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{]:¬)

“So God Made A Liberal”

Posted on 4 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This amused me today, on a day when I needed something amusing.

First, you have to hear the serious one, the original, to appreciate the second, less but more serious one.

And then

And now you know the rest of the story.

Posted in Liberals | Tagged farmers, liberals, Paul Harvey, speech
22 Comments

“Let y’all know!” The sung announcement of 2014’s liturgical dates

Posted on 4 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I saw something helpful at New Liturgical Movement.

Someone posted a printable image of the Noveritis (“Let y’all know”) in Gregorian chant notation for the singing of the liturgical dates for 2014 which takes place at Epiphany after the Gospel. They thoughtfully provided also a link to a printable booklet for a deacon. Find it over there.

The singing of the key liturgical dates in a solemn way, underscores how these dates and seasons are all interconnected, how the liturgical year is a reflection of and on the mystery of our salvation. Some liturgical dates are movable. For example Septuagesima doesn’t fall on the same date every year because the date of Easter changes each year.

“But Father! But Father!”, you are surely sputtering. “What does this chant sound like?”

Here is what it sounds like, in case some deacon or priest out there, less familiar with chant, wants to give it a shot. It sounds rather like the Exultet, sung at the Easter Vigil. The Noveritis is a little awkward, however.

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An English translation (not mine):

“Know, dearly beloved Brethren, that by the mercy of God, as we have been rejoicing in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, so also do we announce unto you the joy of the Resurrection of the same our Saviour.
Septuagesima Sunday will be on the 16th day of February.
Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the fast of most holy Lent will be on the 5th of March.
On the 20th of April we shall celebrate with joy the holy Pasch of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ will be on the 29th of May.
The Feast of Pentecost on the 8th of June.
The Feast of Corpus Christi on the 19th of the same month.
On the 30th of November will occur the first Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom are honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Epiphany, feast days, Gregorian chant, liturgical calendar, liturgical year, Noveritis
12 Comments

Die Brüder “Spry”… The Spry Brothers… Benedict and Georg

Posted on 3 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Yesterday Benedict XVI went to Gemelli Hospital in Rome to visit his elder brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who had been admitted.

All things considered, they both look pretty spry. And we wish Msgr. Georg a swift recovery. He will be 90 on 15 January.

UPDATE: Not a recent photo? Dunno. Perhaps it was since the new report talks about a private visit. Still… who cares. From what I am hearing, Benedict is looking great these days.

Posted in Benedict XVI, Just Too Cool | Tagged Benedict XVI, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger
17 Comments

ND Univ submits to the HHS Mandate

Posted on 3 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

While the Little Sisters of the Poor are fighting for our religious freedom, the University of Notre Dame (which gave to the most infamously pro-abortion President of these USA ever the honor of a Doctrate in Law – of all things), has submited to their honoree’s HHS Mandate.

In the South Bend Tribune we read:

SOUTH BEND — The University of Notre Dame’s [Shame’s] insurance plan on Wednesday started providing contraceptive coverage for employees, as required by federal law.

But university leaders are continuing with a lawsuit they hope will result in an end to that benefit. [Meanwhile, they obey. Why wouldn’t they, given their past?]

Nonprofit organizations with religious affiliations across the country were required to begin providing contraceptive services to employees on Jan. 1 under the Affordable Care Act.

Paul Browne, a Notre Dame spokesman, said Thursday that the third-party administrator for the university’s insurance program has notified employees that contraceptive coverage is available while the university appeals its court case.

“As part of an ongoing legal action, however, the program may be terminated once the university’s lawsuit on religious liberty grounds against the (Department of Health & Human Services) mandate has worked its way through the courts,” Browne said. [Anyone taking bets?]

Notre Dame filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana seeking to be exempted from the requirement based on the university’s status as a Catholic institution. On Dec. 20, U.S. District Judge Philip P. Simon denied the university’s request for relief from the requirement for contraceptive coverage.

But similar cases by other religious-affiliated institutions have produced different results in court.

On Dec. 27, district judge Jon E. Deguilio granted injunctions in two other cases, one brought by Grace College & Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind., and Biola University of La Mirada, Calif., and the other by the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and several other groups including Franciscan Alliance and University of St. Francis.

The differing rulings meant Notre Dame was legally required as of Wednesday to provide the coverage, while Grace College, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Franciscan Alliance were not, the Indianapolis Star reported.

[…]

Read the rest there.

Again, for your consideration, The Photo:

to.

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, Emanations from Penumbras, Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged HHS mandate, Notre Shame, Pres. Obama, religious liberty
35 Comments

Hell’s Bible attacks the Little Sisters of the Poor

Posted on 3 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At NRO Kathryn Jean Lopez makes a good observation about the Hell’s Bible attack on the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The New York Times position [which, if you read the piece, is factually wrong] is that the Little Sisters of the Poor are imposing their religious beliefs on Americans by wanting to operate their elderly-care homes in conjunction with their conscience. In America, though, we’ve long valued religious liberty. Is it really the American way today to say to religious sisters – the women who built health-care in America – that Catholic teaching is not just not fit for polite society but their own service work?

(And Matt Bowman preempted the Times certification argument here.) [You can find some links over there.]

