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 23/10 – Day 06: Pointed comments and puntarelle

Posted on 6 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In Rome today the sun rose at 07:10 and will set at 18:46. The Ave Maria should sound at 19:00.

Welcome registrant:

RJD

This is a 1st Friday! See to your devotions.

Devotions are more important than ever, I think, for our troubled time. Chief among these ought to be the revival of the real Forty Hours Devotion. This should be undertaken for the sake of grave dangers to the Church and society not just from outside the Church but also from within the Church. The Holy Rosary and Novenas and time before the Blessed Sacrament, voluntary penances in reparation for sins… all these must be our constant practice now more than ever. We see what’s going on, seemingly inexorably. All of us have to do something about it.

Meanwhile, I saw this ridiculous but perhaps practical car on a walk this morning after Mass. Someone really likes dogs.

I went to the fishmonger to get clams for tonight’s supper and what do I find? One of those screens that show the inner workings of Swimming Together about Swimming Togetherity.

Do NOT be distracted by the dead eyes. I’m sure they are paying attention to the one who is talking.

Can you imagine sitting, day after day, in the hideous Sala Nervi (aka Paul VI Audience Hall) at round tables listening to the bloviating? Day in and day out. Hours.

This is how I picture it after a week or so.

What did that tech on each table cost? I hope one of the newsies asks.

My flower guy, Pippo, says “Hi!”

35 years at this stand.

At the veg stand it was time to get puntarelle which are shreds of a large type of chicory stems and leaves which are then crisped up in cold water so they curl.

Meanwhile, black to move and win material.

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

In chess news… I haven’t been paying close attention since I’ve been in Rome. However, after the opening day of the U.S. Championships in St. Louis, Sam Sevian in Rd 2/2 is the only one who won (not just draw) so he’s in the lead with a lot more chess to be played. On the women’s side, it’s Nazi Paikidze. My guy Wesley So drew against Leinier Dominguez Perez in Rd 1 and Dariusz Swiercz in Rd 2.

For my part, I’m doing some puzzles and playing online a little. I need to get back into my routine. I’ve also got a course underway.

I should head over to the P.za der Fico this afternoon. I need to stretch my legs. Also, I think that tomorrow morning is when some people gather at the Largo Febo. I might have a look.

Finally, if you were around in the days of the CompuServe Catholic Forum, you might remember in your prayers Harriet Lee Sporn, who died recently. She was a frequent commentatrix.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
11 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 05: Have a Pius day!

Posted on 5 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today the sun rose at 07:09 and set a long time ago at 18:48. The Ave Maria is still at 19:00.

Welcome new registrant:

SuzieQue

Today was quite the day, with the acquisition of the new vestments.

While we were walking around we stopped at the palazzo where Pius XII was born, near Chiesa Nuova and Palazzo Orsini.

However, what people don’t know is that the real palazzo of the Pacelli family is on the Corso Vittorio, a few steps up from Largo Argentina.

It is now a hotel. However, above the door there are coats of arms, now defaced. But you can see the Pacelli arms.

Meanwhile,… white to move and mate in … you tell me!

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

Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon, but, once in and browsing or searching, Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.

Tonight I met a young priest who is the son of a friend of many years who was part of the original team of the Catholic Online Forum on CompuServe! How time flies. I had had a heavy lunch so I held myself to a sauté of mussels and a mixed salad. We had a lovely Brunello and its counter part.

The trek home shows that the dreadful scaffolding is coming down from Palazzo Farnese, where the 2nd Act of Tosca takes place. It is hard to see it without thinking about Tosca stabbing Scarpia in throat and her following him around as he choked to death on his own blood while she taunted him. He had wanted to “walk together” with her, as it were. In Italian there is a particular meaning of “go together… andare insieme” depending on context. In short, he had it coming. As do all who want to do certain things to the CHURCH.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
10 Comments

ANNUNTIO VOBIS GAUDIUM MAGNUM! We have RED VESTMENTS in Rome!

Posted on 5 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have great news.

The other day the sacristan at Santissima Trinità here in Rome and I were chatting about the RED VESTMENT PROJECT.

In a nutshell, the various sets of red vestments for Mass that many priests use on a daily basis were a disastrous hodgepodge. I resolved to do something about it. I consulted with the parish priest, consulted with you readers for pledges for the vestments, and ordered them, telling Gammarelli that they were needed before the Summorum Pontificum gathering at the end of October (coming up). At the shop, they were skeptical because they didn’t at the time have fabric all from the same lot and that would take time or order and make… there was a backlog… so many people… summer coming. I stressed October.

After that, I did nothing. I didn’t call for updates or anything. I figured I would follow up when I got to Rome, as I did a couple days ago.

