Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

The dying out of women religious, and the crisis of religious, priestly vocations. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

If anyone in the English speaking world knows what the status quaestionis is concerning American women religious it’s Ann Carey. She has written insightful books about, especially, why some orders are imploding from their own suicide pact with modernity.  See … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, PRAYER REQUEST, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants, Women Religious | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

ASK FATHER: A prayer for protection while traveling

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I ride a Vespa PX150 around town as it’s quick and cheap to run. When I start the scooter each time I recite the Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary and Gloria while the engine is … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Should we pray for “Servants of God”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: We pray with our Necrologium every night during Compline and we have many “Servants of God” along with “Venerables” and “Blesseds” among the dead of our Congregation. I was wondering, do we pray for their souls? … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Marriage licenses with “Spouse 1” and “Spouse 2”

From a Protestant clergyman reader… QUAERITUR: Thank you for your blog. Your courage and clarity motivate me. I am a Protestant clergy and am struggling with whether or not I should even morally be signing marriage licenses anymore. I had … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, One Man & One Woman, Sin That Cries To Heaven | Tagged , | 14 Comments

ASK FATHER: Scheduling a specific Mass for a profession: IT professionals

From a reader… QUAERITUR: How do you go about scheduling a specific Mass for a profession? I am a member of a new group called Saint Isidore’s Guild, a professional apostolate of programmers and other IT professionals under the patronage … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Firearms at Mass, laity and priests – UPDATED

In the wake of the recent horrible Texas church massacre, I now have several email conversations going on – with laity and clergy – about having a concealed firearm in church. This is an issue which needs sober assessment by … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Going Ballistic, Lighter fare | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Liturgical worship… priestly vocations… Is what we are doing working or not?

I had mentioned that I was re-reading Robert Hugh Benson’s prophetic Lord of the World.  I finished it yesterday. US HERE – UK HERE Just as I finished it, I found these things. First, I want to preface with this: When you are on a journey … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

ASK FATHER: The usual requirements for gaining indulgences

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Do all indulgenced works (eg visiting the Bl Sacrament for 30 mins) carry with them the three usual requirements (Communion, Confession & prayer for the Pope’s intentions)? In the Norms for gaining indulgences in the Enchiridion … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: How much “work” on Sunday?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I know we are to abstain from unnecessary servile (manual) labor on Sundays. How strict should we be with discerning whether the labor is “necessary” or not? For example, can mere convenience justify a small amount … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

More about photos during Mass and Pope Francis’ admonisment

The other day Pope Francis spoke out again taking photos at Mass or other liturgical moments. Greg DiPippo at NLM has a good piece about this HERE. He makes the distinction between this… And this… I would add any of … Continue reading

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