Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 20th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 28th) 2023

Posted on 15 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Share the good stuff.

It’s the 20th Sunday after Pentecost in the Vetus Ordo and the 28th Sunday of the Novus Ordo.

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.

The Mass today has deep currents. As I write, I am reminded of what it is to be a part of the exiled people, those who want the Traditional Roman Rite. In a recent exchange in presser at the Synod (“walking together”) the image of being banished from the Church was offered to Card. Tobin, who, after having just waxed eloquently about how beautiful the Church is by inclusion of active homosexuals, then denied that traditional Catholics were banished. It’s for your own good, he implied. You’ll get used to not being happy.  It is as if he said, “Sing us one of your songs.”

The Christian, beset, banished, persecuted, reacts with joy. If we have passing moments of anguish or melancholy, knowledge of our baptismal character should buoy us up right away. Thinking about the blessings of our very existence, in the time and place God wants us, the availability of the actual graces we need to live our vocation, these blessings raise us above the huggermugger. That sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us as in a temple, fills us with a joy that wants to burst out. When Peter and Apostles left the Sanhedrin after their scrutiny, they rejoiced (Acts 5:41). Paul and Silas sang in prison.

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St. Teresa of Avila, Chess, and You

Posted on 15 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today is the 20th Sunday after Pentecost in the Vetus Ordo.  It is also the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila.

This is from The Way of Perfection 16 by St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church and Patroness of Chess Players.

1.But you may be sure that anyone who cannot set out the pieces in a game of chess will never be able to play well, and, if he does not know how to give check, he will not be able to bring about a checkmate. Now you will reprove me for talking about games…[but] if we play it frequently, how quickly we shall give checkmate to this Divine King! He will not be able to move out of our check nor will He desire to do so.

It is the queen which gives the king most trouble in this game and all the other pieces support her. There is no queen who can beat this King as well as humility can; for humility brought Him down from Heaven into the Virgin’s womb and with humility we can draw Him into our souls by a single hair. Be sure that He will give most humility to him who has most already and least to him who has least. I cannot understand how humility exists, or can exist, without love, or love without humility, and it is impossible for these two virtues to exist save where there is great detachment from all created things…

This is an error which we all make: if a person gets so far as to spend a short time each day in thinking about his sins, as he is bound to do if he is a Christian in anything more than name, people at once call him a great contemplative; and then they expect him to have the rare virtues which a great contemplative is bound to possess; he may even think he has them himself, but he will be quite wrong. In his early stages he did not even know how to set out the chess-board, and thought that, in order to give checkmate, it would be enough to be able to recognize the pieces. But that is impossible, for this King does not allow Himself to be taken except by one who surrenders wholly to Him.”

1. Y no os parezca mucho todo esto, que voy entablando el juego, como dicen. Pedísteisme os dijese el principio de oración; yo, hijas, aunque no me llevó Dios por este principio, porque aún no le debo tener de estas virtudes, no sé otro. Pues creed que quien no sabe concertar las piezas en el juego de ajedrez, que sabrá mal jugar, y si no sabe dar jaque, no sabrá dar mate. Así me habéis de reprender porque hablo en cosa de juego, no le habiendo en esta casa ni habiéndole de haber. Aquí veréis la madre que os dio Dios, que hasta esta vanidad sabía; mas dicen que es lícito algunas veces. Y cuán lícito será para nosotras esta manera de jugar, y cuán presto, si mucho lo usamos, daremos mate a este Rey divino, que no se nos podrá ir de las manos ni querrá.

2. La dama es la que más guerra le puede hacer en este juego, y todas las otras piezas ayudan. No hay dama que así le haga rendir como la humildad. Esta le trajo del cielo en las entrañas de la Virgen, y con ella le traeremos nosotras de un cabello a nuestras almas. Y creed que quien más tuviere, más le tendrá, y quien menos, menos. Porque no puedo yo entender cómo haya ni pueda haber humildad sin amor, ni amor sin humildad, ni es posible estar estas dos virtudes sin gran desasimiento de todo lo criado….

4. Mas contemplación es otra cosa, hijas, que éste es el engaño que todos traemos, que en llegándose uno un rato cada día a pensar sus pecados (que) está obligado a ello si es cristiano de más que nombre), luego dicen es muy contemplativo, y luego le quieren con tan grandes virtudes como está obligado a tener el muy contemplativo, y aun él se quiere, mas yerra. En los principios no supo entablar el juego: pensó bastaba conocer las piezas para dar mate, y es imposible, que no se da este Rey sino a quien se le da del todo.