This morning The World’s Best Sacristan™ and I ran some errands, one of them to Gammarelli to learn about the progress on the vestments.

To our absolute surprise the vestments happened to be on the counter, waiting to be wrapped and delivered. I had not even been notified yet. It was total surprise.

Here they are on the counter. Only the top one, 1 of 7, has my coat of arms (since I am the instigator).

Rome’s Best Sacristan™ and I schlepped them to church and brought them to the attention of a delighted pastor.

Yours truly blessed them.

And proceeded to say Mass with them, today being a feast of martyrs.

Holy Mass was said for the red vestment donors. Thank you.

The donors for this project sent their donations to the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison, of which I am still prez. It is a 501(c)3).

The other vestments do not have a coat-of-arms. My chasuble will stay in Rome for use by priests as needed.

These are really nice vestments and everyone is very pleased. I think that, as the days go by, positive feedback will come in from the priests who use them. They, too, will be grateful.

And so, this brings the Red Vestment Project to a conclusion.

HOWEVER…

There were quite a few people who pledged donations for the red, but their pledges weren’t needed right away.

At the time I mentioned that there would be a couple more projects. The parish is also in need of BLACK VESTMENTS. In fact, in the mornings, quite a few priests need to use black, because they – as earthly life goes on for us and not for others – have Requiem Masses to say. The parish’s black vestments are also in disarray.

Whaddya say? Ready for another round?

And there is a White Solemn Set on the boards, too, but I don’t know much about that.

Finally, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Red Vestment donors!

You’ve made some priests really happy and have contributed in an exemplary way to the decorum which is necessary for the celebration of Holy Mass.

Posted in ACTION ITEM!, Linking Back, Save The Liturgy - Save The World | Tagged red vestment
5 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 04: Smile!

Posted on 4 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today the sun rose at 07:08 while I was saying Mass and it will set when I plan to be strolling around someplace lovely at 18:50. The Ave Maria is still in its 19:00 cycle.

Today is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The curial calendar says that Francis is the Patron of Italy.

Welcome new registrant:

Sitnomendominibenedictum

On my way to the conference last night, a view down the Tiber.

A view of places of woe, the Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio (where I used to be) housing the now “Dicastery” for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Sala Nervi which has the Synod (“W-T”) hall, and behind is humble Casa Santa Marta. The dome of St. Peter’s has really darkened since last June. The answer seems to be some sort of fungus or mold.

Meanwhile,… white to move.

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

In chessy news:

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

Remember the Benedictine monks of Le Barroux when you are thinking about wine. Use the code FATHERZ1o

Meanwhile, lunch… pizza bianca and mortadella with black truffle. So simple. So good.

Last night my friend 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

A glimpse of supper.

Served with a SMILE!

It was nice to be together with friends tonight, a very prominent and visible commentator and his wife. Great conversation.

My brain is waking up.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
7 Comments

Small groups as a method of controlling the agenda

Posted on 4 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ll wager that in the readership there are people who are experts on how to hold meetings, how to control the message and direction of meetings, changing minds, creating consensus, etc. I’ve only read a little about it. However, I did grow up in Minnesota which has a caucus system for elections. You learn early that breaking people into small groups into which you have inserted a committed leader who can wear down opposition is key. There have to be full-koolaid-slaked agents on deck who can – let’s mix the metaphors even more – nip things in the bud.

Why do I bring this up? This popped into my head as I saw a few picture which have emerged from the Synod on Synodality (“Walking Together on Walking Togetherity”).

A closer view…

Questions come to mind.

First, how much did all that tech cost?!? That array is at every table? Isn’t this somehow, along with all the hot air, harmful to the environment? How much fossil fuel is used to run this stuff?

Next, what sort of massively ponderous process is involved here? Actually, it doesn’t matter, does it. It’s all worked out.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, Synod, What are they REALLY saying?, You must be joking! |
22 Comments

4 October 2023… what a day!

Posted on 4 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This is the anniversary the demonic idol worship in the Vatican Gardens. It was 2019…

Sursum podices!

In another post, I suggest several days of penance and reparation for this and the placement of a idol bowl on the altar of St. Peter’s on 7 Oct 2023. Please, everyone.

About the opening of “W-T” about “W-T”, be sure to read Robert Royal at The Catholic Thing.

For example:

The deepest question behind all these specific questions remains: What is Synodality? The philosopher Stefano Fontana, speaking at the same conference with Cardinal Burke and our Fr. Gerald Murray yesterday evening in Rome, put forward the thesis that the goal is a Church perpetually in Synodality. That nothing will remain solid; everything will be in constant process of revision to respond to the “times.”

“Synodality,” then, by its nature cannot be defined, not even in the sense of being ambiguous. It will turn the Church into an institution that does not defend and promote the teachings of its Founder, Jesus Christ. A “synodal” Church, which the current pope seeks, will not only be in motion this month and next year, but perpetually. No one today can say what it really means, because it will be in perpetual self-definition.

