Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

PHOTOS: Blessing Epiphany Water 2020

A few action shots from the Blessing of Epiphany Water on the Vigil of Epiphany, 5 January, at St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff, WI. The Rite is mighty powerful, involving first the singing of the Litany of Saints, the exorcism … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged | 2 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is cooking on Sunday a sin?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I saw someone say that cooking on Sunday violates the third commandment and food for Sunday must be made before Sunday. Is this true ? No. As much as we honor our Jewish forbears, we do … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged | 18 Comments

ASK FATHER: A sick child and fulfilling Mass obligation

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I attended an Extraordinary Form Mass this morning [Sunday] so I could stay home with a sick child while my husband and older children went to a later Novus Ordo Mass at our parish. I forgot … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

“Let y’all know!” The “Noveritis” Epiphany chant announcement of 2020’s movable dates and feasts

At Epiphany we Latins have – traditionally – chanted a solemn proclamation of the key liturgical dates or movable feasts for the new year of salvation, just begun. This underscores how these dates and seasons are all interconnected. The liturgical … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Send Fr. Z your snail-mail 2020 CHRISTMAS CARDS! – UPDATED

UPDATE 17 Jan: Baldwin, NY* Pine Island, MN (roger Pachamama) UPDATE 3 Jan: Ona, WV Hamilton, OH* Escanaba, MI Painswick, Glouchestershire Round Hill, VA Prairie Village, KS Kingsland, GA Kansas City, MO Zenica, Bosnia Hercegovina (thanks for the comment about … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Lighter fare | Tagged | Comments Off on Send Fr. Z your snail-mail 2020 CHRISTMAS CARDS! – UPDATED

From the Seven Sisters Apostolate about distraction during prayer

I have written about the Seven Sisters Apostolate on other occasions.   It is a great pleasure to know that there is a group organized for my poor person.   As a matter of fact, lately I have wondered on a few … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

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

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged , | 7 Comments

ASK FATHER: Why do Catholics hold their hands open and turned upward during Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have seen a certain posture at Mass: Why do you think people do this? Why do they choose this non-Roman posture instead of the orans posture? And what posture should I do at home? Just … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged | 45 Comments

The Texas church shooting and our future choices. Wherein Fr. Z opines.

People are asking for my reaction to the terrifying church shooting in Texas. A man was acting oddly in the church during the service.  The church had some trained people at the service who noticed him and then watched him.  They … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

ASK FATHER: Were Jesus, Mary and Joseph “refugees”? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Several readers have asked whether or not the Holy Family were refugees. Some are reacting to “nativity” scenes, showing them in cages, and so forth, which is an obvious manipulation of the Nativity narrative to score cheap political shots, at … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , | 11 Comments