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{]:¬)

Your Sunday Sermon Notes

Posted on 30 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Was there a good point made in the sermon you heard during your Mass to fulfill your Sunday Obligation?

Let us know.

You were paying attention, weren’t you?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
4 Comments

Rome – Day 7: Mass for Benefactors and Cena di Congedo

Posted on 29 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It has been a pretty nasty day in the Eternal City. The weather was as dreadful today as it has been beautiful over the week. I did get out for some last needful errands and got drenched.

As promised, I said Holy Mass – Votive of the Most Holy Trinity – for my benefactors: those of you who have sent donations, either ad hoc or by monthly subscription, and who have sent items from my lists and so forth. A shot from the Mass.

It is a pleasure and a duty to be willingly and frequently fulfilled. You help me and I help you in the best ways I can.

After Mass, for too few minutes, I saw The Great Roman™ who was there for a meeting of the Archconfraternity which St. Philip Neri himself founded – yes, still going.

I also was able to meet again with the new tailor for discussion of cassocks, which is good. He showed me some samples of fabric and we discussed various features. When I know I’ll be back next time, I’ll let him know and indicate any changes about two weeks in advance and that will be that! It’ll be good having a tailor in Urbe again. I truly miss old Giuseppe: R.I.P.

Finally, I invited one of the guys over to clean out my refrigerator. We did this by having a supper of odds and ends of various wonderful cheeses and sausages I’ve collected over the week, supplemented with good salads from the restaurant down below (nice people), who offered us freshly made focaccia. Then I sent him home with all the leftovers and edibles in packet, jar and bag.

Everything is ready for a super early departure for the airport… except me. I would like to have had a few more days. That’s life.

I’ll be back soon.

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

More on #Synod2018 (“walking together”) document #146

Posted on 29 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today the pithily perspicacious Fr H looks at the Synod’s (“walking together”) notion about developing ways to certify Catholic blogs to avoid “fake news”.

He wrote along the lines of what I wrote HERE. He also wrote:

We seem to have come a long way from those broad sunlit uplands when Benedict XVI (remember him? The ‘Rat’, the ‘Inquisitor’, the ‘Panzer Cardinal’? Yes, that one) encouraged blogging, and especially clerical bloggers. Now, the era of the boors and the bullies. [It’s the age of the Hoopers. Indeed, it’s the age of the Hooper/Blanche Hybrid, but with none of the charm or insight and all of the perversion.]

Shall we, in a few years’ time, discover that we have Diocesan, National, and Worldwide systems for closing down free discussion in the Church? After all, the Synod will have “called for it”, won’t it?

“Synodality” sounds so democratic, modern, open and free. What’s not to like? And this Synod has concluded with the usual flurry of synthetic Bergoglian rhetoric about the Holy Spirit. In such liberated and happy times, don’t you need to be paranoid to be suspicious?

Don’t you believe it. Bullies are bullies are bullies.

Perhaps it is too early and, as yet, unfair, to bring in the image of Perón.

In my above-mentioned post I said:

If they want to know the meaning of total, unrestricted and asymetrical warfare just try that. They won’t know what hit them.

Can you imagine what the reaction would be in the blogosphere and through other media were there to develop such an initiative in the Church? To certify (censor) Catholic sites?

I didn’t pull that image of “unrestricted and asymetrical warfare” out of the blue. Years ago I read a book by a couple of Chinese colonels about how they could take down the USA. The book has become an important resource. It describes a way of fighting with limited resources a much greater power. US HERE – UK HERE

I bring this up because such an effort would be a waste of time and energy, highly divisive, and a complete failure.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Si vis pacem para bellum! | Tagged censorship, Synod
5 Comments

Saving a heritage church in Fall River

Posted on 29 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the near future, we will face more church closures. Some won’t be that much of a loss. Some, however, are part of our patrimony, lovingly built by our forebears, irreplaceable.

I bring to the readerships attention the plight of parishioners at one such church.

From The Herald News:

Peaceful protesters want transparency from church officials and a chance to save St. Anne’s

FALL RIVER – The people built St. Anne’s Church 112 years ago, and it’s the people intent on saving it today.

A crowd gathered Sunday afternoon in front of St. Anne’s to pray and peacefully protest the Fall River Diocese’s decision to close the beloved landmark Catholic church and shrine on Nov. 25.

