From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 2023-12-01 – Fr. Mark Rogers

Posted on 1 December 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Background on Fr. Mark Rogers HERE (20 February 2019) – HERE (17 June 2023) – HERE (5 July 2023).

 

November 30, 2023

Dear Diary,

Fr. Mark Rogers. Loved Latin and all that stuff. I had to come down on him after some of the priests got on him with me.  Pushed me into.  They said he was making them look bad, and he was not on the team. Other bishops suggested sending him to that St. Leo’s priest clinic, who would straighten him out or get rid of him. Fr. Rogers returned sort of broken. Disappeared after awhile. I had to take him off the list cause we didn’t know where he was. Not my fault he left.  The presb council guys said get him laicized. They really had it out for him. Didn’t want to do that. Then in Orlando Jude Noble said Rogers was in Black Duck diving an Uber. Jude wanted to rehab him, take him in. Sure! Give it a try I thought but the presb council advisors again said no and pushed for laicization.  Rogers being traddy was annoying, but these guys really seemed to hate him.  I don’t get that.  I sent the papers to Rome. Jude wrote to them too.  Rome did it to Rogers, fast! I think it was the trad thing.  BAM! laicized him and sent it all to Jude and me too, telling us to let Rogers know instead of just getting some letter. Jude just called me. Fr. Mark killed himself today. He stopped his car and jumped off one of the high bridges in Black Duck. Sad business. Vice told me not to go to the funeral in Black Duck. Fr. Tommy can represent me.  Tommy’s not talking to me again.  Neither is Sr. Randi.  Everyone’s unhappy.   Anyway, we’ll be putting up the chancery Christmas decorations this weekend and Fr. Gilbert has orders to get a tree for the office.  Residence, NO WAY. Chester.  We tried that once.  The decorations will cheer everyone up.  I asked Mrs. Kennedy to get some egg nog and some of those cookies that come around this time of year.

Posted in Diary of Bp. McButterpants, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
11 Comments

Raymond Arroyo video interviews with Ed Pentin, Damian Thompson, Archbp. Gänswein

Posted on 1 December 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Raymond Arroyo interviewed Archbp. Georg Gänswein on his recent show.  (BTW… that ä means his name is pronounced like “gens-vine” not “gans-wine”).  Please.

At a certain point, Raymond asked Gänswein about what Benedict XVI thought about his own motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.  Gänswein starts talking about Traditionis custodes and Raymond steered him away from it and back to Summorum Pontificum.  Eventually they got back to TC.  Gänswein says he told Benedict that he feared that TC would cause problems.  Benedict responded: “I hope God will help us.”  He also said that when he read TC to Benedict from L’Osservatore that Benedict’s “heart was sad” (he mixed languages a little, but that’s what he meant).

Gänswein was absolute in his insistence that Benedict thought that Francis is the true Successor of Peter.

Also in the episode were interviews with Edward Pentin and Damian Thompson mainly about the situation in Rome of Card. Burke.

Gänswein – 22:14
Summmorum – 39:25

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Gänswein has a new book: Who Believes Is Not Alone: My Life Beside Benedict XVI

 

Posted in SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Traditionis custodes | Tagged ,
11 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 869

Posted on 1 December 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™

Welcome new registrant:

TradmumUK

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Meanwhile, Fabiano Caruana won the Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis for the third time (2014, 2018). Sole 2nd was Leinier Dominguez. My guy Wesley So was third. Wesley is also third in the final standings of the Grand Chess Tour, behind MVL and, of course Fabiano. Dominguez is now in the running for a slot in the Candidates by rating. He is one point behind Wesley and he must play in one more tournament before January to try to get a higher rating. Also, according to the arcane machinations of FIDE, Dominguez must play OUTSIDE the USA. The other day, commentator Peter Svidler dropped that there might be a “secret tournament” brewing somewhere which would give more players a shot at the Candidates. Hence, we know it won’t be in these USA, nor probably Europe. We can take a guess, given the other players anywhere close to the running.

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

BTW… There will be a fine TLM pilgrimage next September to Poland.  The registration can be found HERE.

Black to move and mate in 3.


1. … Qxa2+ 2. Kc1 Qxb2+ 3. Kd1 Qxc2#
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

BTW… I made some suggestions about buying simple chess sets in the combox the other day.  HERE  I have some photos and comments about them.

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

Meanwhile…

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: Priest told my CCD class NOT to kneel at the Consecration

Posted on 30 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

An assistant priest at my parish is telling my ccd class not to kneel during the Consecration of the Eucharist during mass. Any advice?

I pondered this for bit and then asked some trusted clerics including a couple of bishops.

First, I’d ask for a private meeting with that priest.

I would ask that priest to put his explanation in writing, along with his justification.

