Fr. Z's Blog | Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" – Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

ROME SHOT 908

Posted on 11 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo by The Great Roman™

Please remember in your prayers, WKB, who was a donor on this day of the month. He passed away some time ago, but he is not forgotten. R.I.P.

Please remember me when shopping online. US HERE – UK 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 I am grateful.

WELCOME REGISTRANTS:
Fr. JMO
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White to move and mate in 2.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Remember the “dance of the knights” in Samarkand? Ian Nepomniachtchi was involved with conspirator Danil Dubov. Nepo did not have a good showing there and that perhaps had something to do with their tomfoolery. Ten days ago he made a podcast (his second), now on Youtube, in which he talks about that schtick. BTW… he gives his name as Yan Nepomnyashchy. Dancing knights at 20:10. He’s sorry he did it, saying that it was a form of protest. It’s an aopologetic apology for what he did, if you get me.

The name of Nepo’s podcast is curious: Lachesis without Q. Lachesis is a type of poisonous snake but it also is a reference to the Moirai in ancient Greek mythology. Lachesis is one of the daughters of Night who are called the Fates. She is the one who measures a person’s “thread of life” being spun by her sister Clotho while Atropos of the three cuts the thread for your death.

However, there seems also to be a homeopathic “tincture” Lachesis with a variant Lachesis Q which on one strange site says:

Lachesis patients have frantic loquacity. They talk all the time without any relevance or consistency.

The loquacity of Lachesis is so rapid that if anyone in the room commences to tell something, the patient will take it up and finish the story, although he has never heard anything about it. Loquacity is one of the main guiding and characteristic symptoms of this remedy.

After all that some beer is in order. So order some beer!

UPDATE

I got a note from a reader challenging me on the propriety of a cheese and kimchi omelet of which I wrote the other day. As a matter of fact, Fr. MF also tried it and found it acceptable. Thus challenged, I made another, but this time put the kimchi on as a garnish… rather more than a garnish, in fact. With very strong black coffee in my SPACEHAWKS mug (PRIMIS ET PROMORIS!) this is a great breakfast. Soft and crunchy and savory. Drizzled with really hot chili oil.

Glück ab!

PS: Today is a very lean day for monthly donations. Please give it some consideration.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

News of the Church 07 – 10 January 2024

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It’s 10 January 2024 and it is a Wednesday. Some time ago, I saw a movie called News of the World in which after the Civil War a former confederate officer ekes out a living wandering about reading newspaper stories from all over to people who pay a dime a head (which figures to about $2.50 now). The idea caught my imagination and here I am, a gazetteer. Gazette came into English through French but it’s origin is Italian, gazzetta, which is the name of the Venetian coin which paid for the first first Venetian newspapers in the 16th century.

Here is today’s audio “gazette” of Catholic things.

1:15 – Card. Pell’s Prison Journal on the 1st anniversary of his death.
9:52 – A 3rd year old says Mass
16:20 – Slow accumulation of advantages
19:52 – The Angelus – myths
26:48 – Epiphanytide – Faith and Works

From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 24-01-08

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

January 8th, 2024

Dear Diary,

I’ve heard that their getting some kind of birthday party together for me already – it’s over a month away, but it’s never too early to plan something fun. I got a shock when Fr. Tommy said something about my “70th year” – I thought, hey! That’s not until next year! But Fr. Tommy explained the Roman calculation something or other – like, the start of my 70th year is my 69th birthday. Then he started in on the year people can stop fasting, which was a happier subject. The whole thing put me into a bad mood. I feel old! I don’t wanna feel old! My doctor has been after me as per usual. Eat this, don’t eat that, move more. I know, I know.

Ash Wednesday is Valentine’s Day this year. One meatless meal at a really cozy restaurant sounds great! Hard to beat last year’s Lobster Thermadoor. This year, maybe something simpler? A lot of restaurants will have specials for V Day. Maybe some shrimp scampy at Razzo’s with a nice white wine. I’ll take Fr. Tommy – gotta get him to eat a bit more cuz he’s scrawnier than ever. Or maybe Tommy and Gilbert? And someone else so it doesn’t look like a date. There’s too much of that in the news.

