Monthly Archives: May 2011

Bishops must speak upalatable truths

First preliminary point. I have often suggested prayer not only for priests but for bishops. The Enemy of our souls hates priests, and hates bishops even more. Their burdens are very heavy and their mistakes can have grave consequences. They … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
12 Comments

QUAERITUR: sign of Cross after Holy Communion – WDTPRS POLL

From a reader: Some friends were having a discussion about whether or not making the sign of the cross after receiving Holy Communion is encouraged, discouraged, or doesn’t matter either way.  What say you ? I saaaaay…. I sayyyyy… Sure.  … Read More

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

Of fish, dragons and pity

I needed a down day. I had a half down day yesterday, too.  I met with my literary group, going on since 1997 now.  We are reading Gerard Manley Hopkins.  If anyone is interesting, drop me a line and I … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Lighter fare |
43 Comments

QUAERITUR: Selling a rosary and other sacred things

Several readers have sent similar questions about the selling of sacred things.  I will simply answer rather than post excerpts of the questions. Let’s start with the most sacred of all, the Eucharist.  Selling the Eucharist would be a terrible … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged , , , , ,
28 Comments

Sts. Nunilo and Alodia, pray for us

I was delighted to receive a little book from a reader in Pamplona, Spain, about Saints Nunilo and Alodia. Our saints, little girls, were 9th c. virgin martyrs in Huesca, Spain.  They were born to a Muslim father and Christian … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , ,
5 Comments

Must watch and hear. Palestrina.

Tip of the biretta to NLM for this on Gloria TV.  It is a BBC show on Palestrina.  Fantastic views of Rome.

Posted in Just Too Cool, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
25 Comments

Card. Koch on Pope Benedict’s long term plan for the Roman Rite

For a long time I have thought that Joseph Ratzinger’s view was that side-by-side use of the older form of the Roman Rite and the newer Novus Ordo would eventually produce a tertium quid.  I wrote about that in the … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , , ,
68 Comments

QUAERITUR: difficult to fulfill penance

From a reader: The priest I go to gives me a penance that I have to wait to do because it’s too long to do because of my lunch break, it involves something scheduled at a different time, etc. But before … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Brick by Brick | Tagged , ,
31 Comments

Patristiblogger Project: Augustine on 1 John – Intention

I have been wondering what to do with the blog and I have decided will soon to return to my Patristic roots, my Patristiblogger roots, for a time.  I will tackle St. Augustine’s Homilies on the First Epistle of John.  … Read More

Posted in Patristiblogging | Tagged ,
22 Comments

Robert Mickens on Pope Benedict and Summorum Pontificum. It is to laugh.

Damian Thompson has rightly shared with us Robert Micken’s little trip to the zoo.  Mr. Mickens, Rome correspondent for The Tablet (aka The Bitter Pill aka RU486), has taken exception to Pope Benedict and the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. I’ll … Read More

Posted in Green Inkers | Tagged , , , ,
29 Comments