If he refuses, tell the pastor, in writing, that you tried to get an explanation. If the pastor won’t deal with it, forward it to the local bishop.

Try to get everything in writing, if possible. Also, if you have a meeting of any kind, make notes about it immediately after while your memory is fresh.

UPDATE:

A priest friend added:

First step, contact the pastor and ask him. Secondly, contact the diocesan office of Divine Worship.

Many priests say silly things – sadly, ordination does not infuse the ordinand with wisdom or even smarts. In the 1970’s, there was a movement to violate liturgical law and make the faithful stand during the consecration. In some places, this practice became “normal” even though it was a violation of the law (and also stupid).

The current norms in force in the United States require that the faithful kneel from the end of the Sanctus through to the end of the Canon.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged
7 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 868

Posted on 30 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

WELCOME REGISTRANT:

Tfelix

 

Meanwhile, in St. Louis yesterday, all four games were drawn, leaving my guy Wesley, Fabi and Leinier tied in 1st.  However, Wesley has a bye today (the last round) because Duda dropped out leaving an odd number of players.  Today Fabi v. Rapport (not having a great tournament) and Dominguez v. Aronian.  If Fabi and Leinier lose… arithmetically there could be six players tied for first.

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

Home and Kitchen Deals – 30 Nov

 

Today is the Feast of St. Andrew.  For your Vetus Ordo knowledge, in the traditional Roman Missal there is a section called the Sanctoral, which has the Feasts of Saints and mysteries.  St. Andrew is the first saint listed in the Sanctoral section because his is the first feast that was on the universal calendar that could be in Advent, which is the beginning of the liturgical year.   The earliest the 1st Sunday of Advent can fall is 27 November.   On 29 Nov, St. Saturninus receives only a commemoration.

Another way of seeing this is that St. Andrew provides a bridge between the old liturgical year and the new year, fitting for the first of the Apostles to have approached Christ after John the Baptist pointed Him out (John 1:40-42).  Tradition has it that St. Andrew was crucified on a crux decussata, an X shaped Cross.

Much of the remains of St. Andrew eventually made their way to Rome, although Paul VI gave major relic of the Apostle to the Greek Orthodox.

And… the Christmas Novena begins!

UPDATE: At Cafepress today there is FREE SHIPPING.  Check out Fr. Z stuff HERE

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

Expert help needed for podcasts, RSS, etc.

Posted on 29 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Expert help needed for podcasts, RSS, etc.

Please drop me a line if you fit the bill and really want to help. HERE

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM! |
Comments Off on Expert help needed for podcasts, RSS, etc.

Daily Rome Shot 867 – C…L…C

Posted on 29 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Welcome new registrants:

Christophorus II
Flat6Fun

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

Meanwhile, I puzzled over this for a long time.

White to move and DRAW.  Not easy, at least for me.

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

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Yesterday in St. Louis in Round 7 of the Sinquefield Cup, Fabiano Caruana, who is having a great year, defeated my guy Wesley So. It was hard to watch, frankly. So, with black, tried a Nimzo-Indian Defense but got the move order wrong and Caruana struck hard. Rough. With this win, Fabi broke through to 2800.3. Wesley dropped to 2757.1 which is still ahead of Leinier Dominguez Perez and Alireza Firouza. Over the board hostilities continue today.  Ratings and circuit points count for a place in the Candidates tournament according to an arcane formula which I don’t fully grasp. For my part, yesterday I won my OTB games. One of them was against a 10 year old girl whose family were having lunch at the place where we were playing. She saw us and with great excitement asked if she could play. I had just finished destroying my fully grown Turkish opponent with black in a Berlin against the Spanish Game in 25 moves, so I was free. You never know with kids, so I played normally. It was evident from the start that she had learned basic opening ideas: develop and castle. Pretty soon, however, she was out of ideas, and I started talking her through our moves. I let her take a few real blunders back and try again. She was clearly quite bright and sponged it up, even after hanging mate in one. It was nice to see her manifest enjoyment in playing.

Every home, especially with kids, should have a chess set or two. This is a life-long gift and childhood is exactly the right time to get into chess. Chess and LATIN. Chess and Latin and CATECHISM.

Holiday Chess Gift Guide

Speaking of catechism, things are terribly confused and confusing in the Church right now.  Our best defenses are prayer, mortifications for reparation, good works and review of the content of our faith.   This new resource is helpful:

Bp. Athanasius Schneider’s catechism entitled Credo: Compendium of the Catholic Faith published by Sophia Institute Press.

US HERE –  UK HERE

 

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
8 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 866

Posted on 28 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

“My street” in Regola these days… more festive.