I’m getting more questions about blessing folks, “couples”. I told our priests to make them happy. Just go ahead and bless them and use that ten-second rule like that pervy cardinal in Rome said.

Posted in Diary of Bp. McButterpants, Lighter fare | Tagged Bp. Fatty McButterpants
11 Comments

10 Jan 2023 – 1 year anniversary – George Card. Pell – R.I.P.

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please, in your goodness, stop and say a prayer for Card. Pell.

One year ago, I was so sad to hear of the death of George Card. Pell at 81 years.

I got along quite well with him years ago, because he was involved in the Vox Clara committee working on the English translation of the Novus Ordo Missale Romanum. He and other members referred to my columns from The Wanderer. We had some chances to meet and talk.

The latest chance was in Rome a couple months ago. Card. Pell consecrated my chalice after it was regilded. I told him then that I would always think of him and of Card. Mayer (who originally consecrated it) when I used it for Mass. That was in November 2022. It was also a special day because I received that day a “rose” sign from St. Thérèse for an intention. Please, Thérèse, don’t stop!

I was deeply moved by Pell’s “prison diaries”, which if you haven’t looked at, you should.

PRISON JOURNAL – Vol. 1 – Ignatius Press US HERE – UK HERE

I had great hopes that he would be a major player in the lead up to the next conclave.

His appearance on EWTN after the death of Benedict XVI was terrific.. exactly one week ago as I write. Card. Pell summarized something I saw Ratzinger/Benedict do many times in conferences or meetings. He would take all points or questions and summarize them and then start responding one by one to the people who raised them. It was breathtaking to watch his mind work. He would look down, at first, his hand making points in the air before him. Then he would look up and engage the people with their answers.

And… GO TO CONFESSION!

You do not know the day or the hour of your meeting with the Just Judge.

Posted in GO TO CONFESSION |
1 Comment

ROME SHOT 907

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo by The Great Roman™

Hey! j****fj@bt****.com! My thank you note to you got kicked back. New email?

The calendar of major tournaments is at the site chessbase.com. Proximate is Tata Steel in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. 12-28 January. Ding Liren will be there.

White to move.

White to move and mate in 2.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
8 Comments

What would they think about what’s going on in the Church?

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

As I look news items about this or that prelate doing whatever, bishops crushing people’s hearts by closing down traditional worship even as nutty stuff is not only tolerated but fostered, unheard of doctrinal propositions, priests and even bishops cancelled, I also daily ponder the entry in the Roman Martyrology, wondering what they would think about what’s going on in the Church.

9 January in the older, traditional Martyrologium Romanum.

AT Antioch, in the reign of Diocletian and Maximian, the birthday [Latin dies natalis is the day they are “born into Heavan”, that is, the day they were killed.] of the Saints Julian, martyr, and Basilissa, his virgin wife. Having lived in a state of virginity with her husband, she reached the end of her days in peace. But after the death by fire of a multitude of priests and ministers of the Church of Christ, who had taken refuge in his house from the severity of the persecution, Julian was ordered by the president Marcian to be tormented in many ways and executed. With him suffered Anthony, a priest, and Anastasius, whom Julian raised from the dead, and made partaker of the grace of Christ; also, Celsus, a boy, with his mother Marcionilla, seven brothers, and many others.—In Mauritania Caesariensis (now Algeria), St. Marciana, virgin, who consummated her martyrdom by being condemned to the beasts.—At Smyrna, the holy martyrs Vitalis, Revocatus, and Fortunatus.—In Africa, the holy martyrs Epictetus, Jucundus, Secundus, Vitalis, Felix, and seven others.—At Sebaste, in Armenia, St. Peter, bishop, brother of St. Basil the Great.—At Ancona, St. Marcellinus, bishop, who, according to St. Gregory, miraculously delivered that city from destruction by fire.

And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.

Thanks be to God.

What would they think about what’s going on in the Church?

