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{]:¬)

From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-06-12 – Going to the bishops meeting

Posted on 14 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

June 12th, 2023

Dear Diary,

Off to Orlando for the bishops’ meeting soon. It’s like heading into a sauna. At least that’s how I remember Florida. Whew. Squeezing into an airplane seat even first class. It’s just not much fun any more.

I’m taking Fr. Gilbert, so he can drive me around. I remember ordaining him on a really muggy day and the kid didn’t break a sweat. Just grinned. Super annoying! I’m sure he’ll be all calm and cool in Orlando. He can drive, and I’ll crank up the air. Crank down? There are good restaurants in O I remember when Jenny* and her kids took me with them ages ago. There’s a good one at the animal world place. Can’t get on the rides at the parks so might as well tuck in to a good steak – I always think of surf n turf at zoos – and cocktails with little umbrellas.

Haven’t looked at the TON of meeting stuff from DC yet. So much paper. What about the planet? HA! Blah blah on immigration, ongoing formation for clergy, health care issues, sin-odd, as Vice calls it. Still don’t know. I figure if I keep everyone happy that’s half the battle. No one talked about sin-odds before, much anyway. Now they don’t shut up.

Gotta pack. I hate this part.

I wonder how with Fr. Gilbert and Fr. Tommy out of town Sr. Randi will manage with Chester. She’s on her own now in that apartment now that the last two old gals passed away. She be alone with Chester. Ha! There outta be some good stories when I get back. Or lawsuits. Nah, she wouldn’t do that. Her superior, that’s another matter. I should get Sr something nice from the airport shop.

It’ll be good to catch up with some of the bishops, friends that is. It’s good to get together for the regional things with the guys, but this is different.

And the Nuncio will be there. Gotta keep my head on a ~~stick~~ swivil and watch my blind spot.

Dear Diary,

Update. I had a disturbing call from Jude. He wants to talk to me in O about an ex-priest of ours. What that could be about I don’t know but it sounds like work. He said he’d buy supper at Charley’s Steakhouse so, I guess we’re meeting up. “Absolutely no Dozer!”, he said. He knows me too well.

*Fatty’s sister.

Posted in Diary of Bp. McButterpants | Tagged Bp. Fatty McButterpants
3 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 717

Posted on 14 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I miss my neighborhood.

Meanwhile, not much chess news. The Juniors are playing in a speed chess tourney. Yesterday I tuned in to Eric Rosen’s stream – he is playing in Las Vegas – and just as he turned his cam to look out his hotel window the Thunderbirds flew by. Very cool. I think it was part of the final game of the Stanley Cup. Coincidently, the Golden Knights won, beating the Florida Panthers… two ICE hockey teams in places where there is really no business having ICE hockey since there isn’t any ICE. For those of you in Columbia Heights, a “knight” is a chess piece and you don’t pronounce the “k” unless you are in a Monty Python movie.

Here’s a puzzle.

White to move.

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

BTW… today is a very lean day for monthly donors.

I have no idea why there are two donate buttons. There just are. I can’t get rid of the duplicate. I don’t want to rule out donating twice, but that’s not the intention.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
Comments Off

Another gift from the Pope of Christian Unity: Anglican bishop swims the Tiber

Posted on 14 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here’s some good news.

From CBCEW:

Right Revd Richard Pain to be received in the Personal Ordinate of Our Lady of Walsingham

The Right Revd Richard Pain, a former Bishop of Monmouth, will be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church within the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, on Sunday 2 July at St Basil & St Gwladys, Rogerstone Newport. He will be received by The Rt Revd Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Monsignor Newton said: ’We are delighted that after much prayer Richard has asked to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church. He will be the first bishop from the Anglican Church in Wales to be received into the Ordinariate since its creation in 2011. Richard has a long and distinguished ministry in the Church in Wales. He has many gifts which he will continue to use to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Wales.’

Commenting on his forthcoming reception, Richard expressed joy at this next step of his Christian journey. ‘Having retired from episcopal ministry three years ago, I have had time to reflect on the retiree’s perennial question- what next? The process of discernment continues throughout life and is constantly shaped by context but more importantly by the whisper of God’s voice.

The Benedictine understanding of obedience – hearing the Lord- has been significant to my personal formation. The call to conversion which follows has led me to becoming a convert to the Catholic Church through the Ordinariate.

I have much to be grateful for the experience gained over a lifetime as an Anglican. Yet the call to Catholicism seems natural and spiritual at the same time. To start afresh will be a welcome challenge and I come – as we all do – as a learner and a disciple. The Ordinariate, through the vision of Pope Benedict, provides a generous pathway to walk a pilgrim way and I ask for your prayers.’

[…]

Benedict XVI. Pope of Christian Unity.

Posted in Pope of Christian Unity | Tagged Anglican Ordinariate, Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, Pope of Christian Unity
2 Comments

From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-06-10 – More on that problem couple and the Nuncio

Posted on 13 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

EDITOR’S NOTE: +F.Atticus is referring to a couple who asked for his blessed at a reconciliation service back in Lent. HERE There was serious fallout. The couple claimed that +F.Atticus blessed their marriage and now the Nuncio is involved. HERE

June 10th, 2023

Dear Diary,

It turns out the people who wrote to the Nuncio live outside our diocese. Thank the Lord and get me a scotch! They live just over the border in the Pie Town diocese. They are Dozer’s subjects! HA! Their own parish was “throwing up hoops” for them to jump through, so they came over the border to our Engendering Togetherness Community of Welcome. I love that name. It turns out that this couple recently moved to America and the man had an annulment from his home country but could not get the documentation from his diocese back home nor could he get a baptismal certificate. Their pastor in Newville, Fr. Bob “anything goes” Newsome who Dozer is always griping about tried to help them but no go. They had to have the documentation. Then the couple went to Fr. Bruce at Engendering. Bruce ain’t exactly the sharpest fork in the drawer, but even he knew he needed proof the man was free to marry. After that they ambushed me at the Cathedral and escalated it and wrote to Archbishop Florange. It’s not the first letter the Nuncio has gotten about me, so I keep trying to keep him happy. Dang it if that isn’t life as a bishop, always have to keep everyone happy! Vice better put the petal to the medal. The letter that Mrs. Kennedy drafted for me was the height of groveling. That’ll keep Florange at bay for a while.

