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{]:¬)

ROME 23/10 – Day 09: Lunch with a friend and some gallows humor

Posted on 9 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fiery Helios drew his chariot above the Roman horizon at 07:13 and it will soon set at 18:41. The Ave Maria bell should ring at 19:00.

It is the Feast of St. John Leonardi. Invoke him the next time they try to jab you with who knows what.

It is also the Feast of St Abraham, Old Testament Patriarch.

This Rome Shot, below, needs a preface and explanation with an additional photo.

This is Piazza Navona, probably the most beautiful piazza in the world, a place of death for Christian martyrs and long centuries of Roman life. You walk into it and it never disappoints. One of Rome’s 13 Egyptian obelisks is here and the lovely church with the head of beautiful St. Agnes.

You marvel at the Bernini fountain and the Borromini facade of Sant’Agnese.

You probably don’t pay a lot of attention to the walls.

This is the famous Restaurant Tre Scalini. Many of you have been there.

But there’s more.

Here is the wall above Tre Scalini a little closer. See anything interesting?

“But Father! But Father!”, some of those eagerly “walking together” might squeak. “There’s a head up there! It is the work of the Spirit telling us never to lose our heads in affirming the imminent dangerous of climate change and the urgent need to bless sodomy… er um… sod… um… unions of ssss… ssssssame-gendered unions of couples or … or more. YOU HATE VATICAN II!”

I take you to the days o’ good ol’ Pope Sixtus V (+1590), who will be the last of that name unless we get someone with a real sense of humor). This guy was hard core. He was a Franciscan who, before election, hobbled around with two canes. Elected, *clatter* go the canes and he strides across Rome like a giant, even going incognito to places to find out what was going on. He stripped cardinals of benefices and even executed a couple, if memory serves. Shall we see his like again.

Anyway, there was a osteria here in that day, in the photo, where there was much drinking and some food and much drinking. Did I mention the drinking. Sixtus was around once and heard the proprietor running him down. The next day, some soldiers showed up across the way and started building a scaffold for an execution, which happened in those times, the penalties not being soft. The proprietor of the inn was ecstatic because executions were popular and there was money to be made from the crowd. He was less happy when the soldiers came into his place and took him out to the scaffold.

In honor of the event some who knew him, or maybe relatives, put the little head up on the wall, where it has been every since. So the story goes.

I should specify that in Rome executions were pretty solemn affairs with the population often in penitential clothes praying for the one who was about to die.

Today I was out with a priest friend whom you would all instantly recognize from TV appearances in this time and others. A good friend and faithful guy. We went to a Roman and Sicilian place which I favor where we had a terrific lunch. I stuck with a couple of “appetizers” rather than the full raft, but they were awesome.

Fried anchovies.

A kind of soup of shell fish. Some bread, no pasta. Frankly, this is one of the best things I’ve had in Rome in a while.

My buddy had spaghetti alla norma and a wonderful orata.

With all the great people in town, in the last week I’ve eaten out more than the times I was out last time I was in Rome… for two months.

Tonight, left overs. I did buy some taleggio. Yum.

White to move and win.

It’s a pawn race. Black’s king is in the way.

What about h7 with Kg6? Does that line do it? If not, what to do?

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

Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon, but, once in and browsing or searching, Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", SESSIUNCULA, What Fr. Z is up to |
6 Comments

Thoughts about “walking together about walking togetherity” sparked by a prayer in the Traditional Latin Mass

Posted on 9 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today is the Feast of St. John Leonardi whose remains are at not too distant S.M. in Campitelli.

St. John is the patron of pharmacists. He was one and had a shop before priesthood if memory does not fail.

He was also a member of St. Philip’s Archconfraternity.

Hence, this morning we celebrated the Feast of St. John Leonardi. However, there was also a commemoration of Sts.St. Dionysius and companions, early martyrs. Something in the prayers caught my eye, as it often turns up in the prayers of the Vetus Ordo, but I think not so much in the Novus Ordo.

Deus, qui hodiérna die beátum Dionýsium, Mártyrem tuum atque Pontíficem, virtúte constantiæ in passióne roborásti, quique illi, ad prædicándum géntibus glóriam tuam, Rústicum et Eleuthérium sociáre dignátus es: tríbue nobis, qu?sumus; eórum imitatióne, pro amóre tuo próspera mundi despícere, et nulla eius advérsa formidáre.

