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{]:¬)

Obama Admin cuts off money for funerals of fallen troops

Posted on 9 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It sounds as if military chaplain priests will be allowed by Pres. Obama to function as priests again. HERE.

Not to worry. They found another way to inflict pain for political gain. There might be a priest… but…

Shutdown outrage: Military death benefits denied to families of fallen troops

At least five families of U.S. military members killed during in Afghanistan over the weekend were given a double-whammy by federal officials: Not only have your loved ones died, but due to the government shutdown, you won’t receive a death benefit.
The benefit is $100,000 and is wired to family members of the killed military member within 36 hours of the death. The so-called “death gratuity” is aimed at paying for funeral costs and to help with those living expenses normally covered by the soldier’s paycheck.

They serve as a transition pay benefit until the military’s survivor benefits begin.
The $100,000 also helps military families fly to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, while the coffins carrying their loved ones are being unloaded
The Pentagon revealed the elimination of funeral pay, along with other impacts of the shutdown, in a press release.

[…]

SHAME. ON. THEM.

Posted in Liberals | Tagged military chaplains, Obama Administration, Pres. Obama
26 Comments

ROME: Day 3 – audience, palaces… you know… the usual

Posted on 9 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The pilgrimage group attended the papal audience today. Nothing special to report about that other than the atypically dreadful weather.

Lunch is at a place on the Gianicolo called “Scarpone”. It has been a favorite for years and it has the advantage of parking. In better weather you have a nice outside area. Too wet today, alas.

We sped off from the restaurant to the Apostolic Palace where we had a private tour arranged. A long time friend of mine in Rome, and sometime commentator here, took us to the Pauline Chapel and also to the Redemptoris Mater chapel.

The hideous nightmare from the time of Paul VI in the Pauline chapel had been undone by Pope Benedict’s most provident demolition and restoration. What a refreshing thing it was to see his name in the Latin inscription over the door.

Gone is the half-a-deviled egg jammed into a shot glass look. Now it looks like a real altar.

Part of the Sala Ducale.

After the Apostolic Palace we went to the Palazzo Farnese, where we had a permission to get in and see the sights.

Afterward, we walked across the way and had Mass at Santa Brigida and then visited the rooms of the saint. Here is a large bone, relic of the saint.

Also in the room is the table top on which she wrote and then slept and then died. She wanted to die on wood, like our Lord.

Off to supper. Some focaccia.

Grilled eggplant, peppers, etc.

Mozzarella… the real thing. I dream about this stuff when I am in the USA.

Saltimbocca alla romana.

And back out into the Roman evening for a stroll to bed.

The façade of Sant’Ignazio.

It was a long and very challenging day with perhaps a little too much jammed in.

Tomorrow we are back at the Vatican Museum and then some time in the gardens and Mass at the Governatorato.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged Rome, Sant'Ignazio
13 Comments

ACTION ITEM: A reader needs your help! Book recommendations.

Posted on 8 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

I run a gift/book shop in our parish. Our town (here in the south) doesn’t have any catholic stores so we provide that service for four parishes in a two city area. Our new priest will not let our vicar recommend books for me to buy for our store. I don’t understand. I plan on talking directly to our priest but I doubt if I will get very far. I do not have the experience or the expertise to recommend books on my own. The few books we did get had a sign “recommended by Father…” I was told to take it down. Am I doing something wrong? Our parishioners have been buying the books like hot cakes and seem to appreciate the recommendations as much as I do. What do I do? Also I would like to say thank you. I read your blog daily. Most of it goes way over my head but I am learning. I appreciate your steadfast solid faith.

My heart goes out to you.

You are trying to do something good.

Let’s stick the needle into the deep artery… MY READERS!

Folks?

BOOKS!

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, The Campus Telephone Pole |
124 Comments

Justice Scalia: “I believe in the Devil… he’s smart

Posted on 8 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Click. It's really hard and most of you won't be able to read it. BUT.. for those who want to whet their minds....

