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“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
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roma247 on Daily Rome Shot 58@ThePapalCount...sadly, now that Trastevere has become the hot new boho scene in Rome, with marijuana dispensaries dotted here and there,...
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chantgirl on The Popes’ guts, martyrdom and YOUThe last six months or so, our family has been asking the North American Martyrs and the Martyrs of Compiegne...
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teomatteo on 20 Jan: St. Sebastian, invoked against the pandemicHmm... maybe a bumper sticker, "Be an Irene, not a Karen"
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Tag Archives: sacrament of penance
“Today I made my first Confession in over 30 years”
From a reader… Father, if you need some good news, today I made my first Confession in over 30 years. Despite twisting myself into anxious knots for days beforehand, it all went very easily and Father was very kind and … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: A priest complains about another priest’s form of absolution in his confession
From a priest reader… QUAERITUR: At the risk of testing your patience . . . is it valid if the Priest (after improvising the first half of the absolution formula) says: “I absolve you from all the sins of your … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: Priest gives absolution while I am saying Act of Contrition
From a reader… QUAERITUR: In all the time I have gone to confession, I say the Act of Contrition, and then the priest absolves me. However, the priest at my new parish does Absolution at the same time I am … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: Form of absolution was just “I absolve you OF your sins” instead of “FROM your sins”.
From a reader… QUAERITUR: if the priest says” of your Sins, instead of “from your Sins” in absolution would the Absolution still be valid and if it is valid could you explain where of and from differ or were they … Continue reading
New layers of stupid emerge during COVID-1984: violation of anonymity of penitents seeking Confession
COVID-1984 Melodrammavirus is bringing out new layers of stupid, hitherto theorized, but not yet experienced. On Fakebook I saw: Really? Now I read this at Stream: I Went to Confession. Was Asked to Give My Name for Contact Tracing. I … Continue reading
Posted in GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000
Tagged anonymity, can.964, sacrament of penance
33 Comments
Wherein a seriously annoyed Fr. Z rants – UPDATED
UPDATE Concerning something I ranted about below, I read this at CNA: Updated: Springfield, Mass. diocese rescinds policy permitting nurses to anoint Thanks be to God. One hour after the publication of the story below, the Diocese of Springfield informed … Continue reading
LENTCAzT 2020: 25 – Saturday in the 3rd Week of Lent: No human being would have thought of this sacrament
It’s Saturday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Susanna, though it would be at observed across the street at the beautiful beautiful Carmelite church St. Maria della Victoria where you find Bernini’s astonishing statue of … Continue reading
Posted in LENTCAzT, PODCAzT
Tagged confession, epidemic, Fulton J. Sheen, LENT, LENTCAzT, podcast, PODCAzT, sacrament of penance
5 Comments
Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Confessions, the Sacrament of Penance in the COVID-19 pandemic
This is from the Penitenzieria Apostolica, the tribunal of the Holy See which is concerned with matters of the internal forum and the granting of indulgences. First, this is a NOTE. It doesn’t change anything, but it clarifies. It repeats … Continue reading
Posted in GO TO CONFESSION
Tagged coronavirus, sacrament of penance
Comments Off on Note from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the Confessions, the Sacrament of Penance in the COVID-19 pandemic
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 … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: I might be contagious. Would it be a sin to go to confession to an elderly priest?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Given that the priests at the chapel where I typically confess are all rather elderly and at high risk should they become infected, would it potentially be morally problematic to go to confession and put them … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
PRIESTS! BISHOPS! ACTION ITEM! Ideas, some novel, some not so novel, for increasing CONFESSIONS
Have I ever urged you … GO CONFESSION! Yes, I believe I have. I have also urged priests and bishops to preach, teach, admonish, in season and out, about the Sacrament of Penance and to hear confessions. Get into the … Continue reading
Death, #KobeBryant, and You
You will hear a great deal in the next few days about the early death of basketball star Kobe Bryant, who seems to have been a practicing Catholic. It might even bump some impeachment coverage off the waves. A death … Continue reading
Posted in Cri de Coeur, GO TO CONFESSION
Tagged A subitanea et improvisa morte, confession, sacrament of penance
24 Comments
ASK FATHER: Why can’t I confess my sins to God and not the priest?
From a reader… QUAERITUR: if god forgives sins why cant i confess my sins to god and ask god to forgive me does that suffice for confession This is one of the oldest and most common Protestant objections to the … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: A priest gave me a penance in confession that was too hard
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Long ago I went to confession and was given and reluctantly agreed to\ a rather onerous penance not required by justice. I didn’t end up doing it after thinking about it for a while and went … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
What “GO TO CONFESSION!” produces
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am inspired by your words about the importance of regular confession and preparing our soul for the end of our earthly pilgrimage, as well as your blunt Truthfulness about the pains and anguish of Hell. … Continue reading
A revert and the power of a good confession: “I left like a new man.”
From the site of my friend Marcus Grodi, the Coming Home Network Carlos Zamora was raised Catholic, and went to confession a few times, but never took it seriously. When he returned to the Church later in life, and finally … Continue reading
A priest’s prayers before and after making his own confession
From an old prayerbook for priests which I’ve had since before my ordination. They are dense with old wisdom. Here are two prayers, in Latin and English, for priests, for before and after they make confession their own confession. I’ve … Continue reading
ASK FATHER: How to make a good confession, especially after many years
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Hello, Father. I have a request. Since you often exhort people to go to confession, and since many haven’t gone in years and have anxiety about the form it takes, what to do or what to … Continue reading
