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 680

Posted on 3 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Happy Ember Friday!

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Meanwhile,…

The Gotham Knights dominated the Shanghai Tigers and the Bulldogs bit the Blitz in tiebreaks! Week three concludes starting at 10:00 EST with The California Unicorns (BOO!) v. Team MGD1 of India and the Berlin Bears against the Saint Louis Arch Bishops in the second round of nail biting drama.

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. Even if you use SMILE, don’t worry! SMILE still gets the donation.

White to move towards mate.

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

Interested in learning? Try THIS.

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

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
1 Comment

From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-03-02

Posted on 2 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

March 2nd 2023

Dear Diary,

Got a nasty note from the ACLU down the hall. (Annoying Canon Law Undesirables as Fr. Bruce called them.) Apparently I’m not supposed to allow a collection to be taken up at the Encountering the Encounter thing.

Why the bleep not? It’s church! These people. I’ll get the vice-chancellor on it, aka The Chancellor of Vice (he does the priest cases), since he can ALWAYS find a workaround. He scares the beans out of people. Snarls like Chester but doesn’t drool as much.

Of the three times I’ve set foot in the tribunal in the last ten years, I can tell you that I don’t know and don’t care what they do. It smells like old pizza boxes, dust, and b.o. — with an undercurrent of dead mouse as you go toward one of their back rooms. The place is filled with overstuffed file cabinets and squashed legal boxes on top of them, and more boxes all around them, and more books than anyone could ever read. The carpet’s older than I am, that’s for sure. There are stacks and stacks of folders, and piles and piles of envelopes. Reminds me of all the hoarding shows I binge-watched with Fr. Tommy at the beginning of the pandemic during lockdown. I’ve got happy memories of that time — I got to stay in my bathrobe all day, got whatever food I wanted delivered, and watched some great tv.

I’m told we saved lots of lives by closing down the Masses. Not bad.

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

Daily Rome Shot 679

Posted on 2 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo by The Great Roman™

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Welcome registrant:

Friend of Becket

Meanwhile,…

White to move.

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

Meanwhile, in Pro Chess League action yesterday, there was a back and forth between young Yip of the Passers and mighty Magnus of the Chessbrahs. During the commentary by Tanya and Danya… no, really! … there was a great image from Tal and also an infamous arithmetical point of contention.

Here’s a snip.

“You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5 and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.”

– Mikhail Tal.

Today the Gotham Knights struggle against the Shanghai Tigers and the Blitz is lined up with the Croatia Buldogs.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

UPLIFTING COURSES – We all need continuing education, do we not?

Posted on 2 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Catholic Thing is sponsoring a new online course that began on 1 March. It’s not too late. They have in the past tackled the Dante’s Divine Comedy and The Confessions and City of God by St. Augustine. This new course is on St. Thomas More’s Utopia. It will be a four-week course. Utopia shows an additional side of More: his Christian humanism in a very rich work that contains elements of both idealism and satire over human follies. The very title of his book captures that ambiguity. It describes what many would like to think would be perfection — a “utopia” here on earth. But in Greek, as the learned More well knew, “utopia” means literally “no place.” As any real Christian knows, there’s no heaven on this earth, and attempts to create one often lead to hells. Click HERE and follow the simple instructions to register.

Also coming up courses by Edmund Mazza, whom I believe was hoisted out of his professorship for believing in God. He wrote saying:

I myself am offering new courses starting on the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas:
The Real Jesus vs the Fake Jesus
timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the release of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and with the release of Jesus Revolution in theaters now.

Starting March 8th, I’m also offering Pope History 102 from St. Leo the Great to Alexander VI Borgia.

Here’s the link to enroll: HERE

BTW… while I am in Rome, I’ll be billeted about 5 seconds away from the last resting place of Alexander VI, whose tomb is in a truly beautiful church.

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole |
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Mail From A Priest: “I have finally begun offering the Traditional Latin Mass”

Posted on 1 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Why I do what I do.

From a priest:

Dear Father,

I wanted to drop a note of gratitude. I have been following your blog for over a decade now and, after 2 and a half years of ordination, I have finally begun offering the Usus Antiquior. My offering of it is still…well…rough let’s say. However, I joyfully offered my first Ember Wednesday today. The state of affairs requires these to be a private Masses…

All this being said, I wanted to thank you and the other vanguards of Tradition. While I do not denigrate the Novus Ordo at all (we all know the areas of improvements let’s call them), but I do find myself yearning to be a better priest due to the prayer of offering the host to the Most Holy Trinity…my own inadequacies as a priest, my sinfulness, my negligence…all are recognized and offered with the host to the Father through His Son.

I simply wanted to drop a note of gratitude and encouragement. My deepest thanks are due to you. My request is that you pray for this poor sinner who wants to lead the flock entrusted to his loving but clumsy care to the experience of Theosis and Divinization by way of the Sacred Heart.