I’ve always liked Antonin Scalia. I like how his mind works. I even read (most of) his not terribly easy book. From CNS:

(CNSNews.com) – Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said he believes in the Devil as a living entity, “a real person,” and that the Devil is “smart” and “successful” in today’s world by convincing people to not believe in him or in God. [HEY! All you dopes out there who think that Pope Francis is somehow… I dunno… a bad Pope. Pope Francis has talked more about the Devil as a real person screwing with our lives than … name the Pope. Go ahead… find a Pope.]

“I even believe in the Devil,” and “yeah, he’s a real person,” Scalia told writer Jennifer Senior in an interview for New York magazine published on Oct. 6.

“Hey, come on, that’s standard Catholic doctrine,” said Scalia, who is Catholic. “Every Catholic believes that.”

When asked what evidence there is of the Devil in today’s world, Scalia, who has served on the high court for 27 years, said, “You know, it’s curious. In the Gospels, the Devil is doing all sorts of things. He’s making pigs run off cliffs, he’s possessing people and whatnot. And that doesn’t happen much anymore.” [Now Ol’ Scratch makes them jump into the Democrat party, so they can support abortion and all manner of vile social re-engineering.]

“It’s because he’s smart,” said the justice. “What he’s doing now is getting people not to believe in him or in God. He’s much more successful that way.”

Scalia explained that he did not mean people being atheists was the “Devil’s work,” but that atheism, or a non-belief in God “certainly favors the Devil’s desires.”

“I mean, come on, that’s the explanation for why there’s not demonic possession all over the place,” said Scalia. “That always puzzled me. What happened to the Devil, you know? He used to be all over the place. He used to be all over the New Testament. … He got wiler.” [Your Honor… the incidence of possession is ON THE RISE.]

When asked by Senior, “Isn’t it frightening to believe in the Devil?” the Supreme Court justice said, “You’re looking at me as though I’m weird. My God! Are you so out of touch with most of America, most of which believes in the Devil? I mean, Jesus Christ believed in the Devil! It’s in the Gospels. You travel in circles that are so, so removed from mainstream America that you are appalled that anybody would believe in the Devil! Most of mankind has believed in the Devil, for all of history. Many more intelligent people than you or me have believed in the Devil.” [Well done. I would love to hear an American bishop talk this way.]

[…]

The Devil is REAL.

We work constantly, in a battle, against three main things:

The World
The Flesh
The Devil

Remember that the Devil is the greatest of all created creatures. He is at the top of the highest pinnacle of created persons, which means, the created cosmos.

Got that?

THAT’s what we are up against.

Got that?

He is a fallen angel. AN-GEL!

Don’t be a galactically stupid moronic dupe.

The Devil hates you and wants to help you drag yourself into eternal Hell where you will forever be tormented in the separation from God which can never end. Go to Hell and you will experience for eternity the biting of the worm that does not die (cf Mark 9). I can add more but I think the Lord’s words about the worm that dieth not outta be … what… more than enough?

Do you think this is… maybe… quaint?

If you do, you are idiots.

I have news for you.

Hell is REAL.

Right now, I want you to imagine what the first 10 seconds are like for the soul who finds herself in Hell after her death and judgement. What would pass through her mind in those first seconds.

I implore you, on my knees, please, dear readers

GO TO CONFESSION.

Posted in GO TO CONFESSION, Just Too Cool | Tagged confession, hell, Justice Scalia, The Devil
44 Comments

Fishwrap’s support for the ill-effects of the HHS Mandate

Posted on 8 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Over at the National Schismatic Reporter (aka Fishwrap) here is a piece by Mr. Winter’s which shows something of their true colors over there: They don’t care about the fact that taxpayer dollars will be funding intrinsically evil actions and that they consciences of many Catholic who are faithful to the Church’s doctrinal and moral teachings will be violated. Something else is more important.

For Fishwrap, the right to live and the right to act according to a properly formed conscience are of secondary importance. What matters is the promotion of the agendas of the Obama Administration and the Democrat party under the flag of “social justice”.

Here is a sample toward the end of their bit about the annual Red Mass in Washington DC:

At the brunch following the Mass, Cardinal Wuerl spoke movingly about Pope Francis and the experience of the conclave. It was obvious to all how thrilled +Wuerl is by the new pope as he recalled being approached by a young boy after the conclave who said to him: “You are a cardinal, right? You did good.”

