Fr. Z's Blog

This morning all of Rome lifted eyes to the East for the coming of the Lord… come Lord Jesus!… and the sun rose in slightly cloudy brightness at 07:21.  It will set at 18:30.

The Ave Maria bell ought to ring at 18:45.

On this day in 1978, John Paul II was elected Pope.

When shall we see his like again?

Welcome new registrant:

Devinkirby08

Crossing the piazza Farnese.  Yesterday it was closed up because they were filming some period piece including an execution.   Actors in period costumes were about.  I do like those big sideways bicorns.

This morning, back on my morning schedule.  Serene.

You can never get tired of this.

I owed Pippo €8 for some flowers I picked up the other day.  He didn’t have change so he said to pay him later.  Debt resolved.

Yesterday: the addition of the lemon zest was very welcome.

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I saw Tweets this morning to pray as the morning “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity” (aka “W-T-F” – explained HERE) gets under way.  Yes, let’s do that.

Let us pray that the holy angels restrain all demons who might interfere.  Let us ask St. Hedwig, whose day it is, along with beloved St. John Paul, two Poles, to work in tandem to protect the magisterium of JPII.  Let us as Mary, Seat of Wisdom, to keep as much stupid as possible out of the mix.  To that end, here is a recording of a chaplet of the Rosary using the Joyful Mysteries.  I didn’t include the “Fatima Prayer” because there seem to be different versions in Latin (it wasn’t not composed in Latin, of course).

A moment from yesterday’s Mass.

Meanwhile, in chess news, the Championship continues in St. Louis.  Fabiano Caruana defeated Hans Nieman, which is great.  My guy Wesley So won his game against Robson.   Nice stuff at the end who was under time pressure and blundered.

White to move and mate in 2.

This is from a real game from two of the highest players in the world, Magnus and Fabi.

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

Help the monks. Get great beer.

The days shorten in more than one way.  Sunrise was at 7:20 and sunset was at 18:31.

The Ave Maria bell was slated for 18:45

It was the Feast of St. Teresa of Jesus, patroness of chess and the 20th Sunday after Pentecost.

I am really tired and dehydrated, having sweated through my clothes four times.   More details in time to come.  For now, let me go fast.

From Mass today.  The church was JAMMED, standing room in the aisles.

You can hear what the closing Salve Regina was like.  This starts from the closing of Mass.  You can hear the restored portative organ from the 16th c.  Only 5 of these exist.  It is wonderful.   The whole church was booming – hundreds singing – but alas there are a couple of nearby dominant voices.

Last night we had a group up at Scarpone on the Giancolo, which is always nice.

Pomegranates growing at the lamp.

I wanted everyone to try the signature Fettucine Scarpone.

Moscardini.

Today at lunch at another place, again with people, this fried ball is really….

Stew inside, with cheese sauce.  Very good.

Tonight, I had to ditch everyone and do laundry, clean my place and do some repairs on my cassock.  I have to talk to the tailor and get another started.

Meanwhile, white BLACK to move and mate in two.  [Sorry… I had updated to black and then didn’t upload the change.  My bad.  Sorry for any frustration caused.]

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

Share the good stuff.

It’s the 20th Sunday after Pentecost in the Vetus Ordo and the 28th Sunday of the Novus Ordo.

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of obligation?

Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass. I hear that it is growing. Of COURSE.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

I have some thoughts about the Sunday Epistle reading posted at One Peter Five.

The Mass today has deep currents. As I write, I am reminded of what it is to be a part of the exiled people, those who want the Traditional Roman Rite. In a recent exchange in presser at the Synod (“walking together”) the image of being banished from the Church was offered to Card. Tobin, who, after having just waxed eloquently about how beautiful the Church is by inclusion of active homosexuals, then denied that traditional Catholics were banished. It’s for your own good, he implied. You’ll get used to not being happy.  It is as if he said, “Sing us one of your songs.”

The Christian, beset, banished, persecuted, reacts with joy. If we have passing moments of anguish or melancholy, knowledge of our baptismal character should buoy us up right away. Thinking about the blessings of our very existence, in the time and place God wants us, the availability of the actual graces we need to live our vocation, these blessings raise us above the huggermugger. That sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us as in a temple, fills us with a joy that wants to burst out. When Peter and Apostles left the Sanhedrin after their scrutiny, they rejoiced (Acts 5:41). Paul and Silas sang in prison.

Rome saw the run rise at 07:19 and will see it set at 18:33. The Ave Maria bell would be in its 18:45 cycle.

Welcome registrant:

adamgvm

Firstly, some of the NEW RED vestments laid out for today, St. Callistus.  It looks like one regular won’t be here until Sunday.

The Great Roman™ and I had breakfast this morning.  They were out of simple cornetti, so I had something with walnuts.  Not bad.

