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{]:¬)

Two birds with one stone

Posted on 27 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Some Monday morning humor. I did know about Dixon Diaz, but he’s got some game:

Posted in Lighter fare | Tagged 2nd amendment, Dixon Diaz, Obamacare
5 Comments

FLASH! Pope Francis speaks kindly about priests!

Posted on 27 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Click to buy car magnets

During his daily off-the-cuff, non-magisterial sermonette today, Pope Francis spoke about priests. And he didn’t bash them! In fact, as a refreshing change of pace today, he said some good things about priests.

[…]

“On the contrary, it is impossible to understand – not only – it is impossible to explain how the Church could continue under merely human strength. This diocese goes forward because it has a holy people, many things, and also an anointed one who leads, who helps it to grow. This parish progresses because it has many organizations, many things, but it also has a priest, who carries the parish forward. We in history know but a small part – though how many holy bishops, how many priests, how many holy priests have given their lives in the service of the diocese, the parish – how many people have received the power of faith, the power of love, hope [itself] from these anonymous pastors? We do not know: there are so many.”

They are many, explained Pope Francis, “The parish priests of the country or the city, who, with their anointing have given strength the people, who have passed on the teaching of the faith, have given the sacraments: [in a word], holiness.”:

“‘But , Father, I have read in a newspaper that a bishop has done such a thing, or a priest who has done this thing.’ [He is talking about bad and criminal things here.] Oh yes, I read it, too. Tell me, though: [NB] do the papers carry news of what great charity so many priests, so many priests in so many parishes of the city and the countryside, perform? Of the great work they do in carrying their people forward? No? This is not news. [And now for the Francisism] It is the same as always: a single falling tree makes more noise than a forest that grows. Today, thinking about this anointing of David, it will do us good to think of our brave, holy , good , faithful bishops and priests, and pray for them. We are here today thanks to them.”

Maybe some feedback is getting through to him.

I wonder if Pope Francis will write a letter to priests for Holy Thursday. Last year it was, of course, not possible, since his election was so close to Holy Week.

Pray for your bishops and your priests… and your seminarians.

CLICK TO BUY (and there are variations on the theme)

Posted in Francis, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged bishops, Pope Francis, priesthood, Priests
8 Comments

Irish Redemptorist Fr. Tony Flannery takes a hike

Posted on 27 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You may remember the strange tales of Irish Redemptorist (not-quite-former-yet) Fr. Tony Flannery, founder of the Ass. of Catholic Priests.

Here is some news for the Fishwrappers and their fellow travelers.

Take note of this piece in The Irish Times about dear heretical Tony. The fact that he is “going his own way” is neither a surprise nor the big news. Take note of something he dropped in:

Fr Tony Flannery has said he will begin a new chapter in his life today, after learning the Vatican has no plans to allow him to practise as a priest again.

Fr Flannery (67) also said he has decided to stay away from premises owned by the church during his upcoming tour to avoid any “embarrassment” of further fallout with the church hierarchy. But he said he is determined to push for reform in the church in his upcoming lectures, which begin tonight in the Clayton hotel in Galway.

The outspoken Redemptorist was first censured nearly two years ago over his liberal stance on such issues as women priests and contraception.

Fr Flannery, from Athenry, Co Galway, said “informed sources” have told him that there is no prospect of a change to his ban on public ministry.

However, Fr Flannery, who founded the Association of Catholic Priests, said he is looking forward to his series of lectures across Ireland and abroad about church reform. He said: “The information I’m getting is that while Pope Francis is shaking things up, the CDF [Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith] is just the same [Get that?] and there is no indication whatsoever of a change in my position in the short or medium term. My choice is to either wait around or go my own way – and so I’ve decided to go my own way.”

Hasta la vista, Tony!

The CDF remains the CDF, which is perhaps the only Roman dicastery that really functions as it ought. If liberals out there think that they can get away things now, just because Pope Fluffy, the most wonderfullest Pope ehvur, they are sorry mistaken.

My hope is that when he gives his next little talk somewhere, the Just-The-Same Congregation will excommunicate him.

My other hope is that he will say he is sorry and get his act together before he dies… and he is a lot closer to the end than to the beginning.

Posted in Liberals, The Drill | Tagged Ass. of Catholic Priests, Fr. Tony Flannery
9 Comments

From the Northern to the Southern Cross

Posted on 27 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From APOD:

Go there for the explanation. I think you can click on the image above for a larger version. Then go buy some coffee and enjoy their whole archive.

Posted in Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged APOD, Astronomy, Southern Cross
4 Comments

Francis hopes women in the Church will be more…”strand-like and cutting”?

Posted on 26 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

There are times when, try as I might, I have no idea what – or whom – Pope Francis is talking about. I am not alone.

I had a few requests to explain something that Francis said to a group of women, a meeting of the Centro italiano femminile. The English translation I was sent is… puzzling. [UPDATE: I think the translation came from Fishwrap HERE. To be fair, John Allen said the translation was rushed. Hey! We have all been there!]

I looked up the Italian at L’Osservatore Romano:

“… mi sono rallegrato nel vedere molte donne condividere alcune responsabilità pastorali con i sacerdoti nell’accompagnamento di persone, famiglie e gruppi, come nella riflessione teologica; e ho auspicato che si allarghino gli spazi per una presenza femminile più capillare ed incisiva nella Chiesa”.

The translation I received:

“I’m happy to see many women sharing certain pastoral responsibilities in accompanying persons, families and groups, and in theological reflection,” Francis said, “and I’ve voiced hope that spaces for a feminine presence that’s more capillary and incisive [più capillare ed incisiva] in the Church will be enlarged.”

