Here’s some good news.
JUST IN: Cardinal Raymond Burke will celebrate a Pontifical High Mass in the Old Rite in St. Peter’s Basilica during the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage in Rome this October 24–26. The Mass will be offered at the Altar of the Chair on Saturday, October 25: https://t.co/RoGCedb14x pic.twitter.com/aoM5m6kUEs
— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) September 7, 2025
From Space.com
Tonight (Sept. 7–8, 2025), the moon will slip into Earth’s shadow for a total lunar eclipse — creating a dramatic ‘blood moon’.
It’s completely safe to watch with the naked eye; no filters or glasses are needed. All you need to do is make sure you find the moon at the right time, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
If you live outside of the viewing area or can’t make it outside to view the eclipse live, luckily you can watch the blood moon total lunar eclipse on Sept. 7 with these free livestreams, or right here at Space.com. You can also follow along with our lunar eclipse live blog for updates, images and milestones as the eclipse unfolds. Find everything you need to know about the total lunar eclipse with our comprehensive September 2025 total lunar eclipse guide.
Asia and Western Australia get the full show. Much of Europe and Africa will see the moon already in totality as it rises, while the Americas will miss out this time. Altogether, over 7 billion people will be in range of at least part of the eclipse, according to Time and Date.
The eclipse runs from 11:28 a.m. EDT (15:28 GMT) to 4:55 p.m. EDT (20:55 GMT). The highlight is the unusually long 82 minutes of totality, lasting from 1:30 p.m. to 2:52 p.m. EDT (17:30 to 18:52 GMT).
This eclipse occurs just 2.7 days before the moon reaches perigee, or its closest point to Earth. That makes the moon appear slightly larger than usual, adding to the spectacle.
The Nativity of Mary, which we celebrate on 8 September – let’s get out ahead of it this time – is older than the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was precisely nine months ago.
Stop for a moment. Consider what our eternal prospects were before the birth not only of Our Lord, but also before the birth of His Mother, from whom He took our human nature, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Ponder the state of slavery to sin in which we were bound and, after death, the strong possibility of everlasting separation from God.
Given what our prospects were, celebrating the birth of our fallen humanity’s solitary boast is a really good idea.
Holy Church, in celebrating liturgically her holy birth for a long time, ultimately reasoned back to Mary’s holy conception. As St. Thomas Aquinas argued,
“The Church celebrates the feast of our Lady’s Nativity. Now the Church does not celebrate feasts except of those who are holy. Therefore, even in her birth the Blessed Virgin was holy. Therefore, she was sanctified in the womb.” (STh III, q. 27, a. 1)
As we worship, so do we believe.
As we believe, so do we worship.
Change our worship you change belief, and vice versa.
We are our rites.
Here is the entry in the Roman Martyrology for today’s feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Festum Nativitatis beatae Mariae Virginis, ex semine Abrahae, de tribu Iuda ortae, ex progenie regis David, e qua Filius Dei natus est, factus homo de Spiritu Sancto, ut homines vetusta servitute peccati liberaret.
The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sprung from the seed of Abraham [and] from the tribe of Judah, from the line of David the king, from which was born the Son of God, made man of the Holy Ghost, that he might free men from the ancient slavery to sin.
We can look at her Collect as well.
Fámulis tuis, qu?sumus, Dómine, cœléstis grátiæ munus impertíre: ut, quibus beátæ Vírginis partus éxstitit salútis exórdium; Nativitátis eius votíva sollémnitas pacis tríbuat increméntum.
That impertire looks like the infinitive of impertio, and it is! However, there is also a deponent verb impertior, which would make that form an imperative. After all, we need a verb in there, right? It’s a little tricky to deal with that quibus.
Bestow upon Your servants, we beseech You, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace: so that, for whom the birth of the Blessed Virgin projected the beginning of our salvation, the solemn feast of her Nativity may bring about an increase of peace.
