About this blog…
“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
Recent Comments
- The Bruised Optimist on ASK FATHER: If God love us infinitely why does He not speak to us directly?: “Perhaps what the verse from Exodus means is this. If we were to see God, and then have that consummation…”
- on WDTPRS – Collect of the 13th Ordinary Sunday (Novus Ordo): the sticky goo of error and the freeing splendor of the truth. Wherein Fr. Z rants.: “I did happen to go to Confession yesterday. I was the only one there. The only one. Either many Catholics…”
- on Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 12th Ordinary) 2026: “The national Eucharistic pilgrimage and consecration of the Nation has been going through Massachusetts these past few days, with a…”
- on Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 12th Ordinary) 2026: “The first reading was from 2 Kings 4:8ff. Father continued the story beyond what was in the lectionary. In the…”
- on Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 12th Ordinary) 2026: “(Vetus ordo, diocesan) Preaching today was about prayers and understanding for the 1st July, for the situation of the SSPX,…”
- on Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 12th Ordinary) 2026: “At FSSP Low Mass this morning. My layman’s take home message: we must speak as one voice. Don’t complain or…”
- on Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 4th Sunday after Pentecost (N.O.: 12th Ordinary) 2026: “N.O. Mass Priest did not shy away from loving Christ more than father and mother, son and daughter. Explicitly said…”
- on I have to post these. I know you can find them on your own. But I must post them.: “Needless to say, the SSPX doesn’t make videos about the priests like myself whom they’ve mistreated. It’s an organization that…”
CLICK and say your daily offerings!
A Daily Prayer for Priests
Fr. Z’s Podcasts RSS Feed
Federated Computer… your safe and private alternative to big biz corporations that hate us while taking our money and mining our data. Have an online presence large or small? Catholic DIOCESE? Cottage industry? See what Federated has to offer. Save money and gain peace of mind.
ABORTION PILL RESCUE NETWORK
Everyone, work to get this into your parish bulletins and diocesan papers.
Donate using VENMO
GREAT BEER from Traditional Benedictine Monks in Italy
Good coffee and tea. Help monks.
I use this when I travel both in these USA and abroad. Very useful. Fast enough for Zoom. I connect my DMR (ham radio) through it. If you use my link, they give me more data. A GREAT back up.
Help support Fr. Z’s Gospel of Life work at no cost to you. Do you need a Real Estate Agent? Calling these people is the FIRST thing you should do!
They find you a pro-life agent in your area who commits to giving a portion of the fee to a pro-life group!
This blog has to earn its keep!
PLEASE subscribe via PayPal if it is useful. Zelle and Wise are better, but PayPal is convenient.
A monthly subscription donation means I have steady income I can plan on. I put you my list of benefactors for whom I pray and for whom I often say Holy Mass.
In view of the rapidly changing challenges I now face, I would like to add more $10/month subscribers. Will you please help?
For a one time donation...
To donate monthly I prefer Zelle because it doesn't extract fees. Use
frz AT wdtprs DOT com
Tag Archives: absolution
A review of the Sacrament of Penance in view of the Jubilee Year as well as your regular Sunday Mass
While in Rome during a Jubilee Year. Many people – Rome is jammed – are coming to Rome for the experience such as entering the Major Basilicas through the Holy Door. That’s a perk and a novelty that most may … Read More
ASK FATHER: If the priest says an invalid absolution and I drop dead after… what happens to me?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, a question – if a penitent is in a state of mortal sin, and they go to confess their sins to a priest, and the penitent does everything necessary on their part for the sacrament … Read More
ASK FATHER: When giving me absolution, Father did not say “ALL your sins”. Was that invalid?
From a reader…. QUAERITUR: At my last Confession, during the absolution, the priest said: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name, etc.” Note that he did not say “from ALL your sins”. Does this mean the absolution is … Read More
ASK FATHER: I have heard of “Apostolic Pardon” but “Apostolic Blessing”?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have heard of “Apostolic Blessing” — is that the same thing but with a different name (eg: “reconciliation” == “confession” == “Sacrament of Penance”)? I’ve written about the IMPORTANT Apostolic Pardon quite a few times. … Read More
In time of Coronovirus a priest foolishly suggests confession by phone. FAIL!
UPDATE 28 March 2020: The CDW instructed the USCCB that mobile phones should not be used to amplify vocal exchanges between confessor and penitent, when the penitent is at least a little distant from, but still with, the priest. CNA … Read More
ASK FATHER: What about confession if the virus gets really bad and we are all locked down?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I just read that Italy is taking the measure of locking down the entire country, 60 million people, until 3 April. I don’t know if this is irrational panic or not. Let’s say that it is. … Read More
ASK FATHER: Am I still forgiven if I don’t to my assigned penance?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I saw a tweet about a question on confession. The person said the penance she got from the priest in confession was hard but she didn’t completely do it. She wanted to know if she was … Read More
ASK FATHER: Absolution at jail through glass, phone in visitor’s room
From a priest… QUAERITUR: I’m a priest who occasionally gets asked to hear confessions in a jail where the only way to speak to a person is through glass and a telephone headset. Without using the phone, one can barely hear the other … Read More
ASK FATHER: Penance given in confession was too vague
From a reader… QUAERITUR: In line with your recent ASK FATHER postings on Confession, I have a question about vague penance given in Confession. We attend the local TLM and it is difficult to make it to Confession because the lines are always … Read More
The Bruised Optimist on ASK FATHER: If God love us infinitely why does He not speak to us directly?: “Perhaps what the verse from Exodus means is this. If we were to see God, and then have that consummation…”
