Fr. Z's Blog

From a priest:

Blessed Christmas to you. Thanks for your response today to the person asking about writing the bishop about having priests here more confessions.

“However, don’t forget to ask the parish priest, the pastor of your parish, to hear confessions more often. Keep in mind that he might be up to his eyeballs already in administrative tasks and other busy work which relentlessly drain his energy and time.”

We hear confessions Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon (3 priests hearing), Sunday before 3 Masses and Wednesday evenings before and after 7pm Mass. We have a lot of folks coming, but sometimes we sit for long stretches of time with no penitents. And people still complain I don’t have enough confessions.

I would rather sit in the box waiting to hear confessions any time than sit in my office working on “administrative tasks,” but then they’d complain about my poor administration of the parish.

God bless em all. I’m glad they want confessions, but I’m glad you helped put it in perspective. Thanks again.

I have no idea of Father’s situation. However, perhaps a couple things will increase confession frequency.

First, a series in the bulletin about the four last things, mortal sin, the confessional.

Second, mentioning it often in preaching.

Third, confessions for a few minutes before week day Masses.

Fourth, schedule a penance service with lots of confessors (invite the bishop). Perhaps some communal experience will be an opportunity to teach and to engage.

In other words, work in something about confessions all the time and everywhere.

Otherwise, Father, be happy that your flock is so holy!

In any event… I am confident that soon those lulls will fill up. Soon he’ll be writing to ask about how he can slow them down!

The Wyoming Carmelites have a little dialogue to describe their December “Coffee of the Month”

Choir Monk: I can tell this coffee is a blend – the different sizes and colors of the beans tell me that there are a few different types of coffee in this roast.

Lay Monk: Yes, the African coffee is roasted a little lighter, and the South American coffee is darker. Br. Roaster made several roasts and combined them for this special blend.

The Tasting:

Choir Monk: I must admit, I always look forward to our Christmas Blend – We’ll evaluate it in the usual categories: Aroma, Acidity, Aftertaste, Body/Mouthfeel, Complexity and Darkness.

Choir Monk: Here’s what I thought of the Christmas Blend:

Aroma: Complex – there was many notes – charred cedar, vanilla and stewed peaches.
Acidity: The acidity was roast-muted; the darker tones helped take the edge of the acidity, resulting in a mildly acidic coffee.
Aftertaste: Like the aroma, I thought aftertaste was complex, with hints of chocolate and lemon citrus.
Body/Mouthfeel: Full.
Complexity: Very rich – vanilla, chocolate, and citrus tones were all evident to me.
Darkness: Medium-Dark.
Choir Monk: I thought the Christmas Blend was a veritable tapestry of flavors! What did you think, Lay Monk?

Lay Monk: I thought it was pretty good too! I observed many of the same things as you:

Aroma: Dark and sweet, smoky, chocolate notes.
Acidity: Mild.
Aftertaste: I thought the aftertaste was very good; rising chocolate tones with hints of grapefruit.
Body/Mouthfeel: I also thought the body was nice and full.
Complexity: The complexity was very good, hints of plum, grapefruit, chocolate and smoky wood.
Darkness: Medium-Dark.

Conclusion:

Choir Monk: Every year, we put a lot of effort into our Christmas Blend, and this year’s Blend reflects the effort put into it – Rich, deep, bold and complex. I greatly enjoyed it!

Lay Monk: I really liked the Christmas Blend too! I found it very smooth and complex. Although it is much darker than our previous coffees offered, I didn’t find it bitter or pungent. The sweet notes carry through nicely into a fine aftertaste.

Choir Monk: Our final assessment:

Building on a Mystic Monk tradition, the Christmas Blend 2011 is an exquisitely crafted blend that draws out complex notes from coffees around the world, resulting in a tapestry of flavors, with chocolate, citrus fruit and charred cedar as the main threads. The sweet aftertaste lingers, finishing what is a sophisticated Christmas Blend for 2011.

Mystic Monk Coffee!

It’s swell!