Fámulis tuis, quǽsumus, Dómine, cœléstis grátiæ munus impertíre:
└── ut
└── [Relative clause] quibus beátæ Vírginis partus éxstitit salútis exórdium
└── [Main ut-clause] Nativitátis eius votíva sollémnitas pacis tríbuat increméntum
Right now, the gravely voice of the late Fr. Reginald Foster is growling into the ear of my memory. “Zuhlsdorf! What is that quibus doing in the sentence?” “It’s a dative of reference referring to famulis tuis.” “AND?!?” “It’s the implicit explanation for the petition, a hinge that takes us from memory of the exordium to what we look for in the future. It’s a “flash of anamnesis.” “Very poetic.”
The quibus clause is a kind of hinge, deliberately placed between the ut and main petition. Even in the recitation of the prayer that quibus catches our attention. It is a reminder of the “why” we are celebrating the feast by linking the petition with the event in salvation history. This structure is often found in our Roman Collects. William Durandus of Mende (†1296 – aka Durandus) in his Rationale divinorum officiorum (IV, 14), explains a Collect’s ordering:
“In orationibus tria continentur: invocatio Dei, commemoratio beneficiorum, petitio iustorum. … In the prayers three things are contained: the invocation of God, the commemoration of His benefits, and the petition for what is just.”
He also points out the intercalated relative clauses:
“Saepe etiam interponitur clausula quae ostendit causam vel rationem, cur petatur. … Often too a clause is inserted which shows the cause or reason why the petition is made.”
That is exactly what quibus is doing in the Collect for the Nativity of Mary. Quibus supplies the “ratio” of the petition. Because Mary’s birth once brought salvation, the present feast can bring peace.
Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.
With these words of the Formula of Canonization, Pope Leo XIV officially proclaimed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis saints of the Catholic Church. pic.twitter.com/Kg7JwnZZFz
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) September 7, 2025
How long, O lord?
JUST IN: S?awomir Cenckiewicz (second from left below), national security advisor to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, said yesterday that during their recent visit to the Vatican, he discussed “the subject of Catholic Tradition & the injustices of Traditionis Custodes.”
Writing… pic.twitter.com/JSg4sw75dN
— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) September 7, 2025
In chessy news…. the FIDE Grand Swiss is taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 4-15 September. An open event and a women’s event are being played concurrently. Both tournaments are 11-round Swiss opens with classical time controls. Each tournament grants two spots in the next edition of the Candidates. They’ve reached Round 4.
Here’s a different kind of puzzle. Not too hard, but good. This fellow has instructional courses.
Brilliant Rook Sacrifice, But Why??? pic.twitter.com/s185He2hGh
— Igor Smirnov (@GMIgorSmirnov) September 7, 2025
[NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.]
Interested in learning? Try THIS.
Okay, here’s another one… this is not so easy. White to move. Find the winning continuation. HERE From chess.com
Get great beer from traditional Benedictine monks in Italy.
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 13th Sunday after Pentecost, or the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time?
Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.
Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?
A couple thoughts about the sign of the cross: HERE A taste…
[…]
Cardinal Schuster, in his Liber Sacramentorum, meditates on this miracle and sees in it the foreshadowing of the Church’s universality: “The Samaritan, healed together with the others, alone returns to give thanks, a figure of the Gentiles who would accept the Gospel with gratitude, while Israel, though healed, would remain ungrateful”. Pius Parsch likewise stresses the liturgical undertones: “The thanksgiving of the Samaritan is a Eucharistic thanksgiving; his posture at the feet of Christ is the adoration of the Church in the Mass”.
Indeed, the narrative unfolds almost liturgically. First, the assembly: ten sufferers gather in expectant hope. Then the Kyrie: they cry out for mercy. The Lord commands them in the manner of a liturgical proclamation, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” A miracle occurs, hidden at first, but manifest in obedience. The Samaritan, realizing the gift, returns, singing his Gloria aloud. He falls prostrate, euchariston, eucharistically, in thanksgiving. Finally, the dismissal: “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” The sequence of actions mirrors the Holy Mass, from the penitential cry to the dismissal.
