Daily Rome Shot 1284

Posted on 31 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the background you can see part of the facade and dome of S. Carlo e Biaggio, which has been closed for years after the big earthquake that it Norcia. I’m told it is to reopen soon. Last time I was there in February, the park was being massively cleaned up.

Very cool…

 

Memento Mori…

Chessy news… I’ll probably play OTB today.  HERE

In today’s hard puzzle, white to move and mate in 5.  Good luck.

Nice people! Great service!

Every home should have a chess set.  Every kid should learn to play.  It is a lifetime gift that cuts across people and generations.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

Some time ago, I bought a great travel set from Chess House (with which I have an affiliate program).  It is simply the best travel set I’ve seen.  It weighs hardly anything.  The pieces are magnetic.  The board has a pleasant leather backing.  It packages up into a little bag.  It looks nice.  15% discount TODAY

9? Milled Leather Travel Magnetic Chess Set with Wood Pieces

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

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31 March – Feast of St. Amos, Old Testament Prophet

Posted on 31 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today in the older Roman Martyrology it is the Feast of the Old Testament Prophet Amos.

Many of the Old Testament figures are considered saints and they have feast days, quite a few in Advent (for obvious reasons) but also at other times of the year, scattered around.

In honor of SAINT Amos the Old Testament Prophet, we can look at something that St. Augustine of Hippo penned, commenting on Amos 3:1-8 and 4:11-12.  The chosen people have been unfaithful and God will punish them.  Amos poses rhetorical questions about their behavior and God’s response.

Amos says:

Does a lion roar in the forest,
when he has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from his den,
if he has taken nothing?

…

The lion has roared;
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
who can but prophesy?”

…

Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Augustine expands on Amos’s lion (s. 55.3):

”Lord, You have been our refuge.”  Therefore we have recourse to You.  Our healing shall be from You, for our evil is from ourselves.  Because we have abandoned You, You have abandoned us to ourselves.  May we therefore be found in You, for in ourselves we had been lost.  “Lord, You have been our refuge.”  Why, my brethren, should we doubt that the Lord will make us gentle if we submit ourselves to be tamed by him?  You have tamed the lion, which you did not create.   Will your Creator be unable to tame you?  What is the source of your power to tame such savage beasts?  Are you their equal in bodily strength?  By what power then have you been able to tame such huge beasts?  The so-called beasts of burden are wild by nature, for it untamed they could not be endured.  But because you are not accustomed to see them except when handled by men and under the curb and control of men, you might think that they were born tame.  At any rate, consider the savage beasts.  The lion roars; who does not fear?  And yet, whence your knowledge of the fact that you are more powerful?  Not in bodily strength but in the inner reason of your mind.  You are more powerful than a lion, because you have been made the image of God.  The image of God tames a wild beast.  Is God unable to tame His own image?

A good point of reflection for Lent.

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Daily Rome Shot 1283 – Laetare at The Parish™

Posted on 30 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Parish™, where I will soon be once again thanks to you wonderful Roman Donors.  This is today, as you can see from the rose vestments on the altar and tabernacle.

It seems that don Vilmar had the sermon today. Pics from the World’s Best Sacristan™.

The Benedictines of Gower Abbey recorded the responsories for Tenebrae.

Tenebrae at Ephesus

US HERE – UK HERE

These are the RESPONSORIES of Tenebrae for all three days of the Triduum.  They are, arguably, the most beautiful chants of the entire liturgical year.  Order now and have this in time.  A good gift.

It’s always something.

1000% agreement.

Par for the course these days… let’s celebrate heretics who did immeasurable harm to souls.

Quid novi scaccorum ….  QUI

Motus ad lusorem cum militibus albis pertinent. Scaccus mattus, scilicet mors regis, quattuor in motis veniat.

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Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday of Lent – Laetare – 2025

Posted on 30 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.

It is the 4th Sunday of Lent in the Novus Ordo and in the Vetus Ordo.   It is nicknamed “Laetare Sunday”.   In England of yore, people went “mothering”. It was also called “Mid-Lent” Sunday (because Lent once started later).

Surprisingly, the experts of the Consilium didn’t do away with Lent completely.  How backwardist.

The Roman Station is Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

QUESTION: At the Mass you went to, was the Station mentioned?  Let us know in the combox.

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of obligation?

Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

I have a few thoughts about the orations in the Vetus Ordo for this Sunday: HERE

A taste:

In the ancient Church of Rome, we Catholics didn’t begin the most serious period of penitential fasting until this midway point before Easter.  Originally, the Lenten period began with Quadragesima or “Fortieth”, also the Latin name now for Lent.  The days from Ash Wednesday through Saturday were added later to take into account the Triduum, etc.  Hence, we are about 20 days into ancient Lent which is why this 4th Sunday was called “Dominica in vigesima … Sunday on the twentieth” and also “caput ieiunii … the start of the fast”.  At this mid-point, there was a brief pause for us to catch our breath, as it were, like Jewish pilgrims needed on the way up the long sloping climb to Jerusalem.  In fact, the Collect for Mass has the very word “respiremus … may we catch our breath, be refreshed”.

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Harrowing vision of Padre Pio

Posted on 30 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted in Priests and Priesthood | Tagged
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Daily Rome Shot 1282

Posted on 29 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Welcome registrant:

EdwardVIII

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Please support the wonderful traditional monks of Le Barroux.

This…

And this…

And this…

In chessy news… HERE

Black to move and mate in 4.

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Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent: Feast of the Five Holy Wounds. Did you know?

Posted on 28 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 |
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Daily Rome Shot 1281

Posted on 28 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

New advances in science give us new insights into … scientia.

May God forgive these men for what they are doing to the faithful and to themselves.

And therefore…

Please support the wonderful Summit Dominican’s by visiting their store.

In chessy news… FIDE has opened up online a “digital museum”. HERE

Black to move.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

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Daily Rome Shot 1280 – Card. Pell miracle?

Posted on 27 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Hey Fathers!  How about a clerical Guayabera shirt?

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™.   This is the cupola of the Chiesa Nuova, depicting the Triumph of the Trinity.  New illumination.

Welcome registrants:

RETIRED
prrgttx

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

I had a note from the monks of Norcia with a photo of a brewing action shot. Not so long ago, monks would fast during Lent with only beer. I’m not a huge beer fan, but this stuff is fantastic. They have three kinds.

Meanwhile…

Another something beautiful…

Visitation in 5…4…3…2…

Archbishop Aguer: Vatican too full of ‘self-praise’ to recognize the serious decline of the Church

White to move and mate in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

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4 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1279

Posted on 26 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Elsewhere…

In chessy news… yesterday I split a pair of games in OTB. The second had me in serious trouble, as my opponent kept reminding me. I fought back in the endgame with a rather clever maneuver to promote a pawn even as his four pawn juggernaut was moving up the board at my beleaguered king and pawn defender.  Victory was sweet.

White to move and mate in 4. HERE

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