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{]:¬)

“Availability of priests in Care Centers”

Posted on 11 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…. (edited):

Father,

My sister has been in an Assisted Living Center for some time and was just today transferred to hospice. Her daughter’s family are Nons and her husband is even actually antagonistic to any religious belief.

I was contacted today about my sister’s condition and called the Care Center to request a priest for my sister’s last rights. To my surprise, they had no priest listed and were of no help. They could/ would not even give me the name of a nearby Catholic Church. I went online and called two Catholic Churches. St. ___ had no priest available as theirs was on vacation until the end of the month. They referred me to St. ___. I was connected to ___, who also had no priest as theirs was also on vacation. However, after I asked if my life long Catholic sister might actually not receive the last rights, she said she would find a priest. She called back a short time later and told me that a retired priest agreed to visit my sister. I just received a call from the Care Center that Father ___ was with my sister!!

I suggested to the Care Center that they should alert Father to how many Catholic residents were there and in need of a priest. They indicated that they would do so.
It never entered my mind that Catholic residents of Nursing homes, Assisted Living and Hospice Centers might have no access to the support of a priest.

Please ask your readers to follow up with their loved ones in the various care centers. I cannot express how relieved I am that I discovered this in time. Do not take no for an answer. It took me several hours but a priest was found. What a sad state for our Church.

-signed-

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes |
28 Comments

My View For Awhile: Day 2 Conference

Posted on 11 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’m at the conference for priests in WV held by the St Paul Center For Biblical Theology. There are some 250 priests here from (I think) 98 dioceses and several countries. Lots of new faces this year, biggest ever.

This year our focus is Matthew. Last night Scott Hahn addressed us. This morning John Bergsma.

We are into Matthew:

More later.

YOU can follow the talks online. You will find a link in recent Rome shot posts.

Schedule (Eastern Time)
Morning Session
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer and Announcements
8:30–9:45 a.m. Conference Session – Dr John Bergsma
11:15 a.m. Daily Mass Homily Posted
11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Conference Session – Dr Lawrence Feingold

Afternoon Session
2:00–3:00 p.m. Optional Workshop – Dr Ralph Martin
3:05–3:35 p.m. Optional Workshop –

Evening Session
7:15-7:45 p.m. Announcements and Evening Prayer
7:45–9:00 p.m. Conference Session – Dr. Scott Hahn

I warmly recommend these conferences, which are intended for priests.

UPDATE

If you are looking at the video – yesterday’s talk by Ralph Martin was great.

I’ve assumed a few new books as is it did t have enough.

I’m glad to see this on sale.

The dining area.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel

We are getting ready for Scott Hahn’s second talk.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 6th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 14th) 2023

Posted on 9 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Share the good stuff.

It’s the 6th Sunday after Pentecost in the Vetus Ordo and the 14th 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.

A taste:

It must be possible to have no attachment to sin, even venial, otherwise the Church would not require it of us to gain the plenary indulgence. It must be possible and not just for an “elite.” Whenever you hear some smarmy churchman say something along the lines of or implying that living a virtuous life is a nearly impossible “ideal,” let your alarm bells ring and be on your guard. When they say that we shouldn’t set up difficult “ideals” for people to live up to, that their circumstances are too difficult, you are probably dealing with a modernist who might not have a well-grounded belief in God. They certainly, in their faux-mercy, don’t have a regard for the eternal salvation of souls.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
8 Comments

My View For Awhile: Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Posted on 8 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ve been on the road for a few days. One needs a visit to Buc-ee’s. However, I think I will never visit one of these places on a summer weekend again unless perhaps early in the morning. I was jammed.

I first visited a buddy who is now chaplain at Parris Island. “And on that island… there is sand…”.

Not so much sand here, however. Swamp, rather.

For supper it was between shrimp and grits and gumbo. With, of course, beer. This beer was NOT as good as the beer the monks make in Norcia. Not by along shot.

Having had Gumbo at Parris Island, I couldn’t help but think of our long-lost and much-missed Semper Gumby. If you are out there, c’mon back home.

And remind my to avoid the interstate on summer weekends. I-26. Nightmare of construction and just plain moronic driving.

I darn near died in Ashville. We were merging into the next phase of Interstate, lots of traffic. Fast. The woman in front of me… STOPPED. AFTER merging onto the INTERSTATE. A phalanx of guardian angels deserve thanks. It was perhaps the single weirdest thing I’ve seen and one of the most dangerous by far. My heartrate is still coming down and that was yesterday.

Having reached my next overnight stop, there was good food and an unbeatable view of the bend in the river where Daniel Boone was.

Early up and off. I am not in West Virginia for a conference for priests held by the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

It is possible for people to subscribe for internet viewing of the talks.

I warmly recommend these conferences, which are intended for priests.

