Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

VIDEO: Fr. Finigan on the English Martyrs!

My good friend, His Hermeneuticalness, Fr. Tim Finigan, has posted a wonderful short video talk about the English Martyrs, whose Feast was celebrated yesterday in England. You won’t be disappointed!

Posted in Mail from priests, Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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28 April – St. Gianna Molla’s 2nd miracle: Prepared to be amazed! With Fr. Z’s 10 Points.

Today is the Dies Natalis of St. Gianna Beretta Molla (+28 April 1962 at 39 years of age).  That is to say that St. Gianna died and was born into heaven today (thus, “birthday… dies natalis”). I have posted this before, … Read More

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25 March: Feast of The Good Thief, St. Dismas… who stole heaven

Today is Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation, the instant of the Incarnation. However, 25 March is also the Feast of the Good Thief, St. Dismas! Fulton Sheen famously quipped of this thief-saint that he “stole heaven”.  A good thief … Read More

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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19 March 2020: Feast of St. Joseph – Hope of the sick,  Patron of the dying,  Terror of demons,  Protector of Holy Church! 

Glorious St. Joseph. Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church,  Back in 2009 I made a PODCAzT – ELEVEN YEARS AGO?!? – about the hymn sung in the Liturgy of Hours in … Read More

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ASK FATHER: If a priest keeps hearing confessions, contracts Coronovirus and dies, is he a martyr?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Father, if a priest catches China Flu while hearing confession and dies of it, is he not a martyr? Why the fuss; mask up, disinfect, wash hands, hear confession. If my priest believes what the Church … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
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ASK FATHER: St. Blaise blessing of throats on a different day? And MORE on Blaise blessings!

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Some of us have a hard time getting to Mass on Feb 3rd for the Saint Blaise throat blessing with the candles. Would it be okay for a priest to give that blessing on another day? … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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Wherein Fr. Z is moved to pray to martyred nuns, newly discovered, about something that happened today. – UPDATED

UPDATE 20 Jan 2020 I received this nice note today: I cannot tell you why you were drawn to our martyred sisters, but I can tell you this: The order suddenly has an influx of vocations and discerners particularly in … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Women Religious | Tagged , ,
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“Let the Jesuits come to me. With hands in the air and without algorithms.” Fr. Z says: Let the Jesuits GO TO CHINA.

When I was a little kid I used to look forward to morning cartoons. Even as an adult I always turned to find The Far Side before the box scores. Now we must content ourselves with jokers like this. In … Read More

Posted in Jesuits, Lighter fare, Modern Martyrs, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged , ,
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Chinese Joseph Card. Zen’s Open Letter to all the other Cardinals

The great Chinese prelate Joseph Card. Zen has sent a letter to all of the members of the College of Cardinals.   HERE  It includes Dubia of the cardinal regarding “Pastoral guidelines of the Holy See concerning the civil registration of … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, The Coming Storm, The Drill | Tagged ,
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What’s happening to Catholics in China?

The Vatican changed its stance toward the Church’s presence in China.  What fruits have come from this change? The following piece has lots of photos at the original page, which you can visit. From Bitter Winter: Xi Jinping Portraits Replace … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù |
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