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{]:¬)

ASK FATHER: Name of bishop during Mass on a ship

Posted on 7 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Which bishop, if any at all, do priests pray for during the Canon of the Mass if a ship is at sea? Would it be the bishop whose diocese is closest? Would it be the bishop whose diocese the ship embarked? I could imagine that military ships pray for the Military Ordinary, but what about us non-military?

Good question.

The priest is to say the name of the bishop of the territory where the Mass is being celebrated. Even if he is with a group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Black Duck, and they are travelling through the Archdiocese of Metropolis, they say the name of the Archbishop, not of their own Bishop of Black Duck. An exception is, for example, on military ships which are covered by the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

Dioceses are regions of land, not oceans. They would include bodies of water such as lakes and rivers, but they would not extend out into the, say, Pacific beyond a very short way.

Under the old Code, if I am not mistaken (I’m writing this on the fly), people were covered by the jurisdiction of the port whence they departed. This is why I believe your planet’s Moon is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Orlando, since (then) Cape Kennedy was in that diocese. If that was the case under the older Code, I suppose there would be something similar via the newer Code.

I am not quite sure how the Apostolate of the Sea would fit into all of this.

Another thing comes to mind, if the priest truly doesn’t know the name of the bishop, he can simply leave the proper name out… except in Rome. In Rome he leaves out the whole phrase about the diocesan bishop, because he has mentioned the Pope and the Pope is the diocesan bishop.

If memory serves, there was once a papal permission given to a priest to have Mass aboard the infamous zepelin Hindenburg…. without candles. Perhaps someone could dig that document up and learn whose names were to be mentioned.

Another point to consider deals with the calendar, which liturgical day to observe. Imagine being close to the International Date Line, or on a ship that’s moving really fast, like the International Space Station.

It’s all a blur.

Bottom line: When I don’t know the name, I just leave it out and say “Antistite nostro… our Bishop”, and move on. I’ve prayed for the local bishop. God knows the name, even if I had forgotten it when I got to that point.

Your Events

Posted on 7 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I get a huge amount of email from people who want me to advertise their events. I can’t do that.

So, post your events here, in the combox below.

You have to be registered to post comments. Registration rules apply (including my approval of your registration and approval of your first comment).

NB: I have a couple of loooong flights late this afternoon and into the night.

Posted in Events, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged events
20 Comments

Italian police investigate Our Lord

Posted on 7 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This is pretty interesting. Apparently the Italian police have been investigating Our Lord. HERE

Police Create Image of Jesus as a Child Using Shroud of Turin, coolComputer Forensics

The National Police in Italy have reportedly created a digital image of what they believe Jesus Christ looked like as a young child.

Detectives used the Shroud of Turin — a famous relic believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus — to generate a photo of Jesus’ face, The Independent reported. The Shroud of Turin has a faint image of a face, which some believe to be Jesus’ face imprinted on the cloth after his crucifixion.

Police then put the generated image through a computer forensics reverse-aging process to see what Jesus may have looked like as a young boy, according to The Independent.

The image generation technique is reportedly the same method Italian police use to generate photos of wanted criminals.

The digitally created image coincides with the current public display of the Shroud of Turin, which Pope Francis is scheduled to visit and pray before this coming June 21.

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged Shroud of Turin
18 Comments

ASK FATHER: My son’s best friend is Presbyterian

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

My son asked me about his best friend a Presbyterian when I told him in response to his question that Presbyterians do not have confession do they not receive forgiveness for their sins do they have all the time.

I told him that God is merciful and has created confession for the forgiveness of sins and in the case of his best friend that God loves him and for those who are genuinely sorry for their sins that we pray they are forgiven. I was not satisfied with my response. What is a clear statement of Church’s teaching, including CCC reference so I can locate in my son’s Youcat.

Please pray for me as I pray for you and all religious.

Parenthood, if taken seriously, is tough work.

God has given to the Church, to the Apostles and their successors who are the bishops and priests of His Church, the authority to absolve sinners from sin. What an awesome responsibility our pastors have been entrusted with (CCC 981 ff). This fount of mercy and forgiveness is available to all the sinners who make up the Church.

Through the Sacrament of Penance, all sins, mortal and venial, can be forgiven. It is the ordinary means through which we receive forgiveness. He explicitly gave this power to his priests so that we would use it. This is the way that He wants us to use.

However, God’s mercy doesn’t stop there. There are other, extraordinary ways that sin can be forgiven.

Venial sins can be forgiven through reception of the other sacraments, especially a devout reception of Holy Communion. It is still good to bring those sins to the confessional, especially if they are frequent or troublesome. Making a good Act of Contrition with a firm purpose of amendment can also lift the burden of venial sins when one does not have recourse to confession. It is a good practice to make such an Act of Contrition at the end of the day after examining one’s conscience.

