Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

2 Nov – All Souls, Indulgences, and YOU!

It seems somehow fitting to post about indulgences on 31 October. From the Handbook of Indulgences Visiting a Church or an Oratory on All Souls Day A plenary (“full”) indulgence, which is applicable only to the souls in Purgatory is granted … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Why do traditional Catholic “white wash” Halloween?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: It surprises me how popular it’s becoming among traditional Catholics to “white wash” Halloween. It’s certainly not traditional! The 3 days of this time have always represented a trilogy –Hell, Heaven, and Purgatory. A time to reflect on the … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Bless or exorcize new home?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I’m a long time reader of your blog and thank you for your ministry. My wife and I are in the final stages of purchasing our first house. When we went to see the house the first … Continue reading

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Wherein Fr. Z rants: Our worship, therefore our identity, needs orthotics.

I receive this from a reader…  I thought you might be interested in this; it at least is new to me. In Waterbury, Connecticut this morning, I came across this version of “Now Thank We All Our God” in WLP’s … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: An old priest gets confused, hard to understand

From a reader… Our parish has a mass that is served by an increasingly elderly and frail priest. His physical limitations are what they are. The concern that he needs prompting through the entire mass, not just the daily changes, but including prayers … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Is a priest allowed to do the readings, or must a lay person do them?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: On occassion the Lector or Reader is a no-show for Mass and Father will say “We’ll just wait for someone to come do the readings.” At the Sat. evening vigil Mass many of us are older and I, … Continue reading

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Christmas isn’t too far away

I just received an email from my baker who made stunning homemade panettone for me, for the bishops, and for my Supper For The Promotion of Clericalism.  This got me to thinking about Christmas shopping preparations.  It is good to … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Can the bishop forbid the cassock?

From a priest… QUAERITUR: I am trying to find an answer to the question of whether a bishop can prohibit a priest from wearing the cassock. Below is the pertinent section from the Directory for the Ministry and Life of … Continue reading

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Bp. Morlino on marriage, sex craziness, the election, and “eschatological awareness”

His Excellency Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison and Extraordinary Ordinary, has a column in the recent number of the diocesan newspaper which connect three topics that you might not be immediately inclined to connect. Eschatology (theology of … Continue reading

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ASK FATHER: Why are good priests so afraid of “stirring the pot”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: This past weekend my family and I attended Mass at a neighboring parish, which had for many years been considered very liberal. We were informed that a new pastor had been appointed in the course of the last year … Continue reading

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