Fr. Z's Blog

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Today, something amazing I saw in a tweet – yeah, I know it’s X now – from Vir Desideriorum. From a 14th c French book of hours, a priest prays intently during Mass. His head is surrounded by angels as the Father listens.

It is sort of a Rome shot, since, based on his tweets, I think the one who posted it is perhaps a seminarian or priest in Rome perhaps studying at the Gregorian University.  He could be a lay student.  There’s no information in the X “bio”.  His timeline has amazing images from medieval manuscripts.

I’m grateful for this profound image.

Meanwhile, 12-21 March in St. Louis is the American Cup with an open and a women’s division.  Double-elimination.  They go from classical time control to rapid, and blitz for playoffs.  My guy Wesley So will compete.  He is slated against Sam Shankland in the first round, tomorrow.  Nakamura won last year.  He isn’t on the roster this year, probably because he is preparing for Candidates.  However, Fabiano Caruana is playing.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in 3.  BTW… Often these position images are scaled down to 400×400 (more or less) from larger images.  If you open in a new tab (right click, etc.) you can get a larger view.  Just sayin’.

Click!

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Get yourself some beer from the traditional Benedictine monks of Norcia. They have three types. I can attest to how good it is. With savory things like cheese and sausage it is amazing.

And I haven’t given up on finding a good graphic artist out there who could help with some projects, perhaps make some dosh.

Ceterum censeo Alirezam delendum esse.

I have great affection for St. Frances of Rome, Santa Francesca Romana.

When I was exiled from these USA to Rome, I lived at first in her house, the Palazzo of the Ponziani family into which she married, where you find a chapel where she died in 1440.  I feel as if she took me under her wing in those first critical months in Trastevere, where Romanaccio was being fused into my marrow with great intensity.

I went from the tutelage of a Roman virgin martyr, St. Agnes (in St. Paul) to a Roman widow (in Rome).

She is patroness of Rome, along with Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Philip Neri (on whose feast I was ordained).

She had the grace of being able to see her Guardian Angel.  How cool is that?

As mentioned, young Frances married into the Ponziani family, whose medieval palazzo is still in Trastevere close to the Basilica of Santa Cecilia.

At the death of her husband she founded a convent of Benedictine nuns, Oblates of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveti, headquartered in the nearby Tor di Specchi.  This convent is open once a year, today, for the public to enjoy.

St. Francis body is in the church in the Roman Forum called S. Maria Nova al Foro Romano.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia,

“With her husband’s consent Frances practiced continence, and advanced in a life of contemplation. Her visions often assumed the form of drama enacted for her by heavenly personages. She had the gift of miracles and ecstasy, (as) well as the bodily vision of her guardian angel, had revelations concerning purgatory and hell, and foretold the ending of the Western Schism. She could read the secrets of consciences and detect plots of diabolical origin. She was remarkable for her humility and detachment, her obedience and patience[.]”

During life she was renowned for her works of mercy, almsgiving, and miraculous healings.

St. Frances, pray for us.  Help especially the Church in Rome!  Ask your guardian angel to guide our pastors.

Here is her entry from the Martyrologium Romanum:

Sanctae Franciscae, religiosae, quae, adulescentula nupta, in matrimonio quadraginta annos vixit, uxor et materfamilias probata, pietate, humiltate et patientia admirabilis.  Temporibus calamitosis, bona sua paurperibus distribuit, aegrotis ministravit et, coniuge defuncto, inter oblatas, quas sub Regula santi Benedicti Romae congregaverat, secessit.

Who wants to take a crack at it?

Today in the Vetus Ordo Santa Francesca receives a commemoration. Here is her collect:

Deus, qui beátam Francíscam fámulam tuam, inter cétera grátiæ tuæ dona, familiári Angeli consuetúdine decorásti: concéde, quaesumus; ut, intercessiónis eius auxílio, Angelórum consórtium cónsequi mereámur.

My 1st Class Relic of the Saint.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful. 

I watched the State of the Union last night while texting with a priest friend. He wrote:

“I feel dirty having watched it.”

Entirely apart from the appalling content, after weeks of lowering expectations – for clear reasons – the take away story on the left will be that he did better than expected. Faint praise, but not nothing.

In far more pleasing news, in the Prague Chess Festival Nodirbek Abdusattorov prevailed. He gained enough rating to surpass World Champion Ding Liren to take 4th place in the live world ratings.  However, due to play in Shenzhen, Anish Giri dropped out of the top 10 edged out by Arjun Erigaisi.

The famous William Steinitz was from Prague. I look forward to seeing Prague in the TLM pilgrimage in September if God wills – and few more sign ups – allow that I can go.

Meanwhile, white to move and obtain an piece advantage in

1. Qe2+ Kd8 2. Qxb5 Bxc3 #.3. Qxa5 Bxa5 4. Bxa5
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

We are well along into Lent.  Soon we will arrive at Passiontide and then the Triduum with the wondrous Tenebrae, the Office of Matins in the Triduum.  The wonderful nuns of Gower Abbey, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, have a disc and digital download:

Tenebrae at Ephesus

US HERE – UK HERE

These are the RESPONSORIES of Tenebrae for all three days of the Triduum.  They are, arguably, the most beautiful chants of the entire liturgical year.  Sung beautifully.  Gregorian chant sung by women has special quality all its own and this is the best.

Want a little taste?