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™

Welcome new registrant:

Tota Veritas

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

Meanwhile, in St. Louis, my guy Wesley So defeated Levon Aronian yesterday to maintain his lead in the Sinquefield Cup, the last major tournament of the Grand Chess Tour and a chance to gain rating points. Participation slots for the Candidates (to play against Ding Liren for the World Championship) are going to go to whomever has the highest rating (of those now already qualified) on 1 January. Therefore, it was also noteworthy that Alireza Firouza (now 2751) lost yesterday. He had been in the rating lead, but has fallen lately quite a bit, leaving Wesley in front with 2761.5. Round 7 starts today at 14:30 EST – 20:30 CET.   Today Wesley faces #2 in the world Fabiano Caruana.

A little of Wesley’s post game interview from yesterday.

Going on, I think I’d be tempted to be among these kids outside the venue with my vinyl board and Sharpie in hand.  Watch a clip…

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in 2.


1. Nh6 gxh6 2. f7#
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Meanwhile, God is moving the pieces on His board according to His ineffable plan.

And, for the other Greatest Game…

There is nothing in life more important than making a good death.

GO TO CONFESSION!

That’s a sacrament, of course. But speaking of SACRAMENTALS…

TAN Books has a lovely new volume out precisely about sacramentals. It would be a lovely gift at Christmas. Not to early to get this sort of thing done so that you don’t have to be distracted as Advent moves along.

Compendium of Sacramentals: Encyclopedia of the Church’s Blessings, Signs, and Devotions

US HERE – UK HERE

 

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
6 Comments

ONLINE COURSE: The Catholic Heart of St. John Henry Newman

Posted on 28 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I can attest that the online courses offered by The Catholic Thing are first rate.  I followed the courses on Dante’s Divine Comedy and Augustine’s Confessions.  Of course both of those works would merits many thousands of hours just to scratch their surfaces.  However, they were excellent introductions and more, to get you into and oriented within the thought of the writers and the works themselves.

I now see that there is going to be an online course on

The Catholic Heart of St. John Henry Newman

St. John Henry Newman has been cited lately by figures inside and outside the Church to support positions that he would clearly have rejected. In this course, Robert Royal will examine some of Newman’s own writings on crucial questions such as Conscience, Consulting the Faithful, the Development of Doctrine, and much more.

The title of the course is apt, since Newman’s motto was “Cor ad cor loquitur… Heart speaks to the heart”.  This is an important concept for understanding how many make the journey into the Faith, since we humans have both an intellective capacity and also an affective dimension.

Right now there is an effort underway to have John Henry Newman named a Doctor of the Church.

An interesting feature for the courses is “group options”.  Also, if you cannot make it for the live stream of a session, it will be available on demand.

Check it out!

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged ,
4 Comments

Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, OP. on the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together-ity”)

Posted on 27 November 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I recently read and then again read Bp. Barron’s reflections on the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together-ity”), (aka WTOWT).

I picked up from a Tweet by Card Zen (!) a link to reflections on WTOWT by the Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, OP.

It is politely devastating.

Some points…

[…]

Thus, the emphasis of the method is on listening to and understanding each other before solving any ‘issues’. That can be hard in a noisy world or one where people are divided into ideological camps. But it can be therapeutic. It can pour oil on troubled waters, getting people to stop, listen and understand before judging or arguing. Fr Anthony Lusvardi SJ of the Gregorian University recently explained that while the method helps turn down the temperature on controversial questions—at the Synod, ‘hot button’ issues like women’s ordination, “gay rights”, communion for the divorced and remarried, and celibacy—it doesn’t deliver theological clarity.[9] “It’s not well-suited for careful or complex theological or practical reasoning,” he explained. “Doing that requires thinking that is critical, that weighs the pros and cons of what people say. It also requires a degree of objectivity that this method is not well-suited to provide. Sound theology needs always to ask the question, ‘That may sound good, but is it true?’”

Indeed St Ignatius of Loyola was “very clear that not everything is the proper object of discernment. If something is a sin, you do not discern whether to do it or not. If you have made a commitment, you do not discern whether to be faithful to it or not. You only discern between things that are good. If whatever occurs to you in prayer contradicts what has been revealed by Jesus Christ, then it is not the work of the Holy Spirit.”

[…]

Weighing the opinions

The Adsumus prayer from the Second Vatican Council, that we prayed each day at the Synod, invokes the guidance, teaching and unity afforded by the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26). I found the following lines of the prayer particularly instructive: “Let us find in You our unity, so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.” Deep listening to each other, expressing feelings, resonating in table groups, will not always help us find what is true and right. As one eminent theologian said to me: of the many synods he had attended, this one was the humanly best but theologically thinnest.

[…]

Overall, the report has many positive observations.  However, there were these strong “howevers” which provide non-trivial counterwieght.

Posted in Synod | Tagged , ,
3 Comments