Category Archives: Seminarians and Seminaries

FATHERS! “The first few hours after an accusation is made are absolutely critical.”

Posted on 26 August 2022 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

UPDATE: 27 Aug 2022 12:14: From my friend… GOOD GRIEF! Your readers really responded – as in, immediately! The book is now SOLD OUT, thanks to you. So I’m busy boxing up more copies to send to the Amazon warehouses. … Read More →

Posted in Cancelled Priests, Canon Law, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged bona fama, canon lawyer, good reputation
3 Comments

But remember… the problem is the Traditional Latin Mass!

Posted on 5 March 2022 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

But remember… the problem is the Traditional Latin Mass! If only we could shut it down, the seminaries would fill up again. Right? The average age of a priest in the United States is 67. The large ordination classes of … Read More →

Posted in Be The Maquis, Liberals, Mail from priests, Pò sì jiù, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, Sin That Cries To Heaven, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes | Tagged ordinations, Traditionis custodes
16 Comments

ITALY: Vocations to the priesthood waaaaaay down

Posted on 3 November 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From VaticanNews.va in Italian: Italy, CEI: fewer seminarians, families may be a nursery for vocations [What’s….. family?] The data of a report by the Italian Bishops’ Conference reveal that in just ten years the decline in vocations has reached 28%: … Read More →

Posted in Seminarians and Seminaries, SESSIUNCULA, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged CEI, vocations
11 Comments

FOUR men entered seminary in all of IRELAND this year – UPDATED

Posted on 1 October 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

UPDATE: From a reader: Hi Father, long time follower, I would like to respond to your remark on Ireland. Perhaps I don’t need to register to tell you about the good news in Ireland. Before Traditionis Custodes, the ICKSP is … Read More →

Posted in Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged Ireland, seminarians, seminary
24 Comments

Wherein a priest alumnus of the North American College responds. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Posted on 3 September 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From an alumnus of the North American College (US seminary in Rome) … edited so that the style of writing can’t be traced to any one priest by those who might recognize it. As a NAC grad, I read your … Read More →

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Cri de Coeur, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, Priests and Priesthood, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes, Vatican II, Wherein Fr. Z Rants |
16 Comments

U.S. Seminary in Rome snuffs out the Traditional Latin Mass and training for seminarians

Posted on 1 September 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The craven faculty of the North American College (US seminary in Rome), perhaps under the pressure of their board, has snuffed out the Traditional Latin Mass, which was a regularly scheduled Mass on Saturdays. There was also training for the … Read More →

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, Be The Maquis, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, Seminarians and Seminaries, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes | Tagged NAC, North American College, reception theory
16 Comments

ASK FATHER: Priest refers to his role as “waiter” not “bouncer”.

Posted on 12 July 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I heard a priest refer to his role as, “not the bouncer to the Eucharistic banquet but the server [as in waiter].”Most analogies fall flat, but this one hit a dissonant chord that I can’t quite … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged alter Christus, Benedict XVI, in persona Christi, priesthood, Robert Card. Sarah
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: Do priests who celebrate only in the vernacular really know what they are saying?

Posted on 11 July 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…. QUAERITUR: I recently discovered the SCDF declaration Instauratio liturgica (Jan. 25, 1974), which says that the meaning of a translated sacramental formula is that of the original Latin, understood according to the mind of the Church. Especially … Read More →

Posted in Canon Law, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Latin, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Save The Liturgy - Save The World, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Drill, The future and our choices, WDTPRS | Tagged Instauratio liturgica, John XXIII, Latin, Veterum Sapientia
14 Comments

ASK FATHER: A Transitional (to priesthood… not something else) Deacon asks about how to give people blessings

Posted on 28 April 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a transitional deacon… QUAERITUR: I am a transitional deacon soon to be ordained a priest. As that day draws near, I realize that my seminary has taught me absolutely nothing about how to bless people and things. As I … Read More →

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Linking Back, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged 1st, blessings, invocative blessings
1 Comment

“The constant negativity directed to us priests by…” Wherein Fr. Z relates, reacts, reflects and rants.

Posted on 12 April 2021 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At Catholic World Report, Fr. Peter Stravinskas offers a reflection on the way Francis seems constantly to denigrate and insult priests affects both morale and vocations. His observations coincide with my own. One of things he said struck a strong … Read More →