Category Archives: “How To…” – Practical Notes

“Let y’all know!” The “Noveritis” Epiphany chant announcement of 2020’s movable dates and feasts

At Epiphany we Latins have – traditionally – chanted a solemn proclamation of the key liturgical dates or movable feasts for the new year of salvation, just begun. This underscores how these dates and seasons are all interconnected. The liturgical … Read More

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Send Fr. Z your snail-mail 2020 CHRISTMAS CARDS! – UPDATED

UPDATE 17 Jan: Baldwin, NY* Pine Island, MN (roger Pachamama) UPDATE 3 Jan: Ona, WV Hamilton, OH* Escanaba, MI Painswick, Glouchestershire Round Hill, VA Prairie Village, KS Kingsland, GA Kansas City, MO Zenica, Bosnia Hercegovina (thanks for the comment about … Read More

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From the Seven Sisters Apostolate about distraction during prayer

I have written about the Seven Sisters Apostolate on other occasions.   It is a great pleasure to know that there is a group organized for my poor person.   As a matter of fact, lately I have wondered on a few … Read More

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ASK FATHER: A priest gave me a penance in confession that was too hard

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Long ago I went to confession and was given and reluctantly agreed to\ a rather onerous penance not required by justice. I didn’t end up doing it after thinking about it for a while and went … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Why do Catholics hold their hands open and turned upward during Mass?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have seen a certain posture at Mass: Why do you think people do this? Why do they choose this non-Roman posture instead of the orans posture? And what posture should I do at home? Just … Read More

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The Texas church shooting and our future choices. Wherein Fr. Z opines.

People are asking for my reaction to the terrifying church shooting in Texas. A man was acting oddly in the church during the service.  The church had some trained people at the service who noticed him and then watched him.  They … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
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ASK FATHER: Were Jesus, Mary and Joseph “refugees”? Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Several readers have asked whether or not the Holy Family were refugees. Some are reacting to “nativity” scenes, showing them in cages, and so forth, which is an obvious manipulation of the Nativity narrative to score cheap political shots, at … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
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ASK FATHER: Are “Novus Ordo” ordinations truly valid?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, I’ve done some reading on whether Novus Order orders are truly valid or not and am confused. Would love to get your learned comments on the matter. Thanks for your work. You ask if ordinations … Read More

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ASK FATHER: “I dread the Feast of the Holy Family.”

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Every year since so returned to the Church I dread the Feast of the Holy Family. I don’t come from a pious family, nor am I married, but instead chose to live a life of perpetual … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Deacons in the Novus Ordo

From a diaconal reader… QUAERITUR: I have begun serving Solemn High Masses, at local parishes near my assignment for a couple of years now. The experience of serving at the Latin Mass has enriched my diaconal ministry in ways that … Read More

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