“It’s the building, the history and the heritage,” said Bryan Boyle, whose family was one of many that built St. Anne’s. “You can’t remove the spirit of what it represents.”

Boyle said his French-Canadian great-grandfather purchased bricks that helped to erect the Romanesque marble structure in the early 1900s.

“This is a structure to last centuries,” he said.

[…]

Brian Boyle is a long-time reader and commentator here. I’ve had a lot of contact with him off the pages of this blog and he is a solid guy, not given to exaggerations.

Time and time again, I’ve heard about dioceses which want to close churches and sell off the land (guess what for!). They do so in such a way that parishoners and others hardly have any say or way to raise the money needed for structural repairs, etc. Some bishops take a more enlightened and creative path, and think inside the box: TRADITION. In many places where TRADITION is tried, it succeeds.

We must not squander our patrimony if it is possible to retain it. We don’t have to GIVE UP.

This church is in Fall River. Tomorrow, it could be your church. That’s why we all need to pay attention and even add our voices. You may live in, say, Idaho, but that church is also part of who you are.

Speaking of a place where TRADITION is being tried, HERE is a related story in Cincinnati:

CROWDS PACK RARE LATIN MASSES SPONSORED BY ORATORY

We just watched at the 2018 Synod (“walking together”) on Youth stumbled to its predictably embarrassing and cliche-ridden surcease. They mouthed over tired ideas about liturgy, as if we haven’t watched the last 50 years of implosions and erosions.

Maybe we should start thinking inside the box again.

The inside of the box is the new outside of the box.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism | Tagged D. Fall River
12 Comments

The Wanderer: A Synod (“walking together”) of clichés

Posted on 29 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At my old stomping ground, The Wanderer, there is a good summary and analysis piece by Peggy Moen (a terrific editor!) who attended much of the Synod (“walking together”).

Clichés Of The Francis Era Dominate A Press Briefing

ROME — Following the Thursday, October 25 Youth Synod press briefing, I spoke with Robert Royal, editor in chief of The Catholic Thing, and said that I could as well have skipped this one. It was void of any substance.
They didn’t get what they wanted, he said, a pro-gay document, and that also it just wasn’t going to happen.
He agreed with me that the African bishops were likely responsible for this turn in synod events.
The October 25 briefing presentations were all process and no content, I said.
But, said Royal: “They would like the process to become content.”
Here are some examples of what was said in this press briefing. It took place two days before the vote on the synod’s final document:
A youth delegate, Lucas Borboza Galhardo from Brazil, said: “We walk together…a very strong participation — they’ve been listening to us.”
I thought of Bishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Mamfe, Cameroon, who, at the previous day’s press briefing said: “We should also get the youth to listen to the elders,” as it is not a matter of “one-way traffic.”
Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, OFM, archbishop of Trujillo, Peru, pointed to “a very important word . . . synodality” which is “for the young and with the young.”
“The Church should . . . take on this synodality,” he added.
“We need to accompany all the discernment processes.” [What does that even mean?!?]
In the subsequent question period, Suzy Pinto of EWTN News Nightly asked the archbishop what “synodality,” a word that “is not known,” means. He replied, in part, that Pope Francis “highlights that notion of walking together” with everyone in the Church, but also with those who are more distant. [Who has noticed that when I write about the Synod I always add “walking together”?]
In his presentation, Arlindo Cardinal Gomes Furtado of Santiago de Cabo Verde called the synod “an experience of the Church . . . a communion amongst everyone . . . altogether forming a real ecclesial family.” He called it “a model for me.”
He added that we need to strengthen this process of working together, walking together.
Gualtiero Cardinal Bassetti of Perugia-Città della Pieve praised the synod’s “so many different colors, so many different languages” and called the discussions in the small groups “unforgettable.” He said we must all “truly walk together.”
Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register tweeted on October 25: “#Synod18 sources: ‘Synodality’ as a new model of the Church (i.e. permanent revolution) is now being imposed on the assembly, despite it not figuring highly in working document nor synod discussions. It dominates 3rd part of final doc. draft, has no connection with synod theme.” [“permanent revolution” is a phrase made famous by Leon Trotsky.]
But along with a curious new word, “synodality,” Francis-era clichés ran through these press briefing comments: “accompany,” “walking together,” “listening,” “discernment process,” and more.
And the problem with a cliché is that its words have become empty of meaning.
In the question period, Vaticanista Sandro Magister told Paolo Ruffini, head of the Vatican’s Department of Communication, that in the past few days, L’Osservatore Romano has given information that was not provided in the synod press conferences.
As one example, Magister cited L’Osservatore Romano’s reporting that the Pope has taken part in the drafting of the final document. That is important news, said Magister, because the final document should be offered to the Pope, not written by him.
Magister asked: Do we also today have to wait for L’Osservatore Romano to get the information that was not given in the press conferences?
Ruffini — on the stage with the above four speakers and Greg Burke, director of the Holy See Press Office — replied to the effect that he would answer questions, and anyone could otherwise read L’Osservatore Romano. [??!??]
This, with all the above, speaks for itself.

