Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

ASK FATHER: Trying to translate prayers into Latin, but I don’t trust Google

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I’m trying to translate a few prayers into Latin, but I don’t trust Google Translate’s accuracy. Is there anything I can do? Let me get this straight… You don’t trust Google? Shhhhhh.  C’mon!  Why are you … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Latin, Lighter fare | Tagged | 8 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is a concelebrated Mass just one Mass or several Masses?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Your recent post and “rant” regarding concelebration made me realize…I don’t actually know what happens at a concelebrated Mass. Is it technically two Masses (if there are two concelebrating priests)? How does that actually work? At … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , | 15 Comments

NOVENA FOR SEMINARIANS – from Corpus Christi to Sacred Heart, with a Marian Consecration

From a priest: Dear Father, we have met several times, most recently last year at the Canon Law conference in La Crosse. I wrote a novena for seminarians to be prayed from Corpus Christi to the Sacred Heart, with a … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, HONORED GUESTS, Mail from priests, Our Solitary Boast, PRAYER REQUEST, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Solemn Mass in Albany in the presence of the bishop. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

The esteemed Deacon Kandra posted – picking up on some Facebook page or other (I don’t like Facebook) – that a Solemn Mass was celebrated on Trinity Sunday in the Roman Church’s traditional form at the St. Mary’s in Albany, … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, My View, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Chilean priest’s episcopal consecration axed because of some comments

I suspect there’s more to this story than this story suggests.  Nevertheless, it is a sign of the dopiness of the times we are enduring, that a priest, soon-to-be bishop can be dismissed for something as insignificant as this. From … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes | Tagged | 6 Comments

USCCB meets. They talk about the “nones”. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

How many times have I written it here? Nothing we undertake as a Church, this plan or that project or this resolution to form a committee or action item, will succeed unless it flows from and returns to our sacred … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

A “Catholic Signal Corps” – Thinking about a Catholic digital future and this blog

Semper paratus. Here is an idea I have brought up in the past. Since this blog is facing huge changes, of existential ramifications, I have pondered how much easier life could be for me and for others if there were … Continue reading

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged | 10 Comments

ASK FATHER: Traditional aspergillum or “whisk”?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: For years now our parish has used the equivalent of a small whisk broom instead of a more traditional aspergillum during the Easter season. The “whisk broom” seems to throw much more water and the priests … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

ASK FATHER: Pipe organs, being expensive, how about manually pumped reed organs?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Pipe organs being too expensive for most parishes, and many electronic organs being used instead sound terrible and turn people off from the organ, what are your thoughts on bringing back reed (pump) organs to church? … Continue reading

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Semper Paratus, TEOTWAWKI | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

ASK FATHER: Alb for a boy’s pretend “Mass” set?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am making a set of vestments for my 9 year old son to use for pretend Mass over the summer. (I’ve been inspired by your posts regarding the travel vestments being made for your priest … Continue reading

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