This is also the day that the new Apostolic Exhortation (Laudato sì 2.0) called Laudate Deum is out, about climate change. I had it about a week ago and found it tedious and bullying.

For example,

5. Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident. No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena,…. Nonetheless, it is verifiable that specific climate changes provoked by humanity are notably heightening the probability of extreme phenomena that are increasingly frequent and intense.

11. It is no longer possible to doubt the human – “anthropic” – origin of climate change.

[…]

14. I feel obliged to make these clarifications, which may appear obvious, because of certain dismissive and scarcely reasonable opinions that I encounter, even within the Catholic Church. Yet we can no longer doubt that the reason for the unusual rapidity of these dangerous changes is a fact that cannot be concealed: the enormous novelties that have to do with unchecked human intervention on nature in the past two centuries.

[…]

And this. Really?

72. If we consider that emissions per individual in the United States are about two times greater than those of individuals living in China, and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries,we can state that a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact. As a result, along with indispensable political decisions, we would be making progress along the way to genuine care for one another.

Americans are to blame. Thank heavens for the Chinese.

And even to doubt the “anthropic origin” of climate change is now double-plus ungood wrong think.

In other news, the Bollettino today indicates that the newly-minted Card. Fernandez, distinguished author, has been appointed as a member of Catholic Education. If I am not mistaken it was the Congregation for Education that blocked Fernandez from heading up the Catholic University in Argentina waaaay back in the time of Benedict XVI. A little irony for your Wednesday.

Posted in The Drill | Tagged Pachamama
15 Comments

4-7 October: Pachamama Atonement Days – ACTION ITEMS!

Posted on 3 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It’s the anniversary of the demonic pagan worship in the Vatican Gardens (4 Oct). The demonic bowl was placed on the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica on 7 Oct.

As a priest friend of mine wrote about “atonement” days.

“Kinda like Ember Days, only not.”

Three things.

I invite you to perform some penitential work each day, 4-7 October, in addition to those others you are already doing for the opening of “Walking Together” (“W-T”), which are probably in addition to several others you may have taken on for what’s going on right now.

Dear readers, please. Daily Rosary right now. If you are not in the practice, DO IT. We need you. Please. One chaplet daily.

And GO TO CONFESSION!

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, ACTION ITEM! | Tagged Pachamama
3 Comments

Conference in Rome on “The Synodal Tower of Babel” the day before “Walking Together on Walking Togetherity”

Posted on 3 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

For years the Italian (and English) site La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana has been a daily go to. Last night they held a “launch” event at a Roman theatre very near to the place where the “Walking Togetherity” will commence. This was the launch of a new paper monthly. for the launch they had three speakers: my good friend Fr. Gerald Murray (who needs no intro), Stefano Fontana of the Cardinal Van Thuan Observatory, and Raymond Card. Burke (whom I believe you know).

The constant typing of “Walking Together on Walking Togetherity” is a little tedious. I might start to abbreviate. “W-T”, perhaps. The longer form about “walking togetherity” implies a kind of “fraternal” – too sexist? – quality, or direction, which in this case is “forward” – no backwardism here. It implies the unity of spirit that is found in “friendship”. Maybe we can sometimes abbreviate the “Walking Together on Walking Togetherity” as “W-T-…”.

There were lots of press. In the audience I saw all sorts of familiar faces, Joan Lewis, Phil Pullela, Sandro Magister. I suspect that the smarmy guys from the Pill and Fishwrap were there.

Lots of photo and video media lined up in the back. Robert Card. Sarah was present.

The conference title was “The Synodal Tower of Babylon”, both because of the confusion of languages and also because of the human-centered nature of the topics and process.

Fr. Murray touched on an important point. This is supposed to be a Synod (“W-T”) of Bishops, right? But through some machinations, that do not follow the proper course of liceity, now there are any number of lay people who can VOTE along with bishops. Fr. Murray talked about how the structure of the Synod (“W-T”) is described by documents. There were not published any changes that would have altered the structure of the Synod (“W-T”). It seem that the whole thing could be illegal.

Stefano Fontana, Director of the Cardinal Van Thuan Observatory, addressed the “Hegelian” character of the Synod (“W-T”). The content of its proceedings can be known only from what it doing.

Card. Burke’s talk in Italian is HERE.

A good point here:

Synodality, an abstract term, is a neologism in the doctrine on the Church. It is well known that the Second Vatican Council wanted to avoid the abstract terms of conciliarity and collegiality, which are not found in the conciliar texts. It is to be assumed that the Council itself would have wanted to avoid an abstract term such as synodality, if it had known it.