We made a bit of a stroll.  I wanted to go to the Largo Febo, because there is supposed to be a group of ex-pats who play chess there on Saturday mornings.  Alas, they didn’t show.  The restaurant drone cleaning things for the opening, said that by the time we arrived they should’ve been there already.  I didn’t get the memo, I guess.

Defeated in one purpose, we went to Piazza Navona to visit the Church of St. Agnes.   We spent some time before the relic of the saint.   I prayed asking her to protect my home parish and all involved there and I asked for her help in finding an apartment I can afford where I want it.

BTW… its Saturday, and many of your parishes will have confessions today.

GO TO CONFESSION!

If you do, the elephant will be happy.  Elephants might not forget but priests do.   Confess EVERYTHING in kind and number.  EVERYTHING.

A quick stop at Barbiconi to get a different alb.   I’ve been using an alb which is good for the occasional traveling moment.  Goes into my backpack with stuff.  For day in and day out… nope.  It is dreadfully uncomfortable.  Anyway, I got something very light, cotton, with the Roman squared neck.   With the wavy flag, you can chip in, which I would appreciate.  And for new flowers (carnations) and lunch, below.   The mozzarella ball comes in at about €6.  The tomato – cuore di bue – and casareccio bread not much.  However, I had to get good oil and vinegar on arrival.  The basil came from my regular stand.   It is quite aromatic.

Last night we were out with two couples, one from the States and another from Genoa.  We wound up at what turned out to be a good pick, Cul du Sac at Pasquino (the talking statue).  Lots of slices of meats and cheeses and pates and good wine.  I had not been there for years.  Many people tried to get in as we were there and were not able.  A good sign for them and for us, as it turned out.

Today I slept in a bit, so I didn’t enjoy the rising of the sun over the City at 07:18.  I will perhaps be out of church when it sets at 18:35, but that’s pushing it.  I’ll say Mass tonight at 18:00 FOR MY DONORS to whom I am so grateful. And it always cheers my beady-black heart to see new sign up.

The Ave Maria Bell would ring at 18:45… in the right kind of Roman Church world.

Speaking of sign ups, welcome new registrant:

beneluk

Last night I walked with The Great Roman™ and a couple celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary to a little place along the side of the great church of Sant’Agostino.

Last May, the area was dug up.   Now they have placed blocks so cars can’t enter.   The Augustinians need to get off their backsides and CLEAN their little piazza!   There are enough of them, with the students, etc.  To take care of the area.

I’ve gone to a little place “Da Pietro Valentini” for many years, so much so that son of the daughter of the now long-deceased original proprietor, whom I recall as an infant, is no longer a little shaver but a big strappin’ young man who works the tables.

To start, Norcina.  Half portion which I split with “La Signora”.

The not so little shaver shaved not so little truffle on our rare steak.

Not-So-Little-Shaver needs to dress better for his work.

Da Pietro Valentini is a great little family place with not many tables.  There is a little bustle and chaos and the quarters are close.   For decades they have been very American friendly, once having little American flags in the window when Americans in Italy were being bashed.   NB: Their wine list is not great.  The list is vague, for one thing: saying that they have a Chianti from Tuscany means almost nothing other than it is made from grapes.   Also, what they do have, when they bring it for your choice is, as I could tell, pretty much 2nd rate.  Not third.  Second.   So, it might be good to explore bringing a bottle.  The food, however, is very good and these are really nice people.

After, cigars and such at the Campo.

Today, I have had for lunch a couple of bowls of really good, super simple, vegetable soup.  Recipe: Buy a package of pre-chopped veg for minestrone.  Simmer it in chicken broth.  Sprinkle some grated parm on it.  Eat it.  This really hit the spot.   Super inexpensive, which is a good thing.

Action shot!  I was just finishing my weekly article for One Peter Five.

Meanwhile, there was a kerfuffle in Qatar at a big chess doing.  Magnus Carlsen mentioned to an arbiter that his much-lower ranked opponent was in violation of the FIDE rules by wearing a watch.   It was analog, but the rules forbid “watches”.  This is all part of anti-cheating measures.  The arbiter didn’t seem to care.  Moreover, Magnus said that there were people walking around in the hall with smart phones, which is seriously against the rules.

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Magnus later said that that put him off his game, cause the 23-yr 2512 ranked positively kicked Magnus ass in a well-played upset.  This is his first lost to someone this low in 20 years.

Magnus clarified that he was NOT accusing the guy of cheating.  He won fair and square.  However, it was one of those situations that the arbiter should have addressed.

After 2 rounds, Magnus is in this tourney down among people’s whose name’s I’ve never seen.  I suspect that won’t last.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in two:

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

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

Can I remind you of a book I mentioned recently?

Fr. Robert Sirico gave my a copy of his new book about the late, great Card. Pell.  Without question Pell would have been a Dubia Cardinal this fall!  This volume contains homages to Card. Pell, so missed.

Pell Contra Mundum

US HERE – UK HERE