Mortal sin, sin which breaks our relationship with God, a sin which kills the life of grace in the soul, requires more. If one cannot get to confession, a Perfect Act of Contrition with a firm purpose of amendment can restore one’s relationship with God. Recourse to sacramental confession is still necessary before one receive the Blessed Sacrament. How do we know if our Act of Contrition is perfect? I’m not sure. God knows and He cannot be deceived.

Now…

How about our Protestant friends who, sadly, do not have access to this beautiful fount of mercy which is the Sacrament of Penance? How are their sins forgiven? Are their sins forgiven?

Bluntly put, we don’t know.

We know that God is merciful. We know that God has established the Church as the ordinary means through which He dispenses His mercy. Can He forgive sins outside of the Church? Of course He can. God can do anything. Does He? We don’t know.

Since we don’t know, we should do everything we can to bring our friends and loved ones to the fullness of the Faith in the Catholic Church.

That does n0t mean always preaching at them, or nagging them (though sometimes nagging might be called for, depending on the person). More often, we can help bring our loved ones to the fount of mercy by the example of our lives, especially if they see that we are happy. If they see us happy, and prayerful, and respectful, they’ll begin to wonder what makes us that way. Happiness is alluring. And don’t forget a large dollop of kindness. If they experience our being kind to them, and to those classmates of ours that aren’t the most popular, they will be inspired. If they see us playing fairly, studying diligently, backing away from gossip and bad behavior, they’ll become curious. If they see that our Faith is important to us, that we take going to Church each week seriously, that we go regularly to confession, that we pray before meals, that we cross ourselves when we pass by a church or cemetery, it may inspire them to seek the same happiness that we display.

Also, remember to “sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). We have to know our Faith and be ready to explain it well. Study and discuss.

So, we pray for our friends who do not share our Catholic Faith, and do not have access to the great graces that God makes available to us in the sacraments. We ask God to forgive their sins and to bring them into the fullness of the Faith. And we thank God that this wonderful resource is right there for us when we need it.

Comment moderation is ON.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged protestants, sacrament of penance
11 Comments

SWISS GUARD AMOUR PROJECT: New photos from the swearing in ceremony!

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today was the annual ceremony for the swearing in of the new Swiss Guards. Imagine what goes through their minds as they swear, with their hands raised in the sign of the Most Holy Trinity, to protect the Roman Pontiff even with their lives… in this age of growing terrorism!

You might stop right now and say the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel for them, especially the new men.

You readers know that we had a project here to raise the money to pay for a custom breastplate and armor for a Corporal in the Guard. Imagine what it must be like to wear for a long time armor that does not fit. It doesn’t stretch, you know.

The Guard’s Wife Joanne sent photos of Dominic in his is new armor, worn for the first time for the swearing in ceremony!

St. Joan of Arc on one side and the great St. Joseph on the other!

Roma 06/05/2015
Giuramento delle Guardie Svizzere
Ph: Cristian Gennari/Siciliani

Awwwwwww….

And with the man who made the armor!

So, with this set of photos THIS round of the Swiss Guard Armor Project comes to a close.

I will be in Rome in just over a week and I’ll talk to them about a 2nd Annual Swiss Guard Armor Project!

In the meantime, do stop and say a prayer for all these young men.

Here is a brief video.

Here is the video of the ceremony.

UPDATE:

Joanna sent a link to a Swiss media story. Great photo. They are pretty happy.

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged armor, breastplate, Swiss Guard
12 Comments

More sacred art from Daniel Mitsui (Hint: A suggestion and COFFEE!)

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Daniel Mitusi occasionally sends me new pieces of art which he has created. This time he sent me his Christo Gloria In Ecclesia. For his site click HERE

You may recall that his little daughter has spent quite a bit of time in the hospital. You know what that means. Thus… visit his site! Great gifts.

I left the plastic covering on. Sorry.

As Mitsui explains, ”

The original was commissioned by the Archdiocese of Chicago as a gift for Francis Cardinal George, on the occasion of his golden jubilee of ordination to the priesthood. It is a visual elaboration of his episcopal motto, Christo Gloria in Ecclesia (To Christ be the Glory in the Church).

You can see in it elements important in the life of Cardinal George. However, here is what I think could be interesting for you.

Perhaps you could commission a work of art for the ordination of a priest or even for a new bishop. It is ordination season for priests, after all. People sometimes ask me what to get for newly ordained priests. Something like this might remind a priest of you, when he sees it, for his whole life as it moves with him to the news walls of each new assignment.

Think about it.

Here is a detail of one the “images” for Christ, the “cornerstone”.

The second thing that Daniel sent is a depiction of the patron saint of …

COFFEE GROWERS!

St. Drogo of Sebourg.

The central image depicts St. Drogo (a.k.a. Druon) of Sebourg, a twelfth century pilgrim, shepherd and hermit. My drawing refers to all three of these stages in his life. In the foreground, I drew him as a youthful pilgrim. The path on which walks leads through a field of sheep in which he appears again as a somewhat older shepherd, and ends at the hermit’s cell built against his parish church where he concluded his life. Thus, the path represents both a literal pilgrimage as well as a figurative pilgrimage through life. Having the saint visible in two different places refers also to his ability to bilocate.