It is interesting that St. Teresa talks about the queen.  That is a piece with a truly fascinating history.

A chessy history book:

Birth of the Chess Queen: A History

US HERE – UK HERE

The author is a feminist, but the book is pretty good history.  It was really interesting.

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols |
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ROME 23/10 – Day 14: rolls, strolls and slices

Posted on 14 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Rome saw the run rise at 07:19 and will see it set at 18:33. The Ave Maria bell would be in its 18:45 cycle.

Welcome registrant:

adamgvm

Firstly, some of the NEW RED vestments laid out for today, St. Callistus.  It looks like one regular won’t be here until Sunday.

The Great Roman™ and I had breakfast this morning.  They were out of simple cornetti, so I had something with walnuts.  Not bad.

We made a bit of a stroll.  I wanted to go to the Largo Febo, because there is supposed to be a group of ex-pats who play chess there on Saturday mornings.  Alas, they didn’t show.  The restaurant drone cleaning things for the opening, said that by the time we arrived they should’ve been there already.  I didn’t get the memo, I guess.

Defeated in one purpose, we went to Piazza Navona to visit the Church of St. Agnes.   We spent some time before the relic of the saint.   I prayed asking her to protect my home parish and all involved there and I asked for her help in finding an apartment I can afford where I want it.

BTW… its Saturday, and many of your parishes will have confessions today.

GO TO CONFESSION!

If you do, the elephant will be happy.  Elephants might not forget but priests do.   Confess EVERYTHING in kind and number.  EVERYTHING.

A quick stop at Barbiconi to get a different alb.   I’ve been using an alb which is good for the occasional traveling moment.  Goes into my backpack with stuff.  For day in and day out… nope.  It is dreadfully uncomfortable.  Anyway, I got something very light, cotton, with the Roman squared neck.   With the wavy flag, you can chip in, which I would appreciate.  And for new flowers (carnations) and lunch, below.   The mozzarella ball comes in at about €6.  The tomato – cuore di bue – and casareccio bread not much.  However, I had to get good oil and vinegar on arrival.  The basil came from my regular stand.   It is quite aromatic.

Last night we were out with two couples, one from the States and another from Genoa.  We wound up at what turned out to be a good pick, Cul du Sac at Pasquino (the talking statue).  Lots of slices of meats and cheeses and pates and good wine.  I had not been there for years.  Many people tried to get in as we were there and were not able.  A good sign for them and for us, as it turned out.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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A couple of weird stories related to the Synod (“Walking Together about Walking Togetherity”)

Posted on 14 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today I saw one of the weirdest things I’ve seen in a long while.

Get this.  It is not intended to be satire. From CNA about “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity” (aka “W-T-F” – explained HERE)

Synod on Synodality: Italian nun claims St. Paul attended ‘non-ritual female liturgy’  [?!?]

An Italian religious sister told the Synod on Synodality assembly Friday that St. Paul attended “a non-ritual female liturgy” ahead of synod discussions of women’s inclusion in the Church.  [This is word salad.  What, pray tell, is liturgy that is non-ritual?  If is liturgy, it is ritual.  And what sort of strange things were women off on their own doing in that time frame in a pagan, Gentile city?]

Mother Maria Grazia Angelini gave an exegesis [eisegesis, rather] of the New Testament for synod delegates during the general congregation on Oct. 13 in which she claimed that St. Paul “inserted himself into a ‘non-ritual’ female liturgy” when he arrived in the city of Philippi in Macedonia.

Speaking to hundreds of synod participants in Paul VI Hall, Angelini described how “Paul was welcomed by a liturgy outside the ritual, among women, in the open air.”

She said: “The apostle did not start, as was his custom, in the synagogue … He inserted himself into a ‘non-ritual’ female liturgy, breaking into it with the word of the Gospel.” [“Breaking into it”.  I’m picturing Paul doing this: “I was just writing to my friend Timothy over in Ephesus about the question of whether women should be speak or be silent.”]

Angelini’s speech referred to a historical event recorded in chapter 16 of the Acts of the Apostles, which states: “On the sabbath, we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there” (Acts 16:13).   [Women gathered at the river… talking.  Women talking.   REALLY cutting edge stuff here.  In the ancient world… women talking at a river… perhaps doing laundry?  I guess that’s a kind of non-liturgical ritual.]

