Fr. Z's Blog | Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" – Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

Look at these poor backwardists

Posted on 9 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Look at these poor backwardists, kneeling to receive Communion. Don’t they understand that there would be bishops in these USA who know better?!? At least there’s no terrible Communion rail!

This miniature comes from a Book of Hours commissioned by the wealthy Aussem family of Cologne for their private devotion in the early 16th century. Set within a grand Gothic church, we see two family members attending Mass at a side altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, receiving… pic.twitter.com/oIzyuCTsgc

— Vir Desideriorum (@VirDesideriorum) February 9, 2025

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged communion rail | 5 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1241 – a lucky man

Posted on 8 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

This man is lucky that The Great Roman™ isn’t in charge of his subsequent treatment.

BREAKING: A man, reportedly Romanian, broke through barriers at the Vatican today and kicked the candles and altar cloths off the high altar.
Footage was posted earlier today on social media. pic.twitter.com/e3qk4PV12r

— Michael Haynes ?? (@MLJHaynes) February 7, 2025

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas have indicated they wish to review Obergefell v. Hodges gay “marriage” ruling.

Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/ghBlIqC6F8

— AF Post (@AFpost) February 7, 2025

In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 3.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | 6 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1240

Posted on 7 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’m on the road still. Last night we made a food foray into deepest darkest Queens for Chinese at a now favorite place.

Starting with soup dumplings.

The spoons at the restaurant (blue and white on the left) are too small to eat these dumplings with anything like efficiency. Hence, I ordered larger spoons (white) with a deeper bowl and a little wider. The gals at the restaurant were amused and got into it by offering the spoon on the right, but it wasn’t any larger than the white one and it was more awkward, since it could not stand on its own.

One of our number wanted the crispy shrimp in mayo.

A wonderful and very spicy stew with chicken. In this case, I hit something which brought flaming spicy tears and a clear sinus.

Crispy beef.

The traditional Benedictines of Le Barroux can send you great wine.

OPPORTUNITY
10% off with code:
FATHERZ10

Cumin lamb, which we usually get. It was excellent this time.

What a pleasure to get great Chinese before heading south to the worst Chinese anywhere. Well… maybe not the very worst.

Please remember me when Christmas shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

A very cook picture of Venus, where there is no Chinese food option at all.

Clearest image ever taken of Venus. ?? pic.twitter.com/KbxHQWMhRi

— Curiosity (@MAstronomers) February 6, 2025

In chessy news… HERE

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | 6 Comments

VIDEO: Can a bishop forbid Communion at a Communion rail? A canonist responds.

Posted on 6 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I light of sad development I posted on recently, there’s this. It’s not long.

Fr. Pius Pietrzyk, OP, is an accomplished canonist. I think he makes the right point also about the moral issue involved. The question is to be asked. If the bishop says no Communion at the rail, and people go to the rail anyway, what is the priest to do? Deny them Communion? That CAN’T be right.

As a matter of fact, Redemptionis Sacramentum forcefully underscores that people have the right to receive kneeling and on the tongue. If there is a Communion rail, where should a person kneel to receive?

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | 13 Comments

Has anyone had a problem with the “combox” form?

Posted on 6 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Every once in a while, I’ve seen someone mention that they could not leave a comment. As a matter of fact, a few days ago I noticed that there was no combox form under a post. Then it was back.

It’s maybe optimistic to ask people to leave a comment about a possibly faulty comment form, but… here goes.

Has anyone had a problem? If you can’t see a combox form, write to me HERE.

NB: Only those of you who are registered and approved can leave comments. Also, all comments automatically go into a queue for moderation.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | 6 Comments

Daily Rome… er um… Catania Shot 1239

Posted on 6 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Catania for the Feast of St. Agatha…

Another parish is being bullied by the bishop. They are using the Communion rail at the parish and the people like it and want it. The bishop comes, sees what they are doing (aka “sees they are happy”?) and says “Stop using the rail”.

For over a decade the parish has been using the rails. New bishop enters and demands a stop to it. People were upset. I don’t know how many knelt anyways (I would’ve gone to the rail and waited) but at least kid had the courage to drop down.

June begins his new liturgical norms pic.twitter.com/WFeBfh3V8K

— Sensus Fidelium (@Sensus_Fidelium) February 5, 2025

“I am the good shepherd”.