In the Father’s Merciful Heart, …

*sniff*

I will do that. I ask a prayer for myself.

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Mail from priests | Tagged first TLM
13 Comments

Jesuit at Fishwrap: “Jesus was wrong.”

Posted on 1 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At Fishwrap (aka National Schismatic Reporter) we read the insights of Jesuit Thomas Reese, disgraced former editor of Amerika, who wins our Oaf For A Day Award. HERE

Jesus continues his commentary by commenting on the commandment, “You shall love your neighbor, but hate your enemy.” Actually, Jesus is wrong. There is no Old Testament injunction to hate your enemies. Leviticus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and makes no reference to enemies.

Well! There it is. Implicit in this is: “Since Jesus was wrong about this, then maybe He was wrong about other things too… and so is the Church.”

In Matthew 5 the Lord talks about personal relationships. He introduces His teachings with contrasts, beginning with the phrase:

Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις … “You have heard that it was said to the men of old,… (v.21)

And variations of this, repeated: “You have heard that it was said,…” (vv. 31, 33, 38, 43).

Christ makes reference to what people have said, not necessary what was in their Scriptures.

Jesus is NOT wrong about what they have heard was said.

But… Jesuit… Jesuita, non Jesu ita.

Posted in Liberals, SESSIUNCULA, What are they REALLY saying?, You must be joking! |
28 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 678

Posted on 1 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Welcome new registrant:

straphpharm

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Meanwhile,…

White to move and win material.

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

Today in Pro Chess League action the Levitov Chess Wizards are up against the Indian Yogis and the Garden State Passers face the Canada Chessbrahs (with Magnus). HERE

This comes a little later in the day today because I am solving another problem involving squares and pieces: a shattered patio door. Double-pane so at least the inside is still integral. The offender was a rock thrown up by a weed-whacker. Replacement? 3.5 weeks for the panel. Grrrr.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
4 Comments

From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-03-01

Posted on 1 March 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Nothing new came in today so here is an oldie entry.

August 1st 2022

Dear Diary,

Tragedy has struck. Deacon Butch died in his sleep last night. His grandson called to tell me. Said he found him this morning, looking very peaceful. He was such a good guy and it wasn’t easy for him to start seminary when he was already up there, being a widower and all. God love you, Butch.

You know, they always say the first couple of months after ordination is sort of a honeymoon phase. It was for me. You’re happy, you get tons of presents, and none of the ministry headaches have set in yet. Hope Butch is enjoying that eternal diaconate honeymoon in the sky!

I’ll probably have to do his funeral at the cathedral. I hate funerals, but everyone knew Butch, so the place will be packed.

Now I’ve only got Dcn Luis to ordain next year, so it’s pedal to the metal with his English lessons!

Deacon Butch Warenheim, 1936 – 2022. Rest in peace, buddy. Hope you and Barbie-Jean are up there dancing the hop.

Posted in Diary of Bp. McButterpants | Tagged Bp. Fatty McButterpants
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From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-02-28 Encounter the Encounter

Posted on 28 February 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Feb 27th, 2023

Dear Diary,

Push-back on the new program “Encountering the Encounter”. Their main grousein the finance meetings is the money for hiring those two gals to do some online site for it, plus printing pamphlets and “worship aids” and the like. All this was the advice of Fr. Algernon – the one they call “Mr. V.F.” all the time – who goes on and on about how successful his parish is, how he brought it back from the brink, how he’s raking in the dough, etc. “Just throw some Adoration at it, Bishop!” Not bad advice. Adoration is a lot less effort for everyone involved: no choir to pay, no exhausting preaching, … that sort of thing. People just sit there and pray, so it’s not bad. NO WORKSHOPS or MEETINGS! At the last parish I was at with this, everyone sat. I have no idea where the kneelers went, but there weren’t any. Great new carpet, though. For the most recent “Holy Hour” I went to (“Holy Hour With The Bishop” – hey, that’s me!). I got things going and then got myself away for a sandwich and then come back with my uplifting reflections. Mostly older ladies with rosaries, but God love ’em, that’s what we got.

Note to self: be subtle, but ask Fr. Tommy what the heck V.F. stands for. I hope it’s some flaky undergrad degree, like the MDiv.

Note to self: Should I use D.D.?

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

Daily Rome Shot 677

Posted on 28 February 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo by The Great Roman™

Welcome new registrant:

Mrs

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

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

The Pro Chess League resumes hostilities today. The Brasil Capybaras are up against the Norway Gnomes (with David Howell) and the Charlotte Cobras (with Irina Krush) seek to defeat the Spain Maniac Shrimps.

Meanwhile,…

In this study, the solution is mate in 2.

WHITE to move even though the position suggests it is black to move. It’s a study.