Posted in On the road, SESSIUNCULA, What Fr. Z is up to |
8 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 741

Posted on 8 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In Rome, in the Borghese Garden the summer Shakespeare season starts at a replica of the Globe, similar to the one on the Surrey side in London. HERE

The Rapid portion of the Rapid and Blitz concluded in Zagreb. Magnus is still down in the standings while young Gukesh beat Obi Wan… et um… Vishy Anand. Blitz is next. Fabi is leading, tied with Nepo.

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.

White to play 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

A thought or two from Mass today…

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
1 Comment

Any readers from Kotor in Montenegro? – UPDATED

Posted on 7 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Are there any readers here from the Diocese of Kotor in Montenegro (Dioecesis Catharensis) or from the nearby area of Croatia?

Why? I’m looking for a priest. When the recent Grand Chess Tour started in Zagreb, there was a simul match between selected participants and the grand masters who came for the tournament. A priest was at one of the boards. Anyone know him? Drop me a line.

UPDATE:

I posted this at 12:02.

At 14:04 I get an email.

A good friend of mine lives in Montenegro and is well-connected in the Catholic world, so I shot him the link to your blog post today. He immediately knew which priest you’re looking for.

He proceeds to give my the guy’s name and email.

You people are AMAZING.

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, Mail from priests |
1 Comment

From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-07-07 – Tribunal Update and Anniversary

Posted on 7 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

July 7th, 2023

Dear Diary,

I asked Fr. Gilbert to ask Vice for the status of the Pie Town couple. Gilbert came back and chirped, “Sheila is working on it!” Sheila. The canonist gal in the tribunal. I’ve hardly seen her, but then I try to avoid the ACLU* all together. All canon lawyers are grating, but a woman telling me I’M the one doing the wrong thing “according to canon law”? The worst!

Anyway, Sheila and her secretary, old Mrs. Cifuentes been there about a thousand years – called the guy who wants to get married here. As I get it, he is civilly married but wants to get married in the Catholic Church so he and his wife can get back to the sacraments. Mrs. C dug around and found out his parish in his native village wanted to charge him the two hundred dollars for his baptismal certificate! So she went online and found a number and called the man’s childhood parish and the pastor himself answered. Mrs. C said it was a Milagrow, which I suppose is like a family name down there. Pretty soon the pastor, Fr. Milagrow? sent a photo of the certificate front and back to her cell phone, and promised to send it by mail when he goes to the capital next week. I guess mail is unreliable there. Sheila and Mrs. C also called their diocesan tribunal and there was no answer. They found an email address. It took a couple days but someone answered back in Spanish that his first marriage was declared null but there’s a vetima sp? or something for this guy. He can’t get married again without going to counseling first. Why our staff is handling this is beyond me. These people live in Pie Town! Vice says the Pie Town tribunal is famous for never answering the phone. Why are my people doing Dozer’s people’s work? They say high school never ends, but let me tell you seminary never, ever ends. I was doing Dozer’s papers for him in seminary too! Serves him right cause we both nearly flunked out. I really outta send Doz a bill for this.

*Fr. “Just Call Me Bruce” Hugalot over at the Sing A New Faith Community Into Being Faith Community calls them the “Annoying Canon Law Undesirables” and it sort of stuck in what passes for his mind.

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

Daily Rome Shot 740

Posted on 7 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From The Great Roman™ – very cool.

Yesterday, Magnus had a rough day in Zagreb where the GCT Rapid and Blitz is going on. He lost two in a row, before coming back to beat former World Champ Vishy Anand. Meanwhile, the leadership in that competition shifted around. Quite dramatic. Ian Nepomniachtchi won three straight. Today he faces Fabiano Caruana and Vishy in rounds 8 and 9. There was a storm in the Netherlands because of a storm in the Netherlands which prevented a player at the Dutch Women’s Chess Championship from arriving in time to play a game. The gummit had declared a “code red” in which people were advised not to try to travel. Games were postponed, but it wasn’t enough for one of them to get there. “Too bad,” said the organizers. In Shanghai the score is tied 1-1 between Lei Tingjie and Ju Wenjun in the women’s FIDE Women’s World Championship.

Meanwhile, Lei saw the Synod (“walking together”) list.

As I write, Tour de France coverage is still on, but yesterday as of Stage 6 Vingegaard is in yellow, Philipsen in green, Powless (USA) in the prestigious polk-dots, Pogacar in white and Jumbo-Visma leads. Some crazy climbing yesterday and real tactics.

The coverage of the Tour is fantastic, even just from the point of view of the shots of the land and sites from helicopters following the group. Truly beautiful.

NB: I was asked by a priest to ask YOU to pray for him, his bishop and an abbot as he discerns joining a monastic community.