The pastor’s comment in their parish bulletin HERE.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – UK HERE WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

This is a MUST SEE. The guest, Fr. Kirby, hits it outta da’ park:

More of this will happen, I think. Parishes should have a consideration for security.

An attack on a Catholic priest at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane during Mass was captured on camera leading to the arrest of a man.

Video: KHQ Local News pic.twitter.com/EKIQsnMcz2

— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) February 6, 2025

As we say in Rome on reading of this… “MA VA!”

Sunshine is the best disinfectant. https://t.co/UDriLAIZIA

— Father V (@father_rmv) February 6, 2025

In chessy news… HERE

My guy Wesley So is in Düsseldorf to play in the Bundesliga. He did a video interview.

White to move and mate in 4.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | 7 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1238

Posted on 5 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Ave Maria Bell doesn’t ring in Brooklyn. At least, I’d wager that it doesn’t. But if it did, it would ring in the 17:45 cycle until 9 February, when it would shift to 18:00.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – UK HERE WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Last night we went to a great pub. It was taco night, so …

… they were definitely NY tacos, if you get my drift. Not bad. Pretty good as food, just not …. tacos, properly understood.

The burger, on the other hand, was excellent. There’s nothing like a cheeseburger after a transatlantic flight and over 10 days of ketchup deprivation.

In churchy news…

Protected for years…

Court of Appeals in Argentina has upheld that Bishop Zanchetta must serve his 4 1/2yr prison term: https://t.co/tzbqOIJakZ

Zanchetta, close friend of Pope Francis, was found guilty of s3xual abuse in March 2022.

His trial was marked by Vatican intervention on his behalf:… pic.twitter.com/ilotUQqorp

— Michael Haynes ?? (@MLJHaynes) February 5, 2025

HOW COOL IS THIS?

Spanish Catholics in Cordoba pray for souls in purgatory, a beautiful biblical tradition pic.twitter.com/sLwkq1oUEP

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) February 3, 2025

Six years ago today, @Pontifex traveled to Abu Dhabi and signed the Document on Human Fraternity (DHF) with Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of @AlAzhar. The 2,900-word text contains this objectively heretical claim: “The pluralism and the diversity of religions … are willed by… pic.twitter.com/6INz4SFxQj

— Matt Gaspers (@MattGaspers) February 5, 2025

In chessy news… HERE

Black to move and mate in 2. Find it in … 30 seconds! GO!! CLICK

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | 9 Comments

PENTIN on “Trump’s Early Decisions Expose Damage Caused by Vatican Complicity With Democrat-Run Globalism”

Posted on 5 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Ed Pentin has an important post at his blog: HERE

Trump’s Early Decisions Expose Damage Caused by Vatican Complicity With Democrat-Run Globalism, Says Italian Scholar

A taste…

In sum, Fontana said the Church’s alignment with these policies of globalism has resulted in damage to society, economic crises, social tensions, and a weakening of the Church’s teaching on key moral issues.

It isn’t long, but it is packed. It isn’t happy new, but it is necessary.

Posted in Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged Ed Pentin | 2 Comments

ROME DAY 25/01 11: Time to go. My View For A While

Posted on 4 February 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The sun rise is about a half hour away as I write this sentence, at 07:17. It will set long after my departure: 17:31.

The Ave Maria Bell is still in the 17:45 cycle.

All is ready in the apartment. My ride to the airport is booked.

I achieved everything on my list that I wanted to do during this short trip. Not bad for Rome, which has a tendency to fight you, if you do not know her ways.

A couple last glances of The Parish… sniff. It’s always hard to leave.

I don’t always carb in the morning but today I was pressed for time. A bar I know across from where I used to stay makes their own cornetti. This was still so wonderfully warm from the oven and the smell in the place was terrific. Perfection.

Lots of inbound traffic today but once we got out of the Trastevere Tangle the trip to FCO went quickly. I had a terrific woman driver whose brother took me last time. Punctual and nice. Driving since 2008 I think she said. I’ll use them again anytime.

A330-900

I am hoping there will be an empty seat by me. Who knows.

Last flight had no WiFi so I am not optimistic about this one.

If you in your kindness will think of it, occasionally say a prayer for the safety of this flight over the next 10 hours or so, to get us off the the ground and back (gently).

Itinerarium clericorum.

UPDATE

Doors are closed!