Further, about the businessmen with their supposedly tyrannical, intolerant streak: The Green family that runs Hobby Lobby and religious bookstores — as with the Mennonite family that runs Conestoga Woods – seek to live integrated Christians lives, where their public witness is authentic to their private professions. That’s not some strange tick they are trying to introduce, that’s how the Gospel calls Christians to live! And there are other arts and crafts stores one can work at or shop at if closing early to get home in time for a family dinner and having Sundays off (how Hobby Lobby rolls) offends you. [The Obama Administration is determined that you not have the right to express religious views in the public square. They will fine you, through the IRS, into the stone age if you try to live your Gospel values.]

In other news, a Chinese businessman wants to buy the New York Times. HERE Not a moment too soon.

The “third party solution” is no solution. The Little Sisters of the Poor would be be materially cooperating in sin. This they will not do. This is what the Obama Administration is trying to force them to do.

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged HHS mandate, Little Sisters of the Poor, Obama Administration
29 Comments

Obama Administration asks SCOTUS not to exempt Catholic groups

Posted on 3 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Obama Administration continues its jihad against the 1st Amendment, religious freedom, especially Catholic religious freedom.

From FNC:

Administration to high court: Don’t exempt Catholic groups from contraception mandate

The Obama administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court not to exempt Catholic groups from an ObamaCare requirement to offer contraceptive coverage, after the high court gave them a temporary reprieve earlier this week.

The court filing comes in response to a surprise order — issued shortly before coverage under the law went into effect — by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The justice issued a stay late Tuesday preventing the government from enforcing the so-called contraceptive mandate against the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged.

[…]

Read the rest there.

I recommend prayer and fasting. Offer some mortifications. Today is Friday.

UPDATE

In other news, it seems that the University of Notre Shame has decided to sumbit to the Obama Administration’s HHS Mandate.

HERE

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty | Tagged 1st Amendment, HHS mandate, Justice Sotomayor, Little Sisters of the Poor, Obama Administration, Pres. Obama, religious freedom, SCOTUS
40 Comments

Fr Z’s 2014 New Year Resolutions

Posted on 3 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr Z’s 2014 New Year Resolutions

1) Do even more to support the advancement of Summorum Pontificum.
2) Drink (sell) even more Mystic Monk Coffee.
3) Post even more on my blog.
4) Practice even more at the shooting range.
5) Offer even more of my services as a preacher and lecturer.
6) Read even more good books.
7) Travel even more to the UK and Rome.
8) Exercise even more.
9) Pray even more for my benefactors.
10) Cause even more “chaos” … as Pope Francis asked me to. ¡Hagan lío!

As a corollary to #4 I am going to build an AR-15 from scratch.

Posted in Lighter fare, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged 2014, resolutions
25 Comments

Syrian jihadist rebels kill Christians, drain and sell their blood?

Posted on 3 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

More news of the Religion of Peace from WND:

NUN: SLAIN CHRISTIANS’ BLOOD DRAINED AND SOLD
Vials from beheading victims ‘going for $100,000’

NEW YORK – Atrocities by Syrian jihadist rebels have reached sensational new levels, according to a revered nun working with persecuted Christians and an explosive new video report.

Sister Hatune Dogan told WND in a Skype interview that members of the Syrian opposition are draining the blood of Christians they behead and selling vials to Islamic radicals for $100,000 a piece.

The Syrian Orthodox nun explained that the blood is used in a ritual washing of hands in the belief the act atones for sins and provides privileged access to heaven.

The Christians, she said, are beheaded in ceremonies in which they are forced to kneel, with their hands and feet bound, as the Muslim radicals read a death sentence imposed because the victim refuses to renounce Christianity and embrace Islam.

She detailed how the head of the victim is brutally severed with knives. The blood spurting from their necks is captured in basins and then bottled.

“The Muslims sever the necks and collect the blood in vessels to sell the blood. The Muslims believe that if they kill a Christian and wash their hands in the blood of the Christian, they will go to heaven,” she explained.

She said the sale of the Christian blood “is a big business.”

“With this money, the Muslim terrorists can buy more weapons,” she explained.

[…]

Read the rest there.

One wonders if and when there will be a showdown in the Middle East. Will anyone defend Christians? What shall be the fate of Israel in a nuclearized Islamic region? When will the first dirty bombs be used and where? I doubt whether, today, anyone in these USA or Europe… Europe? HAH!… has the political will.

Sts. Nunilo and Alodia, pray for us.

Posted in Modern Martyrs, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, The Religion of Peace | Tagged Islam, jihad, Religion of Peace, Sts. Nunilo and Alodia, Syria
23 Comments

Reason #7566 for Summorum Pontificum – POLL

Posted on 2 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Well… not quite, as it turns out. But, hey!

For your consideration.

I dunno, people. I just don’t get this.

UPDATE: The color is off. The dark that looks black should be purple. I have another photo of these in a comment, below. You’ll be surprised where this is and who designed the place and vestment! In other news: they are still pretty awful.

Posted in Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, POLLS | Tagged poll, ugly vestment
112 Comments

D. Superior rejects Common Core

Posted on 2 January 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

For your Brick by Brick file…

The Diocese of Superior (WI) has opted out of Common Core! Here is a statement from the Diocese (their diocesan website is fancy enough that, right now, it isn’t working. You get stuck in a flash loop. Nice.):