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Saints: Stories & Symbols |
9 Comments

ROME SHOT 906

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Photo by The Great Roman™

WELCOME REGISTRANT:

Girl Friday

White to move and mate in 2.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

I’m getting some candles from the sisters. They do more than soap. I’ll get another set of advent candles for next year, which will be upon us before we know it. Also candles for the Two Trinities chapel. They have 100% and 51% beeswax. The 100% are darker and are good for Requiem Masses.

Click!

In chessy news, Ding Liren is going to be at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee. He hasn’t played chess outside of China for many months, since defeating Nepo to win the World Champ title. He says that he was recovering from psychological illness. He had recently a tournament in China but didn’t do that well. Ding said that he will miss having Magnus in the mix and that he does not agree about the shorter format. He would like, as a matter of fact, a return to the long 24 game struggle. He seems like a rather gentle soul. An account of the interview at Chess.com.

Also, just because this is so fun, at the recent World Rapid and Blitz in Uzbekistan, 8 year old Roman Shogdzhiev defeated FIVE grandmasters! He started playing at the advanced age of 5. His rating – rapid 2224 – blitz 2198 – classical 1802 (I guess it might be a patience issue at that age). Also, a 10 year old, Faustino Oro, beat GM Khismatullin (whose hand J-K Duda wouldn’t shake before a game).

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
2 Comments

And then there’s this… whatever the fresh hell this is.

Posted on 8 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Remember… there’s only one expression of the Roman Rite now. RIGHT?!?

And then there’s this.. whatever the fresh hell this is.

I’m afraid to look at their archive.

From their Youtube site:

Welcome to Church of the Nativity! We aim to be a church that people who don’t like church, like! Our strategy is to creatively reach out to disconnected Catholics in our North Baltimore community with a fresh and relevant presentation of the life-changing message of the Gospel to help them take their next steps on the path of discipleship to make them fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know.

But the people who want the TLM have to be crushed.

Is there anything legit about this? The consecration was valid but…

Posted in Pò sì jiù, You must be joking! |
31 Comments

ROME SHOT 905

Posted on 8 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Meanwhile… white to move and mate in 3.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

There is an interesting video with Vincent Keymer, 19. Not all chess prodigies are form India. He speaks pretty quickly so I got a little behind. It’s been a long time. Good exercise. At the end the usual European BS which turns every serious thing into a game show. Das aktuelle Sportstudio mit Schachgroßmeister Vincent Keymer I didn’t know that is coach is Peter Leko, who does a lot of commentary during tournaments.

Meanwhile, Card. Sarah has taken a stand with the Africa conferences.

Il me faut remercier les Conférences épiscopales qui ont déjà fait ce travail de vérité en particulier celles du Cameroun, du Tchad, du Nigéria, dont je partage et fais miennes les décisions et l’opposition ferme à la Déclaration Fiducia supplicans. https://t.co/YsbPwek1cA

— Cardinal R. Sarah (@Card_R_Sarah) January 8, 2024

And since we are into different languages today, I received two PDFs this morning of a long lost book from 1998 by the present Prefect of the DDF. It is called in Spanish La Pasión Mística: espiritualidad y sensualidad. and it is … vile. It is essentially a pornographic interpretation of mystics and their experiences. I read a couple paragraphs, then scanned a little, and then stopped. It was revolting in the extreme. I think you will be hearing a lot about this. However, exercise caution if excerpts are published. Seriously. That said, you might have to wait because the Jesuits will probably have brought down the servers in their attempts to download them.

UPDATE: Yup… it’s all over Twitter now. Revolting.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
16 Comments

Marevel Comics fictional “Wakanda!”. Better yet, Catholic Africa “Malawi!”

Posted on 7 January 2024 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I wanted to add soooo many comments to this video. I don’t harmonize with every single point, but … that’s NOT the POINT, as is especially explained toward the end. We need unity.

This video bring in a dimension of the context of FS (and, truth be told document before FS). The dimension is a treaty of African, Caribbean and Pacific nations.

Watch this. JUST.. do it. You will understand why the cry “Malawi!”

Listen to the whole thing.

Don’t KNEE JERK react the to title. Knuckle-head stuff will be deleted from the queue. Agree or disagree. Fine. However, I think this provides a piece of the puzzle that is underestimated.