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{]:¬)

DAILY ROME SHOT 933

Posted on 6 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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.

White to move and mate in 2

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

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning? Try THIS.

If you have any kind of web presence, it’s time to consider

Federated Computer

Really. Take a couple minutes to see what it is and consider what it means.

The wonderful nuns of Gower Abbey, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, have a new 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.

Alas, in the Chessable Masters, Firouzja defeated Nepo to become 1st Loser. He will play Magnus on Wednesday. GO MAGNUS!

Speaking of losers. I lost every game of rapid today at OTB. I tried some edgy attacks and, as is typical, missed something.

Ceterum censeo Firouzja esse delendum.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

5 February: St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

Posted on 5 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today is the feast of St. Agatha, a virgin martyr and saint of the Roman Canon.

Agatha was martyred in Sicily in about 251 during the time of the Emperor Decius and her tomb is at Catania.

In Rome there is a lovely little church dedicated to her, Sant’Agatha de’ Goti in the Suburra zone, which is the titular church of Card. Burke. There is also a town of the same name down near Naples which used to be the seat of a diocese of which St. Alphonsus Liguori was bishop. And the de’Goti does not refer to the Goths, either the tribe or the weird eye-makeup crew. It refers to a noble family from Gascony that were the locum tenentes.

Holy legend says that, despite her vow of virginity, Agata was pursued by a powerful man and eventually subjected to humiliations and tortures, including the cutting off of her breasts. She is a patroness of women who have been abused and also for breast cancer patients.

There is a beautiful little book available…

With Glory and Honor You Crowned Them: The Female Martyrs of the Roman Canon by Matthew Manint

US HERE – UK HERE

We should increase our devotion to the martyrs, especially those of the Roman Canon.

We should increase our USE of the Roman Canon. Yesterday I posted about a video interview by Larry Chapp with Bp. Conley of Lincoln about liturgical matters. They agreed that we should get rid of Eucharistic Prayer II and return to greater use of the Roman Canon in the Novus Ordo. Of course this isn’t an issue in the Vetus, is it.

There are going to be hard days ahead, therefore.

Oremus.
Deus, qui inter cétera poténtiæ tuæ mirácula étiam in sexu frágili victóriam martýrii contulísti: concéde propítius; ut, qui beátæ Agathæ Vírginis et Mártyris tuæ natalítia cólimus, per eius ad te exémpla gradiámur.

Let us pray.
O God, Who among other wonders of Your power have given the victory of martyrdom even to the gentle sex, graciously grant that we who commemorate the anniversary of the death of blessed Agatha, Your Virgin and Martyr, may come to You by following her example. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged Roman Canon
3 Comments

DAILY ROME SHOT 932

Posted on 5 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Anyone want to take a crack at the Latin?

Meanwhile, in the Chessable Masters (an online tournament with different divisions and a large field) Magnus has reached the Final in Division 1. He lost a game to Denis Lazavik, half Magnus’ age, whom we shall keep an eye on, but prevailed in the end 2.5 to 1.5. In the game Denis won, he had black and he had to scramble in the endgame with only 10 seconds. In the lower bracket Nep beat Fedoseev and Puer beat Martinez. In Division 2 Levon and Vincent Keymer have come to the top. In 3, Grischuk and Sarana.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in 2.

The Benedictines in Norcia make three kinds of beer. Try them all. You’ll be helping them build their monastic complex.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
1 Comment

ACTION ITEM! NEEDED – Traditionalist Catholic Titled Chess Player

Posted on 4 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It often happens that when I ask you for help to find something out or explain something – BAM! – within hours, sometimes minutes – an answer arrives.

I’m looking for a Tradition-leaning Catholic titled chess player.

What do I mean by “titled”. Someone who has earned an official chess title, not just any title. Some official chess titles are:

Grandmaster
International Master
Candidate Master
Woman Grandmaster
FIDE Master

There are also

National Master
Expert

Why?

First, some coaching. I have goals.

Also, to make some online content, like streaming games and talking about Catholic things… for fun and profit, as they say. And at least one of us has to know what he is doing.

Moreover, I have to give Federated Computer something to do, right?

Okay folks, do your thing! Someone out there knows someone.

Drop me a line HERE.

PS: I may also accept titles like “Archduke” or “Titular Cardinal of”…. whatever, provided he would like to produce some online content. I think a regular podcast with chess games and a Cardinal would be interesting. I would also have to accept titles like “King”, “Queen”, maayyyybeee “Bishop” (that would be highly unlikely given everything), “Knight” (not unless he was really good, and for real). “Rooks” need not apply. Pawns and/or Jesuits, nope.

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, Chess |
Comments Off

VIDEO: Larry Chapp interviews Bp. James Conley of Lincoln about the reform of the liturgy.

Posted on 4 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You will find this video quite interesting. Larry Chapp interviews Bp. James Conley of Lincoln about the reform of the liturgy.

Please let me know your high points. For me: communion rails, communion on the tongue, the Roman Canon. They talk about MUSIC. There are great points about “New Evangelization”. Toward the end, “liturgical principles” and “sentimentality”.

Listening to these guys talk … one would think they’ve been reading this blog.

They got the issue about “concert Masses” dead wrong, but that’s about the only place where they put their feet wrong.

BTW, you two, you got the quote of Augustine about music wrong. Augustine did not write, “He who sings prays twice”.

He wrote something similar: “cantare amantis est… Singing belongs to one who loves” (s. 336, 1 – PL 38, 1472). This is the citation for qui bene cantat bis orat in the primitive edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1156.