The Scripture goes on to describe how one of the women named Lydia listened “and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying” and she was baptized along with her household (Acts 16:14-15). The Biblical text does not make mention of any sort of a liturgy.  [Nor does it mention laundry.]

The sister’s exegesis of the Acts of the Apostles was part of a larger speech on “the cry of women” throughout the New Testament. She argued that the contribution of women “unceasingly fuels the spiritual dynamism of reform.”

Angelini is one of two “spiritual assistants” who helped to lead the meditations for the retreat and the prayers throughout the Synod assembly this month, along with Father Timothy Radcliffe.  [Good grief.]

[…]

That’s pretty strange.

This is also pretty strange, but it comes from the Fishwrap (aka National Sodomitic Reporter) where everything is strange.

$1.25M Lilly grant funds new program in women’s preaching

A new program to prepare women to preach in the Catholic Church has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., even as current church practice does not allow women to give the homily at Mass.  [Current and future Church practice, founded on divine revelation.]

But the possibility of women’s greater participation in the church is currently being discussed at the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican. A working document for the Oct 4-23 synod explicitly mentions “the possibility for women with adequate training to preach in parish settings.”  [Note the premise underlying this: women don’t have great participation in the church.  It’s small c with them always.  But is this premise correct?  Do woman not have great participation in the Church?   Just because by divine will some roles are not available to women, does that mean that they don’t participate?   They have a distorted understanding either of a) participation or b) women.  I’m not excluding that both of those could be operative.]

“This is a massive investment by the Lilly Foundation in Catholic women’s vocations and the possibility of them growing as ministers of the Word,” Casey Stanton, co-director of Discerning Deacons, told NCR.  [Guess what that group promotes.]

Discerning Deacons will share the grant with its fiscal sponsor, St. Thomas More Catholic [Jesuit] Community in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Center for the Study of Spirituality at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

[…]

The Center for the Study of Spirituality at St. Mary’s College, under the leadership of Franciscan Fr. Daniel P. Horan, [That guy?!?  I don’t think we have a lot to worry about.] will be the primary institutional partner in the venture.

[…]

Stanton of Discerning Deacons pointed out that, despite church prohibitions, [“in defiance of”] women currently break open the Word at funeral homes, Communion services and in other venues. “So even if nothing changes in the synod, women are already doing this,” she said. “We hope they can do it with the church’s blessing.”  [The readership knows about Communion in the hand, girl altar boys, etc.  This is how they do things: simply violate the law until in something like exasperation (0r collusion) the powers that be cave in.  It’s not going to happen with ordination to the diaconate.]

By the way, there is a difference between “breaking open the word” and “preaching”.

NO preaching.

Discerning Deacons… the site has a note about celebrating St. Phoebe Day.  Feminists claim, without any compelling evidence, that Phoebe was a deaconess.  Whenever I see that, I have to chuckle.  One of my old profs at the Augustinianum was Prosper Grech, who was eventually made a Cardinal (over 80).  I believe he gave the speech to the Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel as that sad Conclave got underway in 2013.   Grech was a bit of a wag with a very sharp tongue.  Anyway, he once quipped that Phoebe was probably a man, which still makes me smile.   Let’s just say that Grech wasn’t impressed with feminist claims.

Posted in Deaconettes, Synod | Tagged ,
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ROME 23/10 – Day 13: Little shavers

Posted on 13 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today I slept in a bit, so I didn’t enjoy the rising of the sun over the City at 07:18.  I will perhaps be out of church when it sets at 18:35, but that’s pushing it.  I’ll say Mass tonight at 18:00 FOR MY DONORS to whom I am so grateful. And it always cheers my beady-black heart to see new sign up.

The Ave Maria Bell would ring at 18:45… in the right kind of Roman Church world.

Speaking of sign ups, welcome new registrant:

beneluk

Last night I walked with The Great Roman™ and a couple celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary to a little place along the side of the great church of Sant’Agostino.

Last May, the area was dug up.   Now they have placed blocks so cars can’t enter.   The Augustinians need to get off their backsides and CLEAN their little piazza!   There are enough of them, with the students, etc.  To take care of the area.