Perhaps the most interesting thing about yesterday’s Red Mass and brunch was the thing that was not said. Two words went unmentioned: religious liberty. There was not a whiff of culture warrior talk in the day’s proceedings, no condemnation of the Supreme Court’s decisions in the same sex marriage cases, no please for the HHS mandate to be ruled unconstitutional. Instead, modeling Pope Francis, both +Farrell and +Wuerl spoke about the Gospel and left the politics outside. It was so refreshing.

Refreshing?

The problem here is not that the speakers didn’t bring up the HHS mandate or other burning issues about which the Church is allegedly “obsessed”.

The problem is that they are celebrating US prelates being “silenced”.

The fact is that the problems caused by the HHS mandate have not mystically vanished with the election of Pope Francis. The problems cannot not be addressed. We have to find the courage to continue to address the problems and to struggle against the violations of our religious liberty. But we need to take action which will be effective in the long run. Is the most effective course silence? I suspect not. Silence, however, is what Fishwrap is happy about.

I will stipulate that not every Red Mass has to be an occasion for addressing social issues explicitly. But that is not the point of their comments about the Red Mass.

For Fishwrap this is a defeat for the US bishops and a win for Pres. Obama. That’s why this is “refreshing”.

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged Affordable Care Act, Fishwrap, HHS mandate, Michael Sean Winters, Obamacare, religious freedom, religious liberty
20 Comments

ROME: Day 1 – arrival, Mass for benefactors, and something to eat

Posted on 7 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The flight was mercifully uneventful. I was, however, able to buy some outward bound marines a drink on the plane.

A shot from the cab on the way into town while we were stuck at a light.

Having checked in at the place we are staying (I will be helping with a pilgrimage) I sought breakfast at Sant’Eustachio while a room was being readied.

I met with a my thesis director for lunch and then made my way to the Chiesa Nuova for Mass. The sacristan there was rather like the usual sacristan in Rome during the 90’s: not too helpful, invasive with the edge of hostile.

Aside from the hideous vestment (they used to put out better), I said Mass for you who are benefactors at the altar where the body of St. Philip Neri is to be venerated. He is a great patron of mine.

What was interesting, however, is that afterward there were three young priests lined up to say Mass… to concelebrate in the old fashioned way: to say the older form of Mass and serve for each other. Three young guys, all saying the older form. They had the travel altar cards I advertise on the sidebar! They all read the blog and were happy to meet me. Fun and encouraging. Here is one of them in action. I am not sure why the purple, given the presence of St. Philip and that it was 7 October.

After Mass we had a stroll and wound up at P.za Navona. I had a Crodino (non-alcoholic – because of my jet lag).

For supper we sought a tiny restaurant I have frequented for years. It is in the street that runs alongside Sant’Agostino in the Via die Pianellari: Da Pietro Valentini. They do a lot of things with truffles. My friend, the great Roman Fabrizio was able to join us.

Cacio e pepe con tartufo nero.

Afterwards we retired to the hotel terrace for a cigar and more talk.

So, we are off to the races. I had a connectivity problem yesterday (hey! It’s Rome! If I am here, there have to be connectivity problems), but today I think it is sorted out.

I would be grateful for prayers for good weather and good health, and for the safety and fruitful experiences of those who will join the pilgrimage this evening as it officially begins.

I should be able to say Mass for benefactors (people who donate and send stuff from my wish lists) in Rome again, perhaps Wednesday, 9 October.

Click the Vatican flag below to send a donation earmarked for Rome. Include a note, if your wish.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged Rome
9 Comments

My View For A While

Posted on 6 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ll be off to Rome in a bit. I ran into a pair of becassocked clerics who greeted me. One if them is going to Rome for the first time.

UPDATE:

The is a dog… at least one dog on board.

I wonder how this is going to work.

Posted in My View, On the road | Tagged Rome, travel
22 Comments

Fr. Finigan with a note to people who are upset

Posted on 6 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

His Hermeneuticalness, my friend Fr Tim Finigan, has a good post which merits your attention.