In the edition of the CCC we are sent to footnote n. 26 (oddly, this is note 21 in the newer English edition, which adds a confer reference to Col. 3:16 – which is not in the Latin CCC). Latin CCC 1156, note 26 reads: Cf. Sanctus Augustinus, Enarratio in Psalmum 72, 1: CCL 39, 986 (PL 36, 914).

The Corpus Christianorum Latinorum (CCL – a vast series of volumes of Latin authors) vol. 39 shows us what Augustine really said:

Qui enim cantat laudem, non solum laudat, sed etiam hilariter laudat; qui cantat laudem, non solum cantat, sed et amat eum quem cantat. In laude confitentis est praedicatio, in cantico amantis affectio…For he who sings praise, does not only praise, but also praises joyously; he who sings praise, is not only singing, but also loving Him whom he is singing about/to/for. There is a praise-filled public proclamation (praedicatio) in the praise of someone who is confessing/acknowledging (God), in the song of the lover (there is) there is deep love.

Augustine is saying that when the praise is of God, then something happens to the song of the praiser/love that makes it more than just any kind of song.

The object of the song/love in a way becomes the subject.

Something happens so that the song itself becomes Love in its manifestation of love of the one who truly is Love itself.

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Patristiblogging, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, The future and our choices | Tagged Bp. James Conley, Larry Chapp, liturgical reform, New Evangelization
5 Comments

Posted on 4 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

“Days in Rome” Project – Easter 2024

HERE

The campaign is complete, but you can still donate anyway!

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
Comments Off

Your Sunday Sermon Notes – Sexagesima (N.O.: 5th Ord) 2024

Posted on 4 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.

It is the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time in the Novus Ordo and Sexagesima Sunday in the Vetus Ordo. The Roman Station is St. Paul’s outside-the-walls. We are back in purple for Sunday while the new-fangled Novus gets green.

We are now in pre-Lent. Those who attend the Vetus Ordo are never surprised by Lent.

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of obligation?

Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass. I hear that it is growing. Of COURSE.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

I have a few thoughts about the orations in the Vetus Ordo for this Sunday: HERE

A taste:

Here Benedict refers to the reading of Scripture as an “art”, not just a method or a craft or a skill or a project. It needs the right “hermeneutic” or principle of interpretation, interpretive lens. In modern times, what came to be called a “hermeneutic of suspicion” developed in view of Scripture intended to challenge the plain reading of the texts, to force new interpretations to the fore. This pernicious approach resulted in someone, let’s say a Jesuit, reading the Bible and then spouting that what we read in Scripture about, let’s say homosexual acts, was wrong. Otherwise, there could be someone, let’s say, a German cardinal, who regarding Christ’s words about, let’s say marriage, concludes that if Christ wasn’t exactly wrong, He was right back then. This is now. Scripture has to be read differently, through the lens of our lived experience. Scripture means what it means and, surprise, it doesn’t mean what it means at the same time.

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Sunday sermons
10 Comments

DAILY ROME SHOT 931

Posted on 4 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo from The Great Roman™.

Welcome registrant:
Dr. M

At OTB yesterday I was awful. Simply awful. Also, Minnesota was robbed last night by the officials of two goals against Wisconsin. The video reviews were too iffy and the goals should have stood. So… not a great day from the sporting angle.

White to move and mate in two.

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

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning? Try THIS.

If you have any kind of web presence, it’s time to consider

Federated Computer

Really. Take a couple minutes to see what it is and consider what it means.

The traditional Benedictines of Le Barroux are making good wine from the ancient vineyards of the Avignon Popes. Help them by restocking your own supply.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
Comments Off

News of the Church 08 – 3 February 2024

Posted on 3 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It’s 3 February 2024 and it is a Saturday. It’s the Feast of St. Blaise. Some time ago, I saw a movie called News of the World in which after the Civil War a former confederate officer ekes out a living wandering about reading newspaper stories from all over to people who pay a dime a head (which figures to about $2.50 now). The idea caught my imagination and here I am, a gazetteer. Gazette came into English through French but it’s origin is Italian, gazzetta, which is the name of the Venetian coin which paid for the first first Venetian newspapers in the 16th century.

Here is today’s audio “gazette” of Catholic and other things.

00:12 – Init –
1:15 – Catholic Trade Schools as an alternative
7:49 – Card. Burke’s sermon
15:00 – Feichtinger on Fiducia
26:21 – Kind gestures, unforeseen outcomes
32:05 – Sad news from Mars
29:50 – Exit

Posted in News of the Church, News of the Church, PODCAzT | Tagged News of the Church
3 Comments

New document from the DDF (aka CDF) on “validity of the Sacraments”

Posted on 3 February 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the Bollettino today you will find a document, a “Note”, from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith … I’m still not used to that “dicastery” thing… why?… just, why? The Note concerns validity of the sacraments.

Before you panic, it doesn’t thrown matter and form out the door or say overly weird things (as it lately has done about blessings). In fact, it addresses the problem of priests throwing matter and form out the window in favor of their own creativity. It says that such changes “merita una pena esemplare… merits exemplary punishment” because doing so harms the faithful People of God.

Think about the harm a priest does over years of jacking around the form of baptism with his own amazing insights and alterations. Or a priest who so changes the form of absolution that he hasn’t validly absolved for who know how long.

I don’t think there is an English translation yet, but there will be very soon, I imagine.

Of course the document has a Latin name, “Gestis verbisque” but there is no Latin text in sight. Why? Just, why? Why can’t they get their act together and do this right, and in the right order? WHY?

I haven’t read the whole thing yet in Italian. A scan suggests that it isn’t dreadful. It’s longish and heavily footnoted.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged DDF
19 Comments