I’ve gone to a little place “Da Pietro Valentini” for many years, so much so that son of the daughter of the now long-deceased original proprietor, whom I recall as an infant, is no longer a little shaver but a big strappin’ young man who works the tables.

To start, Norcina.  Half portion which I split with “La Signora”.

The not so little shaver shaved not so little truffle on our rare steak.

Not-So-Little-Shaver needs to dress better for his work.

Da Pietro Valentini is a great little family place with not many tables.  There is a little bustle and chaos and the quarters are close.   For decades they have been very American friendly, once having little American flags in the window when Americans in Italy were being bashed.   NB: Their wine list is not great.  The list is vague, for one thing: saying that they have a Chianti from Tuscany means almost nothing other than it is made from grapes.   Also, what they do have, when they bring it for your choice is, as I could tell, pretty much 2nd rate.  Not third.  Second.   So, it might be good to explore bringing a bottle.  The food, however, is very good and these are really nice people.

After, cigars and such at the Campo.

Today, I have had for lunch a couple of bowls of really good, super simple, vegetable soup.  Recipe: Buy a package of pre-chopped veg for minestrone.  Simmer it in chicken broth.  Sprinkle some grated parm on it.  Eat it.  This really hit the spot.   Super inexpensive, which is a good thing.

Action shot!  I was just finishing my weekly article for One Peter Five.

Meanwhile, there was a kerfuffle in Qatar at a big chess doing.  Magnus Carlsen mentioned to an arbiter that his much-lower ranked opponent was in violation of the FIDE rules by wearing a watch.   It was analog, but the rules forbid “watches”.  This is all part of anti-cheating measures.  The arbiter didn’t seem to care.  Moreover, Magnus said that there were people walking around in the hall with smart phones, which is seriously against the rules.

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Magnus later said that that put him off his game, cause the 23-yr 2512 ranked positively kicked Magnus ass in a well-played upset.  This is his first lost to someone this low in 20 years.

Magnus clarified that he was NOT accusing the guy of cheating.  He won fair and square.  However, it was one of those situations that the arbiter should have addressed.

After 2 rounds, Magnus is in this tourney down among people’s whose name’s I’ve never seen.  I suspect that won’t last.

Meanwhile, 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.

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

Can I remind you of a book I mentioned recently?

Fr. Robert Sirico gave my a copy of his new book about the late, great Card. Pell.  Without question Pell would have been a Dubia Cardinal this fall!  This volume contains homages to Card. Pell, so missed.

Pell Contra Mundum

US HERE – UK HERE

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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Whoopi Goldberg meets with Pope Francis

Posted on 13 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This is not Babylon Bee.

From LifeSite:

Whoopi Goldberg meets with Pope Francis, champions his acceptance of homosexuality

My thought….

Nope.

Posted in You must be joking! | Tagged
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Coincidence? As “Walking Together” smolders, rooms at Castel Gandolfo burn

Posted on 12 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It assuredly seems obvious to many who are paying attention that a great deal of effort of this pontificate has gone to overturning and erasing the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Just for examples: John Paul Institute on Marriage and Family… Summorum Pontificum.

As the “Walking Together on Walking Togetherity” slouches on with escalating signs that the entirely expected attempts on the Church’s moral teachings would ramp up, I find it interesting, in an “O my prophetic soul” sort of way, that a fire broke out at the papal palace at Castel Gandolfo and damaged rooms used by John Paul and Benedict… where Francis would not go.

Il diavolo non può nascondere la coda.

Posted in The Drill | Tagged
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Here we go! Walking Together on Walkingtogetherity members want “greater discernment” about you know what.

Posted on 12 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Form a committee or some kind of group and after awhile they will want to know how much power they have.

I read at CNA:

Synod on Synodality members ask ‘for greater discernment’ of Church teaching on sexuality

Participants in the Synod on Synodality have asked “for greater discernment on the teaching of the Church on the subject of sexuality,” a Vatican spokesman said at a press briefing today.

The revelation seems to be at odds with synod organizers’ repeated insistence that the monthlong assembly will not take up doctrinal questions but will instead focus on how the Church can better listen to its members.

The discussion of sexual doctrine came during the synod members’ work in the morning session, shared Paolo Ruffini, the president of the synod’s communications commission. During that session, participants focused on the theme of “mercy and truth.” The theme includes a controversial question on “what concrete steps are needed to welcome those who feel excluded from the Church today because of their status or sexuality.”