You might consider subscribing to The Wanderer for several reasons.

First, they are on side. For many years before the development of alternative news through the internet, The Wanderer stayed on course as an invaluable resource for faithful Catholics against the ravages of the libs.

Second, they have good content. We get our news swiftly through the internet, but we also need good commentary.

Third, sound legacy media needs support. Subscriptions will help them to develop toward the future. Their perspective is needed.

The Wanderer has been walking the walk for a long time.

Posted in Synod, The Drill | Tagged Synod
12 Comments

Thanks for the birthday greetings and a clarification

Posted on 29 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Many thanks to you who sent birthday greetings with notes.

Several of you said that you would have Masses said for me, which is very much appreciated.

Another several wrote along the lines of, “You are THAT OLD?!?”

Others, reading my line about entering my “sixtieth year” assumed that I turned 60. Sorry. I am not as old as you think. I turned 59. Your 59th birthday is the beginning of your 60th year. That’s one of the reasons why I began a post yesterday with the canon about fasting.

In any event, thanks everyone for the greetings! I accept them even on a belated basis.

Posted in Lighter fare |
7 Comments

ASK FATHER: How to gain the 1-8 November plenary indulgence

Posted on 28 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Thanks to you and your blog, I am intending to receive a plenary indulgence or three (aim high!) for the souls in purgatory over Nov 1 – Nov 8. Reading through the Manual of Indulgences, from the fourth edition (1999) of Enchiridion Indulgentiarum: Normae et Concessiones, N23 states:
“To gain an indulgence it is sufficient to recite the prayer
alternately with a companion or to follow it mentally while it is
being recited by another”.
To me this reads as though an indulgence cannot be granted if I only say the prayer silently to myself; that the prayer(s) need to be said with someone or recite them mentally when someone else is saying the prayer out loud. Have I interpreted this correctly? Can you please clarify?

At the Vatican site HERE we find the current text.

29
Pro fidelibus defunctis

§ 1. Plenaria indulgentia, animabus in Purgatorio detentis tantummodo applicabilis, conceditur christifideli qui

1° singulis diebus, a primo usque ad octavum novembris, coemeterium devote visitaverit et, vel mente tantum, pro defunctis exoraverit;

2° die Commemorationis omnium fidelium defunctorum (vel, de consensu Ordinarii, die Dominico antecedenti aut subsequenti aut die sollemnitatis Omnium Sanctorum) ecclesiam aut oratorium pie visitaverit ibique recitaverit Pater et Credo.

There is no mention of having to pray with someone else. Also, it says that the prayer can be offered “mentally”, so it doesn’t have to be aloud.

You can go to the cemetery and each day and gain the indulgence from 1-8 November by praying for the dead. On All Souls (and other days determined by the bishop) could can gain the indulgence by visiting the church and praying the Our Father and Creed.

The usual conditions apply for a plenary indulgence.

The Church is pretty flexible with these grants. While it is good to be in a group, sometimes that’s not possible. Other people can’t get to church, so they can pray at home. We should try for the idea: at church or with others. But the important thing is the get the indulgence!

I hope that people will pray for me when I die.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged indulgences
5 Comments

“I’ll take ‘25000 Words Of Blah Blah And Landmines’, for 200, please, Alex!”

Posted on 28 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ve been, as much as possible ignoring the Synod’s (“walking together”) document. First, I’ve wanted a pleasant day. Was the Synod really about producing a document? Or was it about creating smokescreens and providing cover for the placement of poison pills and landmines?