[…]
Today’s Mass, Votive of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is for the intentions of her Immaculate Heart… which includes REPARATION.
The Remnant posted these photos from St. Peter’s this morning of the LGBT procession into Rome. Note the demonic claws in the one photo, and the “f*ck the rules” shoulder bag on the dude holding hands either another dude in the other photo.
Penance and reparations MUST be made! pic.twitter.com/SFV0VNvjkp
— Lepanto Institute (@LepantoInst) September 6, 2025
Some people dream of being able to go to Rome and visit St. Peter’s. It is, for many, a singular experience of a lifetime, never to be repeated.
And they have to see THAT.
I would like the Pope, @JamesMartinSJ and the rest of the synodal fathers and “mothers” to reflect on the scandal they’ve unleashed on the little ones who still bother to practice the Catholic Faith. This was my daughter’s first visit to the Basilica of St. Peter, and she was… pic.twitter.com/6JpgvAj3pQ
— Michael J. Matt (@Michael_J_Matt) September 6, 2025
Dear Diary. Today I committed mortal sins and boasted about them. https://t.co/rIwFhbxxJ7
— Eccles (@BruvverEccles) September 6, 2025
Read the statement carefully. This is a declaration of war upon holy Mother Church! https://t.co/HGE76mEcHI
— Lepanto Institute (@LepantoInst) September 6, 2025
I should probably have posted this a couple days ago so that priests could have the texts.
Today is the Feast of St. (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta. For those who say the Vetus Ordo, it is possible to celebrate her according to Cum sanctissima instead of St. Lawrence Justinian who is, I think it is fair to say, not as relevant for our times.
Here is her poetic entry in the 2004 Roman Martyrology:
10* Calcuttae in India, beatae Teresiae (Agnetis) Gonhxa Bojaxhiu, virginis, quae, ex Epiro nata, sitim Christi in cruce derelicti eximia caritate in pauperrimos fratres restinxit et Congregationes Missionariarum et Missionariorum a Caritate in plenum servitium aegrotorum derelictorumque instituit.
St. Teresa was at my ordination.
We could insert the proper prayers in the Common of Virgins. These are used by the Missionaries for Mother’s feast, which they observe as a Novus Ordo solemnity.
COLLECTA
Deus, qui beátam Terésiam, vírginem, vocásti,ut amóri Fílii tui in cruce sitiéntis exímia caritáte in paupérrimos respondéret, da nobis, quaesumus, eius intercessióne, in afflíctis frátribus Christo ministráre. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia saecula sæculórum. [V.O.: Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia s?cula sæculórum.]
SUPER OBLATA
Súscipe, Dómine, obséquium humilitátis nostræ, quod tibi in festivitate/commemoratione beátæ Terésiæ exhibémus,ut, ex huius participatióne mystérii,nos caritáte flagráre et sollicitúdine salútis animárum concédas combúri. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. [V.O.: Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia s?cula sæculórum.]
POST COMMUNIONEM
Sacra mystéria quae súmpsimus, Dómino Deus noster, caritátis ardórem in nobis fóveant, quo beata Terésia laeto ánimo in paupéribus Iesum Christum Fílium tuum diléxit eíque servívit. Qui vivit et regnat in saecula saeculórum. [V.O.: Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia s?cula sæculórum.]
ALERT! 40% off storewide ends tonight (clerical and lay clothing)!
Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.
In chessy news… yeah… the Grand Swiss is going on.
An easy one. Black mates in 4.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
I’ll frontload what I end with.
Dioceses, parishes, schools… which all have teams that increase the cost of “SaaS” … you name it, could save huge money and have all their data safe and secure. And they wouldn’t be using services that hate what the Church stands for. Just sayin’.
If I were running the IT for a diocese, parish, whatever, I’d get away from big “SaaS” ASAP. I know some of you out there are reading this.
___
Have a Catholic site or concern to build or maintain? I’d make a bee line for Federated Computer.