O God, who on this day strengthened blessed Dionysius, Your Martyr and Bishop, with the power of steadfastness in his suffering, and who also were pleased to join with him Rusticus and Eleutherius to preach Your glory to the pagans, grant us, we beseech You, out of love for You, in their imitation to despise the favors of this world and to fear not its enmities.

Let’s recap a couple of things. “To preach your glory” in the context of martyrdom harks to St. John saying that they saw the “glory” of the Lord, which means His Passion and death on the Cross. In regard to preaching, martyrdom is a kind of preaching, a “bearing witness”.

What pulls my eye is something that seems to be directly in contrast with “walking together about walking togetherity”.

Note that phrase “prospera mundi despicere… to look down on the advantageous things of this world”.

You find this often in the Vetus Ordo. For example, “doceas nos terrena despicere,
et amare caelestia…. teach us to disregard earthly things, and to love heavenly things.”

Despicio is “to look down upon; despise; to look away, not to regard.”

It is a commonplace in prayers of the Roman Church, from earliest times, to warn about the things of this world.

The good things God created are not despicable. They become so when their allure makes us closed or we allow them to defile us. We must disregard them when they become stumbling blocks. Paradox: in our material life we stumble when we disregard stumbling blocks, while in the spiritual life we stumble by lending them undue attention.

We must be on guard regarding the good things of this world. Great Fathers as Tertullian, Sts. Ambrose and Augustine wrote on this theme. Tracing despicere in the prayers in the Roman Rite, it seems to have been added more and more as time went on to the 20th century when, I guess, we stopped worrying about such things. Let the air in, right?

Ambrose and Augustine both use military imagery in expressing the idea behind despicere mundum. In De bono mortis, we must be good soldiers, looking down on the inferior and striving after the celestial and eternal.

Augustine, combatting the Manicheans who claimed that things of this world are evil, nevertheless upholds the superiority of the things that are above. The Devil is the prince of this world, or rather the Prince of those who give into the things of this world. We conquer the world by conquering, with grace, attachment to this world.

The heart and mind of the Church in these prayers is not to put in total conflict that which is here below (where we are) with that which is where we desire to be. That would be unwise and unreasonable, given that we live here and now in the world. What we pick up over time with the various uses of these phrase about “mundum despicere” is a complementarity in which that which is above (“sursum!”) is superior and can inform our use of the mundum, the prospera. What is above must also have priority for us to use well the things of this world.

From the heights we look down on the things of this world and see them for what they are. Here in the world among them, we can be blinded by them and not even lift our eyes heavenward.

In the Novus Ordo this concept is effectively removed. It lasts in the Collect for St. Dionysius I think… not that anyone outside a place dedicated to him – so many – would ever hear it. In the Collect for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, which I mention above, it is expunged in the Novus Ordo.

Vetus: doceas nos terrena despicere et amare caelestia. … teach us to look down on earthly things and love heavenly things.

Novus: doceas nos terrena sapienter perpendere, et caelistibus inhaerere… teach us to weigh wisely earthly things and cling to heavenly things.

It isn’t a bad prayer. However, there is subtle point. The prayers of the Novus Ordo tend to emphasize eschatological joy without telling us how to obtain it. It is as it is our now. It is and it isn’t. Christ is victorious true. We still have to get there. The Vetus Ordo does not ignore eschatological joy, but it does help us get it, through reminders of penance, propitiation, etc. In the endings of the prayers, above, the Novus Ordo versions seems to suggest that we have what we want, “heavenly things” and the Vetus expresses a longing for them. I don’t have a quarrel with “sapienter perpendere“, but together with the second part, I sense a diminishing of the path to attaining the heavenly and the affirmation of the “already” over the “not yet”.

I bring this up in the context of “Walking Together” because, as it seems to me, the topics and the PROCESS (which is the true content and message of this thing a soft “permanent revolution”) is entirely rooted in the terrena. There is not a speck of terrena despicere that I can see. They are determined to enhance worldly things (in the name of the Spirit) and keeping those involved, mired here below.