25000 words.

The document, with the voting tallies for the paragraphs, is HERE in Italian only. Gosh, I’ll bet that was helpful for the non-Italians. Let’s rush through voting on paragraph after paragraph – there are, after all, only 167 – how long could that take? what could go wrong? – in a language that not everyone is able to grasp in its subtleties. And, as the old phrase goes, “The Devil speaks Italian”.

My friend Fr. De Souza wrote:

The inability or unwillingness of the synod secretariat to provide translations of texts — despite repeated requests from the English-speaking bishops at least — was a point of friction. Multiple sources said that Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri, [Sssssssssssss] secretary general of the synod, was so annoyed during one meeting about requests for translations that he stormed out of the room, threatening to run the next synod entirely in Latin.

As if he were competent to do so.

Notice how this prelate derides every Catholic indirectly by deriding Latin, your patrimony.

Remember, the Devil also always tells you what he is doing.

Abandon Latin, and this, folks is what we get: Babel. The Synod is a sort of “bearded Spock Pentecost”, where everyone who ought to understand each other, are suddenly made unable to. But without the cooler clothes.

Here are a couple paragraphs that pooped out… ooooops …popped out at me. My o key stuck. Notice the number. By this point, the members’ brains are oozing out of their noses.

146. The Synod hopes that in the Church Offices and organisms for digital culture and evangelization are established at appropriate levels, which, with the indispensable contribution of young people, promote ecclesial action and reflection in that environment. Among their functions, apart from promoting the exchange and diffusion of good practices at the personal and the communal level, and to develop adequate tools for digital education and evangelization, they could also manage systems of certification of Catholic sites, to counteract the spread of fake news about the Church, or to seek ways to persuade public authorities to promote ever more stringent political positions and tools for the protection of minors on the web.

Certify Catholic sites? BWAHHHHAHAHAH!

Yeah, that’ll happen. And guess who would be in charge of something like that.

If they want to know the meaning of total, unrestricted and asymetrical warfare just try that. They won’t know what hit them.

In par. 150 – again, now the voting members’ brains are leaking out their elbows – we get the SEX landmine. Trans. Lifesite. VOTE: NO 65. 248 total.

150. There are questions concerning the body, affectivity and sexuality which require a deepened anthropological, theological and pastoral elaboration, [Oh… yes. We are so profound. We will study more and than have “pastoral elaborations!”] to be carried out in the most appropriate ways and at the most appropriate levels, [Which are…..?] from the local to the universal. [AH! THAT cleared that up.] Among these, those relating in particular to the difference and harmony between male and female identity [Wait for iiiiiiit….] and to sexual inclinations emerge. [There it is.] In this regard the Synod reaffirms that God loves every person and so does the Church, renewing its commitment against all discrimination and violence on a sexual basis. It also reaffirms the decisive anthropological relevance of the difference and reciprocity between man and woman and considers it reductive to define the identity of persons solely on the basis of their “sexual orientation” (CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, October 1, 1986, no. 16). [Do you feel a “but” coming? Sorry, bad image. Do you sense a hedge down the line?]

In many Christian communities there are already paths of accompaniment in the faith of homosexual persons: the Synod recommends that these paths be encouraged. In these paths people are helped to understand their own [personal] history; to adhere freely and responsibly to their own baptismal call; to recognize the desire to belong to and contribute to the life of the community; [What does that mean?] and to discern the best ways of achieving it. In this way we help every young person, no one excluded, to integrate the sexual dimension more and more into their personality, [leave it to a committee to produce word salad] growing in the quality of relationships and walking towards [“walking together”!] the gift of self.

The problem is, early in the document, we read that this must be read in conjunction with the awful Instrumentum Laboris which had all the “gay” stuff, you know, the LGBTQSJ stuff.

To give you an idea of how shallow, how bereft of value this document is, liturgy was lumped together with sport. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are other mentions of liturgy, especially with the word “accompagnare”.

A form of the word “accompagnare”, a brilliant example of an Italian word that means everything and nothing, sort of like the vaguely comforting, “I’m there for you”, appears 117 times in the document.

The word “anime”, souls, as in “salvation of souls” or “Give me souls and keep the rest!” appears ZERO times.

