Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

Crisis: Will today’s shepherds provoke a schism as they have in the past?

I am from the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, where, back in the day, the “consecrated blizzard of the North”, Archbp. John Ireland (nomen omen) drove thousands of Ruthenian Catholics into schism by his narrow prejudices and tyrannical attitude. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes | Tagged ,
6 Comments

Sign posted on confessional door: “GET TO THE POINT!” Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I saw this photo on Twitter. I post just the photo and not the link because of the off-color remark that accompanied it, surely motivated by disgust. I’m not precisely sure what motivated the off-color remark about this sign. Several … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, GO TO CONFESSION, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
30 Comments

Items of good news and an ACTION ITEM!

Here are some bits of good news. First, an amuse bouche. Next, I had this note from someone where the TLM is celebrated by the FSSP: Someone from work and with lots of prejudices came yesterday and he said he … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: I just learned we have to confess mortal sins in kind and NUMBER. But I haven’t been doing that. I don’t want to go to Hell.

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have recently learned I believe several years ago then when going to confession one must confess mortal sins by kind and “x” times #. Well, I don’t think I’ve ever done that until I found … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Four Last Things, GO TO CONFESSION | Tagged ,
2 Comments

ASK FATHER: How do you argue with extreme fringe trads that the Novus Ordo is valid?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I am asking advice that you’d think you’d never be asked to do – how to defend the Novus Ordo.  No, I don’t mean to defend it as being superior to the TLM – trust me, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Id of Traddydom | Tagged
41 Comments

ASK FATHER: Am I cooperating with evil in my job by changing generic “he” on forms to gender neutral terms?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My job with a state agency includes reviewing proposed regulations of other state agencies. For many years, when we did this task we would change old references to the generic “he” or “him“ to “he or … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices |
15 Comments

ASK FATHER: I don’t believe Francis is really the Pope. Is it a sin to go to Mass where his name is mentioned?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have read your blog on and off for years but recently began reading regularly. I always find your writing edifying and informative. I will try to keep my question/concern short and to the point. I … Read More

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

ASK FATHER: Pagan amulet for protection

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I know a young couple. The man from indigenous descent who is converting to the faith and who will be baptized and confirmed this April. She has asked about an amulet her husband never takes off … Read More

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5 Comments

ASK FATHER: Francis said priests must NEVER deny absolution. True? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I’m getting a lot of questions about something that Francis said to seminarians from Barcelona.  Story at the Catholic Herald HERE. As the tale goes, Francis delivered profanity-studded “off the cuff” remarks to seminarians, including “not to be clerical, to forgive everything”, adding … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, SESSIUNCULA, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
32 Comments

ASK FATHER: Heretic priest

From a reader… QUAERITUR: My cousin’s parish priest said that there is no purgatory.  What say you? I say that, if he really thinks there is no Purgatory, then the priest is a heretic. I say that if he has … Read More

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