Those who hate and fear the people who desire the Traditional Roman Rite claim speciously that it is against the Council. Of course that’s a chimeric Council of their fevered imaginings. Only they, who have Gnostic level powers of discernment know what the Spirit wants from the Council and now from the “W-T”. In fact, the older form of Mass of the Roman Church also expresses well the eschatological hope which Christians should have. However, it has the advantage also of helping us to attain that joy while avoiding being presumptuous about it.

The people who want to suppress the traditional forms despise the content of the Tradition because it reminds them that they are off target, they are mired in the worldly. They look down on those who want the Traditional Latin Mass and see them as despicable. It is a rich irony which we have to acknowledge and live with cheerfully. (Have you notice that none of them have a sense of humor?)

After all, we are right and, as my old pastor used to say, “When you are right, you can’t be wrong.”

So, when you read something of how they despise you, call you schismatics, against the Council blah blah… shrug it off and stay on target, living well in the midst of the worldly things that can allure and longing with love and joyful anticipation of what has been promised.

Posted in Synod, WDTPRS | Tagged despicere mundum
2 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 08: Sunday

Posted on 8 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In Rome the sunrise was at 07:12 and the sunset was at 18:43. The Ave Maris should be at 19:00.

Welcome registrant:

Sarah66

This is the quick version, because my entire draft was expunged. GRRRR. I am tired.

I had a walk over the place where a a bunch of regulars play chess. They use a set of vocabulary that I don’t usually use.

Chicken last night. Spatchcocked.

When I pulled the chicken from the oven I added peas and mushrooms.

Black to move. Find the best way forward.

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

A glimpse of vespers.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
4 Comments

Nota Bene: A couple of good videos

Posted on 8 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At YouTube there is a video produced by Mass of Ages with Michael Knowles in which he talks about the Traditional Latin Mass at 5 different levels of understanding, from three little kids to a theologian.

It is interesting how, when talking to the parish priest (from my home place) and with the theologians, the points they make are those I’ve been making constantly for 30 years.

A podcast comes from The Catholic Thing. Diane Montagna, Fr. Gerald Murray, and Robert Royal discuss the claims being made by synod officials about the role of the Holy Spirit in their discussions, and the ways in which information about the synod is being managed or limited in comparison with other Vatican events. Is the Holy Spirit the “protagonist” of the “Walking Together”? Also, just how rigged is this? I have my own ideas.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
4 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 19th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 27th) 2023

Posted on 8 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Share the good stuff.

It’s the 19th Sunday after Pentecost in the Vetus Ordo and the 27th Sunday of the Novus Ordo.

Elsewhere I guess Season of Creation is over. It ended on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (cliché, perhaps). Instead, Barrington is now focused on “walking together”.

More importantly, 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 some thoughts about the Sunday Epistle reading posted at One Peter Five.

A taste:

The faux-comforting chestnut that when someone dies he becomes “an angel” is false, of course. But it is sort of true, in one way. When we die and our souls separate from our bodies, our souls no longer have bodily senses and the appetites and concupiscence that comes from the flesh. This means that, like angels, we cannot change our minds. This is the foundation of the Church’s constant teaching that, at death, we go to our Particular Judgment and… that’s that. We cannot change our minds. We cannot repent such that we can gain the salvation that we had lost during our earthly lives because we died in the state of mortal sin rather than in the state of grace and God’s friendship.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 07: Popping clams and pooping pigeons

Posted on 7 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

7:11 and 18:44 are the times for sunrise and sunset in Rome. The Ave Maria bells ought to ring at 19:00.

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary which means that it is also the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto. In Italian it’s: Lépanto.

It is also the Feast of St. Mark, Pope, who died in +336. He was one of the first who was not a martyr. I think the very first was Miltiades.

It is the Feast of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus, early martyrs. There is an image of them in the Church of St. Mary della Scala in Trastevere, which I will dig up. Not real flattering, I think. It makes them look like they were just forced to sit through a day of “walking together”… let’s see if I can find it.

It’s the eyes upward to Heaven that does it… or is it an eye roll? Maybe it’s that. An eye roll to Heaven. I can hear it, “Please get me out of here?”… “If I have to listen to this Jesuit one more minute…”.

Yesterday, I had a brief walk at about the time the sun was doing its Roman thing. Such beautiful light.

A visit to my saint, Philip Neri.