What the heck does “more capillary and incisive” mean?

In English, it doesn’t mean much of anything. I think the translator fell into the trap of using “false friends” when rendering this from the strained Italian.

It seems as if Francis wants a presence of women that is more “strand-like and cutting”. That is consistent with my experience of women religious who made our lives miserable in seminary back in the ’80s. “Capillary and incisive”.

That, of course, is not what Francis has in mind.

He doesn’t have any time for the LCWR types, after all, whom he has warned about being “zitelle… old maids” (in the sense that they become “sterile”, not “bearing fruit” in their vocations) and evincing female machismo. There is also no indication that Francis is associating women and hierarchy.

However, capillare can mean “widespread” and incisiva can mean “effective, trenchant”.

That said, the Holy Father went on to speak about the “feminine genius”. He confirmed that their irreplaceable role in the family must not be neglected, overlooked (trascurato).

So, Francis wants women in general, in whatever role they are playing, to be fruitful. On this occasion he strongly emphasized their roles in the family.

He is not interested in women being more “strand-like and cutting”.

And former-Father Greg Reynolds of Australia is still excommunicated.

Posted in The Drill, Women Religious | Tagged Pope Francis, women
34 Comments

“On the wings of a dove” – A sign from above?

Posted on 26 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Do any of you remember my anecdote about the unusual appearance of a raven during the “inaugural” Mass Pope Benedict XVI celebrated in St. Peter’s Square in 2005? HERE

During the Angelus today, “peace doves” were released by Pope Francis in yet another no doubt meaningful gesture for… peace.

From CBS:

VATICAN CITY – Two white doves that were released by children standing alongside Pope Francis as a peace gesture have been attacked by other birds.

As tens of thousands of people watched in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, a seagull and a large black crow swept down on the doves right after they were set free from an open window of the Apostolic Palace.

One dove lost some feathers as it broke free from the gull. But the crow pecked repeatedly at the other dove.

It was not clear what happened to the doves as they flew off. [Any bets?]

While speaking at the window beforehand, Francis had appealed for peace inUkraine, where anti-government protesters have died.

And now this… be sure to sing along!

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Linking Back | Tagged crow, dove, On the wings of a dove, Pope Francis, raven
61 Comments

Fr. Z’s Kitchen: Pudding and Glock edition

Posted on 26 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have had a few inquiries recently about Fr. Z’s Kitchen.

Frankly, I haven’t been doing much cooking. The most extravagant thing I have made for myself recently is a grilled cheese (cheddar) on rye. Yum… but not exactly thrilling.

On the other hand, over the weekend a couple priests and I got together for supper (at a restaurant) to celebrate an accomplishment. We returned to the Steam Pipe Distribution Venue for dessert (call it a “movable feast”): one of my Christmas Puddings. I made more than one pudding back when.

I started the pudding a’steaming after noon and whipped up some brandy sauce. All this time I kept alive some holly which one of you readers sent me (from the sad state of New York). Here is the pudding, aflame.

With the pudding I provided the same barleywine which I used in the recipe. The flavors were, as expected, rich and, in some ways, foreign to our modern palates. I can only eat a small amount of this pudding at a time, but I don’t have much of a sweet-tooth: più salato che dolce.

Speaking of which, a friend sent some great Italian sausages, including a hot soppressata, finocchiona, and one called “winter”. I scrounged up some olives and little balls of mozzarella and absorbed it over a few days with a bottle of Carménère.

Shifting gears, I concocted something else a couple days ago. For the first time I did a complete strip down and thorough cleaning of my Glock 19. I also “pimped it out” with some stainless steel parts, including an extended mag release and an extended slide release. The original trigger connector has now been replaced with a 3.5 lbs connector.

I am not convinced I like the look of this, but I do like the extended slide release. The jury is out on the mag release. I may file the corners down a bit to smooth it out. If I get enough done today, perhaps I’ll betake myself to the range and see about this new trigger pull.

In the meantime I continue to have problems with my Springfield XDS .45ACP. It was a good idea at the time, I suppose.

In other news, I am working the next book in the Kydd series Caribbee: A Kydd Sea Adventure. As I have noted before, they are not as good as the Aubrey/Maturin series (what is?), but they are amusing.

And I need also to get at What We Can’t Not Know: A Guide by J. Budziszewski. The author sent it and it is in the stack.

Also, I was recently sent a copy of Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s new book. I have yet to look at it, but in a spirit of solidarity (his involvement with the Patheos crowd notwithstanding) I want to point you to it. He is, as you may know, a convert and married former Protestant minster. Thus, he is one of our rare married priests. With him and his family in mind, I hope you will give his books some consideration. (Less subtly: Buy his books!)

His latest is The Romance of Religion: Fighting for Goodness, Truth, and Beauty.

Please use my links and search box when ordering from amazon. It really helps.

UPDATE:

Someone sent this. Fun.

I am not sure about that “sunny side” editorial bit, but… hey, I’m flexible.

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged Christmas Pudding, Glock
36 Comments

More on Cuomo’s bigotry

Posted on 25 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A cartoon by Ramirez:

Posted in Liberals | Tagged bigotry, Gov. Cuomo
44 Comments

VIDEO Spectacular view of the Basilica of Monreale … by drone

Posted on 24 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

After the dreck we have had to wade through lately, here is something of beauty.

Here is a voyage within the Basilica Santa Maria La Nuova di Monreale in Sicily, a magnificent 12th c. Normano-Byzantine edifice which must number among the most beautiful churches in the world.

COOL THING: The photography is done with a drone! HERE Hit the toggle button on the lower right of the frame to see it larger.