Ruffini said that while some asked for further discernment on the Church’s sexual teaching, others “said there’s no need for this further discernment.”

Ruffini did not expand on what he meant by “discernment” and was not asked to clarify.  [Not asked to clarify?  It seems to me that if some want more of something, it would be good to know what it is.]

Members made the request for “greater discernment” of the Church’s sexual doctrine during the assembly’s discussion of the controversial topic of LGBTQ inclusion. Following the synod’s working document, participants were asked to consider “what concrete steps are needed to welcome those who feel excluded from the Church today because of their status or sexuality.”

[…]

And Cardinal Mario Grech, who heads the Vatican office for synods, said that “no one wants to depart from the Church’s teaching,” this past July in response to questions about doctrinal changes that could result from the synod.  [No one wants to depart from the Church’s teaching…. riiiiiight.]

Here we go!

This is about sodomy, I’m afraid.

What they want won’t happen in this round of W-T.  Remember, the true content of the W-T about W-T is the process.   During the processing and discerning, eventually what will happen in common perception is that what Paul with zero ambiguity condemns in Ephesians 5 is actually okay.   No, wait, maybe we start with Card. Kasper’s beloved formula of “tolerated but not accepted” and then move, through the permanent revolution processing and discernment to where those things are “accepted, not just tolerated”.  Finally, they could become obligatory, once the masks are off.

Ephesians 5, friends. Colossians 3. “αἰσχρότης , ητος, ἡ,” (aischrót?s) … it meant something in the Greek of the ancient world: ugliness, deformity, filthy conduct. It is a euphemism for homosexual acts.

Posted in Pò sì jiù, Si vis pacem para bellum!, Sin That Cries To Heaven, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged
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palestrina500.org – This is something!

Posted on 12 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is some amazing news.

In Grand Rapids, MI, at the great Sacred Heart parish (wow, what a school!), there is going to be a musical series unlike anything I’ve heard of in the States or elsewhere.  It is a music festival for the 500th year of the birth of Palestrina.

palestrina500.org

I got this note: 

We’re bringing in the Tallis Scholars, the Gesualdo Six, the London Oratory Schola, and Schola Antiqua amongst others to sing the maestro’s music in the context for which was written, the Traditional Latin Mass. See our website for all the details: palestrina500.org
Knowing well your love for all things Roman and your zeal for the restoration of beauty and Tradition, would you kindly promote Peter’s post and our project? We’re looking to raise $150k over the next year. 

Did you read that?

Tallis Scholars
Gesualdo Six
London Oratory
etc.

Whew.

Here’s the great thing: they will be singing in MASSES not just concerts.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, The Campus Telephone Pole |
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ROME 23/10 – Day 12: What are these flowers?

Posted on 12 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I got really busy yesterday and somehow missed posting a daily update. Sorry about that.   However, today the sun rose at 07:17 and I with it, having slept in a bit.  Much needed.  It will set tonight at 18:36.

The Ave Maria Bell, yesterday, went into its 18:45 cycle.

I had a run to a wonderful cartoleria I’ve frequented for over 30 years.   The web of wires for the tram caught my eye.

Walking through the Campo, one sees cheese.

Lunch.  Simplicity.   Pizza bianca.  Mortadella with truffle.  Water.

In the evening, however, I was out with Chicagoans and we delved into something more complicated after having tried a gin from Sicily.  Hosteria Farnese does a good job with everything.  Dependable and very friendly.

There were cigars.

On the way home from supper, a quick look around.  Nothing special happening.

In my apartment at the moment, I have different flowers.  I don’t know what these are called.  I’ll bet one of you do.  Quite a strong scent.  I perhaps should have bought fewer.

They are starting to check out.

One of my favorites.  And they last well.

Meanwhile, white to play and win in this London structure.

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

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.
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

In chessy news, the US Championship is going on in St. Louis. Fabi is in 1st. My guy Wesley is tied in third. Roy Robson had a rockin’ 29-move victory over Jeffery Xiong. Meanwhile, in Qatar, Magnus, Hikaru and Anish all won in Doha. I haven’t played OTB for a while and I am unlikely to. I think I would be welcome at at board over at the P.za der Fico, but their brand of play isn’t what I’m looking for. There is, I understand, another group on Saturday mornings at Largo Febo. I must check them out.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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