Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

ACTION ITEM! Declaration on Sacred Music – Cantate Domino – 50th anniversary of Instruction ‘Musicam Sacram’

My friend Prof. Peter Kwasniewski has been part of a project to create a Declaration on Sacred Music – Cantate Domino – on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Instruction Musicam Sacram, promulgated exactly 50 years ago … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Removing Holy Water during Lent

From a reader… I am currently serving at a parish as a transitional deacon. On Thursday I noticed along with the parishioners that the Holy Water was removed from the entrance of the church. They were looking all around for … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Can a pastor forbid an assistant from using black vestments?

From a priest… QUAERITUR: Can a Pastor of a parish forbid a Parochial Vicar from wearing a black chasuble at funerals? I just heard of 2 pastors in [a large NE Archdiocese] who have forbidden their traditional-minded parochial vicars from wearing … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Is it OK to clap at the end of the recessional hymn at Sunday Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: At our Sunday Masses there is instantaneous applause at the end of the recessional hymn. Is this OK? I have sent many emails to the parish priest and he agreed that this is not correct but … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Decorum, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , | 32 Comments

Remember! Tomorrow is #AshWednesday – Fast and abstinence!

Remember that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.  Keep in mind the regulations for both abstinence and fasting.  Tomorrow is not just a day of abstinence but also of fasting. According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church, … Continue reading

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Make Church Great Again! “Free Our Churches From the Ugly and Stupid”

So I’m reading my email.  A reader sent the text of a Wall Street Journal piece (they have an evil paywall) entitled “Free Our Churches From the Ugly and Stupid“. “This hath potential”, quoth I, and in did I delve. … Continue reading

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Cri de Coeur, Decorum, Fr. Z KUDOS, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is there a good, conservative RCIA program?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I attend a Maronite church and our priest has decided he wants to offer an RCIA type program (Maronite Rite doesn’t technically have one). He’s a generally conservative priest and I was hoping you might suggest … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Faculties of the Missionaries of Mercy after the Year of Mercy

From a priest… QUAERITUR: Do the missionaries of mercy still have the faculty to remit censures arising from reserved delicts? I’m working with a priest who is worried (I think he’s ok actually). But if a trip to the missionary would be able … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Why on earth did they start offering Mass “facing the people”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: When I first started attending the TLM, I really struggled with Mass celebrated ad Orientem. However, the more I attended the TLM and Mass according to the Missal of Divine Worship (aka, Anglican Use), which in … Continue reading

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Ad orientem in Cologne’s great Cathedral

One of our frequent and long-time commentators here, Henry Edwards, sent some screenshots of the Holy Mass celebrated by Rainer Card. Woelki at the spectacular Cathedral of Cologne’s high altar (i.e., the real altar, the grown-up altar, the main altar) for … Continue reading

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