Safer. Cheaper. Better support. Can’t be “cancelled”.
Today with the way “Big Tech” is openly hostile to customers like us, why – other than habit or false convenience – anyone continues to use Google, Zoom, Dropbox, Office365, or Apple software services to run a team or business. “Software as a Service” (SaaS).
Each of these companies supports really horrible social policies, they throw folks off their system if they support the “wrong” causes, they use our data for training their AI.
It is common to hear: “What’s the alternative!”
Federated Computer, a service from a long-time supporter of this blog.
What is Federated Computer?
Here is some material Federated sent me that I’ve simplified…
Federated Computer is like Google or Office 365, it gives you all the software you need to work on the internet today but without the lack of privacy, the high prices, or the corporate enthusiasm for immoral policies.
Services like Dropbox and Zoom are now mining all the data to feed A.I. Sound good to you?
In fancier terms, Federated breaks the expensive domination of “SaaS… Software as a Service”. And, your data is YOUR data.
With Federated Computer you get:
Check it out HERE
You can use Federated in a web browser or using desktop or mobile applications for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
Everything is backed up, encrypted (secure).
How they treat customers:
Your data is sovereign. Federated Computer can’t see your data, can’t use your data to train advertising or AI systems. And if you want to leave, for whatever reason, they hand you the keys and wish you well!
They offer human support. You can call them on the phone, talk to them over chat, or use the normal support-ticket system. They get back to you and solve your problem quickly.
They don’t gouge customers on price.
Most systems like this would cost a business or team of only five people hundreds of dollars a month.
You’ll use your domain name so everything looks like your business, your team.
How do they do all this?
The people behind Federated Computer are experts in this industry. They founded and ran one of the biggest cloud services that now runs all of Samsung’s mobile devices. They know how to run things efficiently and pass the savings on to the customer.
The founder of Federated Computer has been a LONG time supporter of this blog. In fact, he saved it when it grew too big for the server I rented.
There’s much more to learn here at their website: HERE
If you decide to try them, please use my link.
If you have any questions, please reach out to David Young and tell him Fr. Z sent you!
David Young
david@federated.computer
.
.
.
Again: Dioceses, parishes, schools… which all have teams that increase the cost of “SaaS” … you name it, could save huge money and have all their data safe and secure. And they wouldn’t be using services that hate what the Church stands for. Just sayin’.
UPDATE:
Someone should remind the Bishop of Charlotte of the USCCB position on liturgical screens: pic.twitter.com/Gjc1zpiWlS
— Multiclassing Cleric (@lukei4655) September 5, 2025
Firstly, I warmly recommend the documentary Bread Not Stones. It puts a human face on the reports of suffering of the faithful in Charlotte. Go HERE for the video. Please share it with as many people as you can. If you know any bishops, send them the link to the documentary. Link: https://youtu.be/cbxmxotl-xE
At Rorate there is a post about more from Charlotte’s bishop. If this is true, he seems determined to horizontalize and desacralize the Mass.
Now he is reportedly taking aim at Catholic school children.
From Rorate (emphasis in the original:
We have received a report of the new liturgical directives which Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte wishes to impose on the masses of Paul VI celebrated in the three Catholic high schools under his jurisdiction. The goal is apparently the decatholicization of the new liturgy in the schools under his authority.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, they are exactly what we would expect, given what we have previously seen of his ideas about “liturgical norms.”
The use of kneelers and communion rails for the distribution of Holy Communion is forbidden.
There must be students to serve as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
A projector and screen are to be installed in the chapels to facilitate the singing of hymns and longer parts of the Mass such as the Gloria and the Creed. (It is, of course, a major pastoral problem that young people today spend too much time reading from books, and not enough time interacting with screens.)
At large Masses, a student is to give a testimonial about their faith life, lasting 3-5 minutes, between the final prayer and the blessing and dismissal.
[…]
Read the rest there.
Please, Lord, let this not be true.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
A Daily Prayer for Priests
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