Speaking of monastic communities, the Benedictine monks in Norcia make great beer and you can have some. Wonderful with savory sausage and cheese.

White to play, mate in 2.

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

Interested in learning? Try THIS. He helped my game.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
1 Comment

16th Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum – Thoughts on how this might end and a fitting song.

Posted on 7 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

What a day that was. I was still at the “Sabine Farm”, like Horace away from Rome’s summer heat. The days were bright and full of hope. A friend stopped in to share a bottle of “The Widow”. What a day.

Sincerely, I think all this madness will pass one way or another.

Today is the anniversary of the release of Summorum Pontificum, the saintly Pope Benedict XVI’s “emancipation proclamation” for those who desired what they ought to have had all along: freedom to use the Church’s traditional Roman Rite.

That endured – although hampered by those who hate those who love Tradition – until it was shut down, again an act of hatred of those who love Tradition, under the cruel document Traditionis custodes and subsequent incoherent burpings of dyspeptic micromanagement from what is now called the “Dicastery”.

Traditionis custodes is to Summorum Pontificum what Plessy v Ferguson was to the Emancipation Proclamation. If that trend holds, who shall issue the parallel to Brown v. Board?

They won’t win. Too much is at stake. Too many people are now involved with traditional sacred liturgical worship. Too many people hardly involved in anything are dropping away. Too much information is available on the internet.

So, it is going to end, someday. I foresee different possibilities.

First, Rex Novus In Aegypto doesn’t have to be bad. It can be good. Perhaps the next man elected to the See of Peter will be more compassionate.

Second, people will simply, in larger and larger numbers, ignore the cruelty and will take matters into their own hands without – NB – without malice or any sense of separation or schism from legitimate authority legitimately exercised. Home chapels and perhaps even purchased places, plenty of cancelled priests to help, lots of willing and happy hands, ready to build the ark and ready to turn it all back to normal when the storm ends.

Third, the Lord will return.

Fourth, in view of the Lord returning, there may be an extinction level cataclysmic event, such as a massive meteor that strikes the planet. Along the lines of this song sent by a priest friend this morning.

Posted in Look! Up in the sky!, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes | Tagged SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM
11 Comments

What will the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together-ity”) be like? The LIST of participants is out.

Posted on 7 July 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

What will the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together-ity”) be like?

One clue is to look at the list of the participants.

First, however, I note this, from Jesuit-run Amerika Magazine:

Here is a list of the participants: HERE

NB: The List is FIFTY (50) pages long!

One of my interlocutors this morning asked our chat group:

How are this many individuals going to work effectively in two weeks on a document that runs to 50 pages? Unless the thing is rigged?

As an experiment, open that and then do a CTR+F search for Stati Uniti d’America

WARNING: Before doing that, if you suffer from depression or anxiety attacks, it might be better to go to one of my chess posts.

You might not be as familiar with names from other countries. However, the list includes a broad range of notorious lay communists from Italy.

Oh… and there’s Timothy Radcliffe, who has something in common with James Martin.

I am amused by the participants of the Synod (“walking together”) of Bishops who are listed under:

DALLE ASSEMBLEE CONTINENTALI
MEMBRI NON INSIGNITI DEL MUNUS EPISCOPALE
TESTIMONI DEL PROCESSO SINODALE

These are the non-bishops who are the “witnesses” of the synodal (“walking together”) process.

Remember the other day I posted something HERE about how those bishops who choose not to go along with everything that the Synod (“walking together”) comes up with will owe “restitution” to those who participated in the “process”? Their job is the “confirm” the “community discernment process”. You should review that. Can one imagine that perhaps some strong arm tactics might be employed against what is obviously a minority to go along quietly with the hand they are dealt knowing full-well that the deck was stacked a long time ago?

Here’s the “deal”.

This is going to be something else.

BUT… we’ve been told that it is going to be something else. After all, Francis quoting Congar said HERE in an opening address at the Synod (“walking together”) in 2022:

“We must not make another Church, we must make a different Church”

That wasn’t just a rhetorical flourish. I think we should take him at his world, Jesuit background notwithstanding.

I assume that more and more we will be reading about how the “Spirit” is going to be at work.

Dear readers, what I can offer is the suggestion that you make sure you are living your vocation well, you are staying in the state of grace and using the sacraments well. Especially, regularly examine your conscience and GO TO CONFESSION. Stick to our solid, tried and true traditional practices of devotion and sacred worship. We all shall weather this storm. There will be those who are swept over the side. As Benedict XVI said, the “boat” is taking on water. But the boat shall remain.

None of this should come as a surprise. Sure, it shocks, but it really doesn’t, does it?

Again, look for possible holes in the way you are living your state in life. Redouble your devotions and your will to do penance in reparation.