#SonnetADay – 87. “Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing…”

Posted on 11 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted in Poetry, Sonnet A Day |
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ASK FATHER: Funeral after Vanishing Twin Syndrome

Posted on 11 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

My wife and I have just learned that we are probably losing an unborn child to “Vanishing Twin Syndrome” (where one twin embryo fails to grow on pace with the other and is absorbed back into the mother’s body early on; this occurs in something like 20-30% of pregnancies after a woman’s second pregnancy. Historically most people would never know there was a twin to begin with before recent technological advancements.).

Is it appropriate to ask my pastor to say a funeral Mass for the soul of the twin that didn’t make it? I know there are funeral mass texts that can be used after the death of an unbaptized child in the 2011 Roman Missal with the permission of the local bishop. I’ve heard of these being used after a miscarriage; I assume the same logic would apply in our case since life likely begins at conception, but there seems to be little Catholic info out there on vanishing twin syndrome specifically (since it is medically distinct from miscarriage), nor any pastoral guidance I’ve been able to find.

As we will almost certainly lose this child due to lack of growth and no heartbeat, I feel that the only thing I can do for them as their father is pray, but I don’t know if a request for a funeral mass in this case is a “typical” request, especially as there will be no body.

Firstly, I am impressed with your Catholic sense of the circumstances.

I checked around a little with those whom I trust.   I cannot do better than to share this succinct response from a trustworthy bishop:

The articulation of the situation makes sense to me.  There was a human life there which has now ended.  A Mass would seem appropriate in this case.

You might inform your local priest about this and establish a date when you could have such a Mass.  If permission of your local bishop is required for the use of the texts you mentioned, I am sure that your priest would be able to make the necessary petition.

My prayerful best wishes to you and your wife.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged
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#ASonnetADay – GUEST SONNET by Gerard Manley Hopkins – The Soldier

Posted on 10 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted in Poetry, Sonnet A Day | Tagged , , ,
3 Comments

“In ev’ry clime and place…” – Happy 245th Birthday UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS!

Posted on 10 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Happy birthday to all Marines everywhere.

Play video

245th Cake Cutting Ceremony HERE

Commandant’s Birthday Message HERE

Parris Island Birthday Pageant HERE (historic uniforms)

There are quite a few birthday videos available.  Browse!

And take a look at the Commandant’s Reading list HERE or HERE (If you spy a title you want to check out, please circle back here and use my link to buy it – US HERE – UK HERE )

And the 2020 Navy’s Reading List HERE  (ditto)

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged
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ASK FATHER: I bought an icon at a “esoteric new age shop”

Posted on 10 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I saw a beautiful “our Lady of Perpetual help” icon at an esoteric new age shop.
I could not help, but buy her… and got her blessed. I call her the
Rescue Icon-
Do I have to fear, that there are any demonic attachments to that icon- given the place where she has been??
Usually, I don’t buy anything in such stores.

GUEST PRIEST/EXORCIST RESPONSE:

Often Catholic images sold in such stores are made with nefarious intent and cursed. This is an old tactic that began in Cuba with Africans who pretended to be Catholic and associated various saints with their own demons.

I always counsel people to avoid such places therefore.

Since such things can act as an indirect fortuna they ought to be exorcised and broken, burnt, and thrown in a river.

If she can’t find a priest to exorcise it she can follow the subsequent steps.

Fr. Z adds:

A “fortuna” is a cursed object.  It can be just about anything, offered to Satan and then given or sold to a person to cause addictions and calamities in the lives of those who have or use them. Illegal drugs and tattoo ink or even food items can be cursed in this way.

The point about throwing in a river is that water is flowing, running.   It was right, for example, for the young Austrian – perhaps by instinct – to throw the nasty Pachamama demon idols into the Tiber.  Ideally, they should have been exorcised and then broken before they were pitched.

 

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged
22 Comments

An altar set up at sea

Posted on 10 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

An altar set up at seaFrom time to time, I give you updates from a Navy friend CDR Johnson, who is chaplain on USS FORD, which is being put through its paces.

Today (happy B-Day Marines – ‘rah), after he saw one of my masthead images of a host on a paten, he asked about getting really traditional looking hosts.