St. Drogo is the patron saint of coffeehouses. In reference to this, I drew the plants that yield coffee, tea, cocoa and vanilla in the ornamental border.

Wouldn’t this look nice in your coffee nook? Near your machine? You get the idea.

I think I’ll say a prayer to St. Drogo to help the Wyoming Carmelites with their Mystic Monk Coffee sales! They are building a new monastery.

And don’t forget Daniel’s spiffy Samurai Archangels! HERE and HERE

Posted in Just Too Cool, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged Daniel Mitsui, St. Drogo
3 Comments

ACTION ITEM! “Officer Down!”

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a priest friend comes something that I think quite good.

As you can see from https://odmd.wordpress.com/, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Andrews, NC, is spearheading a dinner at which the heads of all law enforcement agencies in the region will be present. The actual dispatcher will be reading out the “Last Call” and “End of Watch”. The point is to raise the level of due honor in our culture for our finest who have laid down their lives for us. The one blog post is meant as a paradigm for similar events that we hope will spring up around the nation. The names include all fallen officers since the end of Police Week last year. Believe me, the dispatchers and officers are very appreciative of this honor being given to their friends and ours. The dispatcher said she would cry though the whole thing. The Chief of Police said that that was the point, as it is like a funeral.

If you would encourage your readers to reblog and retweet @officerdownmd and FB this event in an effort to have it catch on elsewhere, our law officers of the judicial and executive branches of government would be most appreciative. It is supremely easy to put on this kind of event as everyone immediately wants to help to make it work. Basically, you just have to mention it, and it takes off.

I would rather be anonymous as this is about our officers who have given their all. Thanks!

Done and done.

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged Law Enforcement, LEO
2 Comments

Priesthood ordinations up 24.7% this year

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have in the past mentioned the Opus Bono Sacerdotii which is dedicated to helping priests who are in trouble. This is an organization which deserves support.

That said, I saw a fine statistic on their Facebook page.

595 men are expected to be ordained to the priesthood in the United States in 2015, an increase of 24.7% over last year’s figure of 477, according to data released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

I’ll tell you what this is… this is the Benedict Effect.

However, do pray for vocations to the priesthood. I heard from a little bird that applications are down this year in many places.

Posted in Benedict XVI, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged Opus Bono Sacerdotii, ordinations, priesthood, vocations
23 Comments

Funeral for… what?

Posted on 6 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

No wonder the Church is struggling in Belgium.

From Tradition in Action and Amor de la Verdad:

Catholic funeral for a dog in Belgium

It happened on April 22, 2015 in the city of Sambreville, Belgium, in St. Victor Church of Auvelais. [D. Namur] The parish priest, Fr. Francis Lallemand, took the initiative of celebrating the first religious service for a dog that we know of. He opened his church for the burial religious and preached a homily during the ceremony, above.

A white crib placed in front of the altar had the cremated remains of a Chihuahua called “Miss Chiwa,” which had been a model for dog “clothes” in magazines and TV advertisements.

During the ceremony a woman identified as the “mother” of the dog – actually its owner – delivered a speech recalling the “great deeds” of the dog, as it were a human being. Fr. Lallemand was at her side to encourage her.

[…]

There are photos. And video.

Good grief.

Posted in Blatteroons, Dogs and Fleas, Liberals, You must be joking! | Tagged D. Namur, dogs
51 Comments

What ‘Quo primum’ says and what it doesn’t say

Posted on 5 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At his engaging blog Mutual Enrichment, Fr John Hunwicke has a good note about Pius V and Quo primum. He points out a common error or two about that famous Apostolic Constitution.

Quo primum was the instrument of promulgation of the first “Tridentine” missal, the 1570 Missale Romanum, which – with alterations – is in use today in the form of the 1962 edition (the Extraordinary Form).

Fr. H says (in part):

There is a myth which is endlessly repeated … I groan every time I read it … about the liturgical reforms of S Pius V. It goes like this:

(1) He wished to standardise and centralise. So he ordered everybody to use his new edition of the Roman Missal (but he did permit those with rites more than 200 years old to keep them).

This is pretty well the opposite of what his legislation ordered. He:

(2) Ordered those with such old rites to keep them. But, if they positively wanted to adopt his new edition instead, he permitted them to adopt it AS LONG AS THE BISHOP AND THE UNANIMOUS CHAPTER WERE IN AGREEMENT.

If you don’t want to believe me, I suggest you read the actual TEXT of Quo primum yourself and find out. DO NOT READ SOMEBODY’S SUMMARY OF THE BULL, BECAUSE THAT WILL (almost certainly) JUST TELL YOU THE MYTH.

[…]

Fr. H has more on Pius V HERE

In 2009, I did a PODCAzT about Quo primum which included a reading of the whole document. HERE