Dear Pippo, help me find my apartment and way to pay for it. Thanks in advance.

The nave still has a lot of scaffolding. I am not sure what they are doing.

I am not sure why I took this shot, unless it was for the “for rent” sign by the door.

Regardless of why I took the shot, I also “took the shot”. It was right around here that I was shat upon by a pigeon (aka rat with wings). They say it is good luck. At least it was not a seagull, which is even more good luck. Straight down the front of my shirt. It could have been worse, all in all. Rome happens.

On that note, I wish every bit of good luck to the Synod (“walking together”) members as they walk together to and froe to the “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity” (“W-T-F”) meetings (explanation HERE).

Back at the apartment, and the washing machine, I prepared supper. Spaghetti alle vongole! I like to simmer garlic and some parsley for a while in oil and wine.

The clams I had purged for several hours. They say they are purged. HA. I purge them more. You can see a couple pop here, but I had to clamp that cover down.

Having pulled the clams, I finished cooking the pasta in the liquid, which also tightened it up with starch.

A nice big bowl of spaghetti alle vongole veraci. And some chess from the US Championship in St. Louis. I had some catching up to do.

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Today is the anniversary of when the demon worship bowl was placed on the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica during the Amazon Synod (“walking together”).

It is the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

Please say a chaplet of the Rosary in reparation for all this mess.

Don’t forget a pray for me.

Meanwhile, black to move. Find the best move.

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

I look at this each day and sigh when I post it. However, I need to do it.

Holy Mass today was offered for all my regular monthly donors.

Thank you. There was a new signer-upper today, MH. Alas, couple have dropped from this day. I remain grateful.

In your goodness, remember that the wonderful Benedictine monks of Norcia make terrific beer. Try some and help them.

Maybe chicken and salad tonight.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
9 Comments

Good news from “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity”

Posted on 7 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Good news!

I spoke with a synod voting delegate, one of the 27% who are not Bishops. Direct quote: “there are more delegates at the synod who defend the traditional Latin mass than you can imagine.” Pernicious terms like “inclusivity” are scrutinized and delegates must define their terms.…

— OnePeterFive (@OnePeterFive) October 7, 2023

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged Synod
3 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 06: Pointed comments and puntarelle

Posted on 6 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In Rome today the sun rose at 07:10 and will set at 18:46. The Ave Maria should sound at 19:00.

Welcome registrant:

RJD

This is a 1st Friday! See to your devotions.

Devotions are more important than ever, I think, for our troubled time. Chief among these ought to be the revival of the real Forty Hours Devotion. This should be undertaken for the sake of grave dangers to the Church and society not just from outside the Church but also from within the Church. The Holy Rosary and Novenas and time before the Blessed Sacrament, voluntary penances in reparation for sins… all these must be our constant practice now more than ever. We see what’s going on, seemingly inexorably. All of us have to do something about it.

Meanwhile, I saw this ridiculous but perhaps practical car on a walk this morning after Mass. Someone really likes dogs.

I went to the fishmonger to get clams for tonight’s supper and what do I find? One of those screens that show the inner workings of Swimming Together about Swimming Togetherity.

Do NOT be distracted by the dead eyes. I’m sure they are paying attention to the one who is talking.

Can you imagine sitting, day after day, in the hideous Sala Nervi (aka Paul VI Audience Hall) at round tables listening to the bloviating? Day in and day out. Hours.

This is how I picture it after a week or so.

What did that tech on each table cost? I hope one of the newsies asks.

My flower guy, Pippo, says “Hi!”

35 years at this stand.

At the veg stand it was time to get puntarelle which are shreds of a large type of chicory stems and leaves which are then crisped up in cold water so they curl.

Meanwhile, black to move and win material.

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

In chess news… I haven’t been paying close attention since I’ve been in Rome. However, after the opening day of the U.S. Championships in St. Louis, Sam Sevian in Rd 2/2 is the only one who won (not just draw) so he’s in the lead with a lot more chess to be played. On the women’s side, it’s Nazi Paikidze. My guy Wesley So drew against Leinier Dominguez Perez in Rd 1 and Dariusz Swiercz in Rd 2.

For my part, I’m doing some puzzles and playing online a little. I need to get back into my routine. I’ve also got a course underway.

