Author Archives: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)

Daily Rome Shot 1274 – processions and more

Not Rome, but Norcia. A procession with a relic of St. Benedict… of Norcia, his birthplace. One day in May, years ago by now, I was hanging around outside the Paul VI audience hall (Vatican) during a plenary of the … Read More

Posted in B as in B. S as in S., SESSIUNCULA |
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Sterile faith v. living faith

From the pen of Bl. Ildefonso Schuster, the great liturgist and Cardinal Archbishop of Milan. The Church, as though she feared that the very splendour of her liturgy might lead simple folk into thinking that Christianity consisted merely in holding … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism |
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Ite ad Ioseph… Go to Joseph! – UPDATED

Try to wrap your head around the paradox in the vocation of St. Joseph. Firstly, he was a relatively poor craftsman, a tekton, which in Greek is “builder” which can include “carpenter”. However, consider the implications of the genealogy at the … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
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Daily Rome Shot 1273 – Amazing

The relics of the Holy Veil of Mary and the Holy Cloak of Joseph brought by St Jerome returning from Jerusalem. Normally these kept at St Anastasia al Palatino they are currently available to the veneration of the faithful at … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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19 March – Feast of ST. JOSEPH! – Terror of demons, Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Protector of Holy Church!

Glorious St. Joseph. Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church,  In Rome today you eat Bigne di San Giuseppe. Back in 2009 I made a PODCAzT – FIFTEEN YEARS AGO?!? – about the … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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Daily Rome Shot 1272

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 … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

Prayer request

I ask, please, in your kindness, to raise up a prayer for my mother, who has a serious progressive ailment which makes life difficult. Today is her 90th birthday. Thank you.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
18 Comments

Daily Rome Shot 1271

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 … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me…” The mighty Lorica of Saint Patrick

During these dark days, we can benefit from the use of this prayer, called the Breastplate, or Loríca of St. Patrick, “The Cry of the Deer” (Latin Lorica is pronounced lo-REE-ka).  It is said that St. Patrick (+461) sang this when an … Read More

Posted in Classic Posts, Linking Back |
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Daily Rome Shot 1270 – slipper

Today’s Roman Station, Santa Maria in Domnica. Little Pope Pascal venerates the Blessed Virgin’s slipper. He was alive when this mosaic was made, so he gets a square halo. Look! Up in the sky! SpaceX Dragon docks with Space Station … Read More

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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