We might have a future project to send him a load for the group.  Since the boat is atomic at least the hosts (and everything else) won’t wind up saturated with diesel fumes!  Yeah…

Here is a photo of how Fr. Johnson arranged the altar for Masses.  Take note of the details.

An altar set up at sea

BZ shipmate! Crazy tall legio.

The other day, when FORD was doing high speed turns, he said that his candles were not doing well.  I can believe that.  I think he needs some ALIEN TAPE.  Incredible stuff.

Anyway, it could be that, as they make their way in an out of Norfolk while shaking the thing down, we could get some things for him and the chapel.  Stay tuned.

 

Posted in Just Too Cool, Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , ,
8 Comments

#ASonnetADay – 86. “Was it the proud full sail of his great verse…” Last of the “Rival Poet” set.

Posted on 9 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted in Poetry, Sonnet A Day | Tagged
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: Plural of “prie-dieu”

Posted on 9 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

ASK FATHER: Plural of "prie-dieu"From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

You occasionally discuss what the plural of gin and tonic should be. I have a similar problem with what you have just assembled. In England, we borrow the French term Prie Dieu. That’s fine in the singular, but what on earth would you call several?

Given the present state of things in the Church and the world, I am relieved to have something important to think about.

Yes, I have written and polled about the plural of that wondrous drink, the “Gin & Tonic”.   There is a correct answer, by the way.  And also, by the way, I have now made my own batch of tonic!

As for prie-dieu… this is tough, because it’s, you know, French.   They don’t make it easy.

From the English point of view, I think the plural could be invariable: prie-dieu.

However, we find also prie-dieus and prie-dieux.

Webster and Oxford seem to favor the later, though Dictionary.com shows both.

I say….  and this could be the official ruling after I ponder this… that words ending with an “x” for plural are cooler than those that don’t.

THAT SAID… we want to avoid even the suggestion of polytheism.

Let’s have a poll.  Anyone can vote, but you have to be registered and approved to comment.

What is the true and best plural of "prie-dieu" (a kneeler or a prayer bench/desk)?

View Results

Loading ...

 

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, POLLS | Tagged
19 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 23rd after Pentecost (NO: 32nd Ordinary) 2020

Posted on 9 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at the Mass for your Sunday (obligation or none), either live or on the internet? Let us know what it was.

Also, are you churches opening up? What was attendance like?

For my part,…

Play video

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Sermons |
5 Comments

What’s at stake?

Posted on 9 November 2020 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

They will mark people for retribution. They will destroy the balance of power to ensure permanent one party rule.

That’s how the Left rolls.

What's at stake?

“Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy.”

– Mao Zedong

Meanwhile, HERE

The tone and wording of her tweets… “Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity…” should scare the bejeezus out of every American who still believes we live in a land where we’re free to express ourselves.

Historically, the elimination of political opposition is a consistent approach by far-leftists who prefer to use ostracization, internment and ultimately extermination to avoid any further impediments upon their quest for ultimate control.

While one might brush it off as nonsense I think she is projecting her innermost desires and apparently there are other prepared to jump right in with her.

Emily Abrams, a former staffer for Dem presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, took immediate action by launching the Trump Accountability Project. According to Abrams, the objective of the project is “to make sure anyone who took a paycheck to help Trump undermine America is held responsible for what they did.”

Just what is the Trump Accountability Project? According to the website:

[…]

We must never forget those who furthered the Trump agenda.

We should welcome in our fellow Americans with whom we differ politically.

But those who took a paycheck from the Trump Administration should not profit from their efforts to tear our democracy apart. The world should never forget those who, when faced with a decision, chose to put their money, their time, and their reputations behind separating children from their families, encouraging racism and anti-Semitism, and negligently causing the unnecessary loss of life and economic devastation from our country’s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just who qualifies to be on the “list”?

Those who elected him: Individuals who worked for the Trump for President campaign, Republican National Committee, and affiliated PACs in 2016 or 2020.

Those who staffed his government: Individuals who worked in any role as a political appointee in the Trump Administration.

Those who funded him: Individuals who used their massive personal wealth and influence to bundle money for Trump.

Why not add anyone who voted for him in either election?

“When you point a finger at the moon to indicate the moon, instead of looking at the moon, the stupid ones look at your finger.”

– Mao Zedong

UPDATE:

Posted in Pò sì jiù, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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