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

Daily Rome Shot 716: Glorious

Posted on 13 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Quite the evening.

In chessy news, Netflix is offering a game/trainer based on the massive-hit 7-part series The Queen’s Gambit, a book by Walter Tevis. That series was one of the elements that fueled the chess tsunami that is still rolling. So it seems that you, too, will be able to be coached up by Mr Shaibel.

From the end of July and into August, the FIDE World Cup will be held in Azerbaijan with a combined prize pool of $2.5 million. Magnus and Nepo will be there along with Fabi, Anish, Wesley (yay!), MVL, Gukesh, Nodirbek, Pragg and locals Radjabov and Marmedyarov. On the women’s side Hump Koneru, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Ju Wenjun, etc.

FIDE and Mahindra – a huge tech thing in India where chess is exploding along with the population – are joining forces to create The Global Chess League which begins on 21 June with its first season, ten round-robins among 6 teams of 6 players. The male, female, and under 21 mixed Teams: Ganges Grandmasters, Triveni Continental Kings, SG Alpine Warriors, Chingari Culf Titans, Balan Alaskan Knights, upGrad Mumba Masters.

They are expecting some 600 MILLION viewers in 160 countries. The franchise owners will held – I think that’s right – a players draft to fill out their teams. The first season is from 21 June – 2 July in Dubai. This is OTB, folks, not eSport like the Pro Chess League wherein teams such as the Norway Gnomes battled the Spain Maniac Shrimps. I’ve gotta say that the Global Chess League should work on their team names and logos. Yawn. I note that the only puzzling, unengaging team and logo in the PCL is also Indian, that TeamMDG1. What is that? A little whimsy is needed. Am I wrong?

In any event, this should be interesting. All the great players will be involved.

Back to The Queen’s Gambit for a moment. The music composed for the series was terrific, but the closing credits with the – I don’t know how to describe it – animation? – were spectacular.

Meanwhile, 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.

Today in 1231 the Portuguese-born friar Anthony died in Padua. He was canonized by Gregory IX in 1232. FAST! This is an amazing saint.

Speaking of St. Anthony, his favorite hymn was O gloriosa Domina, which his mother would sing to him.

Another version. This is sung by the wonder BEER BREWING MONKS of Norcia!

Another version.

Posted in Our Solitary Boast |
3 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 715

Posted on 12 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Welcome registrant:

SanDiegoCatholic

Here’s a puzzle. White to move. Watch your king! The position looks dire. Therefore, better force.

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

I am an affiliate for chess.com with House of Staunton. Buy chess stuff.

And if you want to improve – and who doesn’t? – try this guy. This isn’t his only offering, by the way.

In chessy news, in that chess megalopolis St. Louis, Ukranian-born US-player Anna Zatonskih, 44 years old and the lowest rated in the tournament, beat Zhansaya Abdumalik in round 8 of the Cairns Cup to claim tournament victory with one round to spare, also gaining a GM norm. Today, Alexandra Kosteniuk will try with black against US player Irina Krush.

Let’s see if I can manage to embed the game correctly.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 714

Posted on 11 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Welcome registrant:

David James

Here’s a puzzle. White to move. FORCE! Watch that pawn.

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

Prayer for my mother, please.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
8 Comments

A nostalgic moment

Posted on 11 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

On this Sunday, when many are celebrating Corpus Christi, I’m feeling a little nostalgic.

I spotted this photo in my plentiful archive.

Back when the world was a brighter place and hearts were buoyant and war was not being waged on Catholic identity, we had a Pontifical Mass at the Throne celebrated by the late Extraordinary Ordinary, Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino. For one of the Benediction Stations, we went into the building which was the former seminary/chancery and from a high balcony the Bishop gave the Eucharist Benediction over the whole city.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Save The Liturgy - Save The World |
7 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes: Corpus Christi Sunday (2nd Sunday after Pentecost) 2023 – POLL

Posted on 11 June 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

First, let us know if you had the observance of Corpus Christi on this Sunday.

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

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

We can have an exception to just good stuff this week.

Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass. I hear that it is growing. Of COURSE. The church was jammed in Rome. As “diverse” a crowd as you will see anywhere other than a major international airport.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

Here’s a poll. Anyone can vote, but you have to register and be approved to make a comment. I hope you will! Tell us what you had.

I made some comments based on the 1st Reading for Mass in the Traditional Roman Rite: HERE

A sample:

There’s something wrong when Catholics don’t take Christ into the streets, as well as beloved relics and statues of Our Lady and the Saints. That “something wrong” can come from outside the Church, from persecution. It can also come from within the Church, for example when our leaders, once shepherds, get their priorities scrambled, and begin giving logical priority to things like “process” and “dialogue” and even works of mercy, as good and as important as those things can be. They have their place. But, for them to be fruitful and Catholic in the deeper sense, they must have their origin in and direction back to the fons et culmen, the source and summit, which is the Eucharist, itself in the sacramental species as well as in its celebration which is Holy Mass. We are our rites. Therefore, we have to have our priorities straight, logically, even though their ends may chronologically overlay each other. Identity checks are in order.