Read the whole thing there, but here is a sample:

Popes may also teach privately. Such teaching would be expressed, for example, in sermons, interviews or books. When Pope Benedict published his book Jesus of Nazareth, he said:
It goes without saying that this book is in no way an exercise of the magisterium, but is solely an expression of my personal search “for the face of the Lord” (cf. Ps 27:8). Everyone is free, then, to contradict me. I would only ask my readers for that initial goodwill without which there can be no understanding.
I mentioned this in a post three years ago and, I think reasonably, said that the same would apply to papal interviews with journalists.

Hence, if you are troubled by some statements that Pope Francis has made in his recent interviews, it is not disloyalty, or a lack of Romanita to disagree with the details of some of the interviews which were given off-the-cuff.

Naturally, if we disagree with the Holy Father, we do so with the deepest respect and humility, conscious that we may need to be corrected. However, papal interviews do not require either the assent of faith that is given to ex cathedra statements or that internal submission of mind and will that is given to those statements that are part of his non-infallible but authentic magisterium.

A good reminder. Read the rest there.

Posted in Francis, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged Fr. Finigan, Pope Francis
48 Comments

NUNS ON THE MALL! Fr. Z offers a suggestion to Pres. Obama

Posted on 5 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I was thinking about the pain-effect the Obama Administration is inflicting through the government shutdown.

If POTUS really wants to keep vets out of the World War II Memorial (and he does), he should enlist the help of his faithful followers the

NUNS ON THE BUS!

Think this through.

Vets teeter up to the Obama placed barricades. They are ready to go around them. Park police don’t interfere.

Or…

Vets teeter up to the barricades. They are met by old nuns with rulers and stares that freeze to the bone.

Game over! Obama wins!

Who better than these old gals with all that experience from their former lives as women religious, when they were in charge of class rooms?

Not even Black Panthers with axe-handles at a polling place can compete with them.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Lighter fare | Tagged Nuns On The Bus, Pres. Obama, Veterans, WWII Memorial
22 Comments

Do our work habits interfere with important aspects of our vocations?

Posted on 5 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

One of the genres of books I read – thank God they are still fiction – has to with TEOTWAWKI when the SHTF, etc. The scenarios vary. However, a consistent topos of the genre is that, at a certain point, the protagonist notices that families and neighbors are communicating, children are doing children things again, etc. You get the idea.

I also have a great amount of sympathy for parents who work hard to provide their families.

Here is a sample from a post, from Mat Archbold, that touches on both.

My 6 Year Old Broke My Heart Today
by Matthew Archbold

We were in the van. We always seem to be in the van.
My thirteen year old was asking if she could watch the television show “Revolution” [I haven’t seen even one episode yet. If anyone posts spoilers, I will ban her by IP address forever.] because some kids in her class were talking about it. She said it was the one where all the lights went out.
The kids started talking about what would happen if all the power went out.
I told my teenager that would mean her Ipod wouldn’t work and she feigned horror and pretend to faint. I said no video games, no television and no computers would work. The boy said that would be terrible. He said he’d much rather have a zombie apocalypse than a power-out apocalypse.
And that’s when my six year old said it. “I would love it if none of the computers worked,” she said. “Because then Dad wouldn’t be able to do work and he could play with me.”
Ouch.
The kids all laughed. The thirteen year old knew that one hurt though. She didn’t laugh.
That’s the kind of comment that doesn’t just hit you. It hits you, hits you again, and then wakes you up to hit you again later just to hear you say “ouch.”

[…]

You can read the rest over there.

Work is good. We can, however, become detached from other important aspects of our lives through the working habits we form.

Let us all include as a part of our examination of conscience a double-checking of our work habits. Too much is too much, if it interferes with seeking that which is above through fulfilling also those primary points of our earthly vocations. Too little is really too little, if we are not securing for ourselves the environment in which we can fulfill our vocations and if we are not being just.

We have to attend to a hierarchy of our values and loves.

Also…

GO TO CONFESSION!