I should head over to the P.za der Fico this afternoon. I need to stretch my legs. Also, I think that tomorrow morning is when some people gather at the Largo Febo. I might have a look.

Finally, if you were around in the days of the CompuServe Catholic Forum, you might remember in your prayers Harriet Lee Sporn, who died recently. She was a frequent commentatrix.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
11 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 05: Have a Pius day!

Posted on 5 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today the sun rose at 07:09 and set a long time ago at 18:48. The Ave Maria is still at 19:00.

Welcome new registrant:

SuzieQue

Today was quite the day, with the acquisition of the new vestments.

While we were walking around we stopped at the palazzo where Pius XII was born, near Chiesa Nuova and Palazzo Orsini.

However, what people don’t know is that the real palazzo of the Pacelli family is on the Corso Vittorio, a few steps up from Largo Argentina.

It is now a hotel. However, above the door there are coats of arms, now defaced. But you can see the Pacelli arms.

Meanwhile,… white to move and mate in … you tell me!

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

Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon, but, once in and browsing or searching, Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.

Tonight I met a young priest who is the son of a friend of many years who was part of the original team of the Catholic Online Forum on CompuServe! How time flies. I had had a heavy lunch so I held myself to a sauté of mussels and a mixed salad. We had a lovely Brunello and its counter part.

The trek home shows that the dreadful scaffolding is coming down from Palazzo Farnese, where the 2nd Act of Tosca takes place. It is hard to see it without thinking about Tosca stabbing Scarpia in throat and her following him around as he choked to death on his own blood while she taunted him. He had wanted to “walk together” with her, as it were. In Italian there is a particular meaning of “go together… andare insieme” depending on context. In short, he had it coming. As do all who want to do certain things to the CHURCH.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
10 Comments

ANNUNTIO VOBIS GAUDIUM MAGNUM! We have RED VESTMENTS in Rome!

Posted on 5 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have great news.

The other day the sacristan at Santissima Trinità here in Rome and I were chatting about the RED VESTMENT PROJECT.

In a nutshell, the various sets of red vestments for Mass that many priests use on a daily basis were a disastrous hodgepodge. I resolved to do something about it. I consulted with the parish priest, consulted with you readers for pledges for the vestments, and ordered them, telling Gammarelli that they were needed before the Summorum Pontificum gathering at the end of October (coming up). At the shop, they were skeptical because they didn’t at the time have fabric all from the same lot and that would take time or order and make… there was a backlog… so many people… summer coming. I stressed October.

After that, I did nothing. I didn’t call for updates or anything. I figured I would follow up when I got to Rome, as I did a couple days ago.

This morning The World’s Best Sacristan™ and I ran some errands, one of them to Gammarelli to learn about the progress on the vestments.

To our absolute surprise the vestments happened to be on the counter, waiting to be wrapped and delivered. I had not even been notified yet. It was total surprise.

Here they are on the counter. Only the top one, 1 of 7, has my coat of arms (since I am the instigator).

Rome’s Best Sacristan™ and I schlepped them to church and brought them to the attention of a delighted pastor.

Yours truly blessed them.

And proceeded to say Mass with them, today being a feast of martyrs.

Holy Mass was said for the red vestment donors. Thank you.

The donors for this project sent their donations to the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison, of which I am still prez. It is a 501(c)3).

The other vestments do not have a coat-of-arms. My chasuble will stay in Rome for use by priests as needed.

These are really nice vestments and everyone is very pleased. I think that, as the days go by, positive feedback will come in from the priests who use them. They, too, will be grateful.

And so, this brings the Red Vestment Project to a conclusion.

HOWEVER…

There were quite a few people who pledged donations for the red, but their pledges weren’t needed right away.

At the time I mentioned that there would be a couple more projects. The parish is also in need of BLACK VESTMENTS. In fact, in the mornings, quite a few priests need to use black, because they – as earthly life goes on for us and not for others – have Requiem Masses to say. The parish’s black vestments are also in disarray.

Whaddya say? Ready for another round?

And there is a White Solemn Set on the boards, too, but I don’t know much about that.

Finally, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Red Vestment donors!

You’ve made some priests really happy and have contributed in an exemplary way to the decorum which is necessary for the celebration of Holy Mass.