I thought, “No, it must be there. Maybe they said, “salus animarum”. Nada. Nope. Not there. “Salvazione”. ZERO. “Redenzione” and “Santificazione” 1 each.

25000 words.

Friends, I don’t know what’s next.

On the other hand, celebrated Mass this morning for the traditional Feast of Christ The King. I had a great lunch with friends. I went back to church and heard the Act of Consecration. Now I’m having a quiet supper of good wine, pasta, veg and cheeses.

Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates ourselves today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.

Many indeed have never known Thee; Many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful children, who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee; Grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry; praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; To it be glory and honor forever. R. Amen.

Posted in Pò sì jiù, Synod, The Coming Storm | Tagged Synod
21 Comments

Rome – Day 6: Birthday and Mudbug

Posted on 28 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

When I woke up this morning, I felt different. Then a bright light shone through the ceiling and a voice boomed:

Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Today is the beginning of my sixtieth year! Hence I am not any longer strictly bound to fast! I will anyway, but, there it is. Happy Birthday to me from the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

After the experience of the voice, I made my way to church where concelebration was going on, each priest at his altar saying Mass.

I saw in the sacristy a vestment with the arms of the FSSP today: nicely done, too. We need more vestments with arms, especially personal coats of arms.

This, however, is the one I got. An older one to be sure. About my same age, as a matter of fact.

This one’s a lot older.

I have an idea about that.

We must find someone who does embroidery well. Priests – who have arms – should then have their arms drawn up and made for their vestments. Hmmm.

This is interesting. Three priests with Scandinavian blood, three former Protestants, three dedicated to the traditional Roman Rite.

I took them for breakfast at a nearby bar and very much enjoyed this old sign.

The morning brought splendid Pontifical Mass at the faldstool. I’ll find a link to better photos than I could have shot.

Then lunch. This was a surprise! I had no idea it would be like this: spaghetti all’astice with friends old and new.

Back to the parish for vespers, Exposition, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, Act of Consecration and Benediction.

Finally, having met with a new tailor I have sought some supper in the quiet of my digs, thus bringing this birthday in Rome to a close.

Please say a prayer for me.

Tomorrow afternoon I will say Mass for my benefactors.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged can. 1252
30 Comments

Rome – Days 4-5: Progress and processions

Posted on 28 October 2018 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Since many of you like the food photos, let’s start with that.

Catching up with friends at a meal is one of my principal delights when I return.

I’ve had several visits at Gammarelli to work out some details on projects. Here is the ever gracious Stefano. I arrived that morning just as they were cutting the fabric for the purple Solemn Mass set.

We have a Pontifical set, of course, but I don’t like using pieces from it lest it wear unevenly over time. So, it is better to have a set that we can use more easily on Sundays without separating out pieces in different places, etc.

Some of the packets of cut fabric for the individual pieces.

Since that was heavy lifting, one has to be refreshed with an Aperol Spritz. Which one is mine?

It is an odd time to see these in the market. But… there they are.

Near to my digs there is a newish Sicilian place. The pasta alla Norma was good (but mine is better). They used strozza preti, which I think was a little joke.

I especially like this “no littering” sing from the Most Illustrious Lord of the Streets. It warns that you may not leave your dead animals lying around here or you’ll be fined 25 golden scudi. Also, people who turn you in can get a cut of the fine and everything has to be kept secret or you could be prosecuted.

In the P.za Santa Barbara there is a sweet little church.

I try to pray for the priests when I notice that I am walking on them.

They maintain a presepio, the scene being the piazza in front of the church.

Note the no littering sign (a different one).

And the real one in the piazza.

The Frida Solemn Mass at Trinità, part of the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage was well attended.

I had a couple friends over for supper after that. I made fettucine with butter and black truffle. The autumn truffles are in, of course.

Sorry about not having a finished photo. The stuff disappeared pretty fast.

On Saturday we had the procession to San Pietro for the Pontifical Mass.

What it looks like inside the procession. We were singing the Litany of Saints.

At the River before the Angel Bridge.

They actually made everyone go through the metal detectors! I have a video of the bishop, in cope, coming through. Ridiculous.

Going into the Basilica we sang the Creed.

My view during Mass.

After the Mass I stopped to visit the tomb of the Apostles Simon and Jude, whose feast it is at the time of this writing. The Feast of Christ the King bumped them this year, though I doubt they mind.