

UPDATE: 17:27 GMT:

I completed an order. It is a tiny bit clunky if you are using paypal. If you get into a jam, just clear everything, add it again, and take another run at it. It’ll work. If you have any comments or questions in the order process, there is a comment box.

Also, I see that their top seller is “Caribbean Coconut Shea Butter & Glycerin Soap”… though that is not what I bought my mother.

UPDATE 14 Jan 01:28 GMT:

As a commentator added below,

“And they’re quick!”

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged Seignadou Soap, soap, Summit Dominicans
4 Comments

QUAERITUR: Should priests with effeminate manners work to correct them?

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

I hope you will not take this the wrong way but given certain sad realities of our time, do you think priests who are unusually effeminate in manner (e.g. speech) should work to minimize this aspect of their personality? Just the other day my wife’s friend told her she’s fairly certain her pastor is homosexual, but I have known of him for a number a years and am certain he is a holy, orthodox, priest. In fact, she also related how he alienated a good number of parishioners when he first came to their typically-liberal parish, which I take as a sign of his faithfulness.

Yes.

Alas, I think very few people have a clear understanding of their own quirks of manners and ways. And this would be an extremely difficult, delicate, dangerous work of fraternal correction, for a priest friend or other to point out these traits.

This is also complicated by the fact that the entertainment industry has relentlessly tried to run down priests and the priesthood, to distort the very concept of priest in the minds of… well… everyone who watches movies and television.

But, yes. I think a priest who comes to realize that people may be thinking he is homosexual because of his manners and traits of speech should undertake the arduous work to correct them.

I’ll leave the combox closed. People can email comments to me and I will consider them as it may be opportune.

UPDATE 14 Jan:

I’ll make it possible to post comments, but they will all be filtered through the moderation queue. I will probably release only a few, and those well-thought and not repetitive.

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged homosexuality, mannerisms
6 Comments

Democrat Catholic Governor of Washington State now supports contrary to nature “marriage”

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Over at CatholicVote I saw that yet another Catholic Democrat has abandoned her Catholic identity on what will be the bitterest, and eventually violent, issue of the war on morals and religion in the public square and attacks on the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Democrat Governor of the State of Washington has caved on “same-sex marriage”.

Washington state’s Governor Christine Gregoire, a Catholic and a Democrat, has been talking about her decision to support same-sex marriage marriage as a journey. “I’ve been on my own personal journey with this issue and I think the state has been as well,” she said in a recent interview with Seattle’s PBS station. You can watch the interview here: [A good example of what I call Sin by Struggle. If you “Struggle” with something, you are exonerated when you go ahead and do what you know is wrong.]

A notable comment from Gregoire:

I’ve sorted out, for me, what was a religious barrier, [The operative word is probably “out”…] to come to understand [What wisdom will she reveal?] as a former attorney general now governor, and a religious person, that I can respect and honor the religious freedom of all the faiths in Washington state to decide whether they want to marry someone or not, but what I cannot accept and promote or tolerate is the state of Washington refusing to issue a license to a couple simply because of their sexual orientation … the journey is over for me, I feel better than I’ve felt in seven years, to be honest with you. [Well… it’s all about how good you feel about yourself, Governor Gregoire.]

[…]

Gregoire’s journey included a conversation with Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain, a conversation she called “very good, very respectful, and very appropriate.” Very interesting timing, too. That the chat took place the day before Gregoire’s announcement speaks volumes about its purpose. She wasn’t looking for input or help with discernment; it was an “FYI” call, and nothing more.

[She continues…] I have talked to the Archbishop, I called him the day before I made the announcement, and I’ve talked to my own priest. I have sorted my way through this. I can honor the religious beliefs of my faith [Note that she says “honor”, not “believe”.] and all faiths in Washington state, but as government, as the state, we cannot be in the business of discrimination. [She abandons natural law and her Faith and morphs this into a civil rights issue.]

Gregoire is either oblivious to her obligation as a Catholic holding public office, or she has performed some incredible feats of mental gymnastics to conclude that supporting same-sex marriage doesn’t defy her religious beliefs.

[…]

Read the rest of the vile business over there.

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged Gov. Christine Gregoire, homosexuals, same-sex marriage, Washington State
39 Comments

“FREEEDOOOOOM!”

Posted on 13 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

For the Just Too Cool file, I read on The History Blog that the only surviving documents connected to William Wallace are returning to Scotland.

Included is the Lübeck Letter and is the only surviving document we have that was written by William Wallace himself and it has his personal seal.

Will the NeoCat liturgy obtain papal approval?

Posted on 12 January 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Sandro Magister reports:

“Placet” or “Non placet”? The wager of Carmen and Kiko

The founders of the Neocatechumenal Way aim to obtain definitive Vatican approval for their “convivial” way of celebrating the Mass. The document is ready. But it could be modified or blocked in extremis. The verdict on January 20

[…]

Read the rest there.

*sigh*

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Neocatechumenal Way
60 Comments