In another moment, talking about support structures which assist the Roman Pontiff, especially the Roman Curia, he pointed out that the word “Dicastery” as a generic term, doesn’t sufficiently reflect what should be the hierarchical relationship that the once-“Congregation” should have. Also, and this was something very serious and noted at the time of the changes to the Curia, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ought to be placed in the FIRST place. In fact, I add, it was called “La Suprema” for a reason: its critical importance for the stability and good of the people of God and the salvation of souls.

Burke with my emphases:

It is frequently said that the insistence on the synodality of the Church is nothing other than recovering an ecclesial characteristic always observed by the Eastern Church. I have regular contact with Eastern bishops and priests, both Catholic and Orthodox: they all told me that the way the Synod is organized has nothing to do with Eastern synods. This applies not only to the place of lay people in these assemblies, but also more generally to the way they operate and even the issues they address. There is confusion around the term synodality, which is artificially attempted to be linked to an Eastern practice, but which in reality has all the characteristics of a recent invention, especially as regards lay people.

Such a change in the self-understanding of the Church has as a further consequence a weakening of the teaching on morals, as well as discipline in the Church. I won’t dwell much on these points, which are dramatically known to everyone: moral theology has lost all its points of reference. It is urgent to consider the moral act in its totality, and not only in its subjective aspect. The thirtieth anniversary of the publication of Veritatis Splendor can help us with this. I welcome and encourage the initiatives I have seen on this issue. The commandments of the Decalogue are valid and will remain valid as they have always been in every age, simply because they are inherent in human nature.

Toward the end, Card. Burke touched on criticisms of himself and others who have dared to ask any questions. He mentioned an article in which some member of the “W-T-F” said:

“We are very sorry, the times of the Church are not those of these brothers! They cannot dictate the Pope’s agenda, also causing wounds and undermining unity in the Church. But we’re used to it by now: they just want to hit Francesco.”

This is where Card. Burke showed anger. What was said by that “W-T” nitwit is as rash as it is blinkered. The Dubia submitted have to do with the discipline of the Church and with her doctrine, not the person of Francis. Burke also brought up how Card. Fernandez of “DDF” settled himself in that interview with Edward Pentin on “the doctrine of the Pope” as if the Pope has a “living and active gift” of determining doctrine for the Church, which has never been the Church’s position, as if Popes can make up doctrine and it must therefore be the Church’s from that point onward.

There was a lot more, over the two hours of talks. Anyway, here are three of my good friends, Fr. Sirico, Robert Royal, and Fr. Murray. It was a pleasure to see them again.

The walk home on the Via Giulia.

Posted in Synod | Tagged Fr. Gerald Murray, Raymond Card. Burke, Synod
9 Comments

Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy follows up on his essay four years ago: “Pope Francis and Schism”

Posted on 3 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’m still disappointed and annoyed at Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Cap., for the inexplicable and, frankly, ignorant attack on the Traditional Latin Mass some time back, together with two other writers who ought to know better. Many of us still scratch our heads over that. What was the motive? Pressure? Desire to curry favor? It couldn’t have been real knowledge about the issue. Anyway, their attack was completely refuted. Best to leave it behind.

That said, Weinandy has a piece today at The Catholic Thing. In effect, he retraces his steps to 2019 when he wrote a piece called “Pope Francis and Schism”, wherein he predicted dire things for the future and made a statement which surely got him into trouble… (is that why he wrote that attack?)… with the powers that be. Weinandy suggested that Francis was in schism with himself, since he is out of synch with what popes do.

Now, before the “Walking Togetherity” about to slither on its pre-determined way, Weinandy extends his remarks. First he reviews. However he adds this about Americans, whom Francis seems to dislike in general and comment on in sweeping terms of rash judgement.

First, Pope Francis’ dislike for and criticisms of the Catholic Church in the United States have intensified. As I noted in the earlier column, the American Catholic Church is the foremost critic of Francis’ often theologically ambiguous statements. Over the past four years, as Francis’ ambiguities have proliferated, often given in mid-flight and off-the-cuff, so has criticism of his statements and ecclesial policies mounted.

This ever-growing critical response, from multiple outlets and spokespersons, comes not so much from the American clergy, but from the American Catholic laity. In no other country is there such an educated laity, men and women who are faithful to the Church, as in the United States. Francis has found it impossible to respond to this theological and philosophical challenge from American lay Catholics – other than by calling them rigid and backward-looking.

But the American Catholic laity have not been, are not now, and will not in the future be bullied into silence. Such verbal ridicule is merely a sign that this pontificate is not intellectually prepared to engage the issues, and so has already lost the scholarly battle.

This is a good insight. I like the use of the word “bullied”.

It is interesting that Benedict XVI very much liked Americans and how the American Church had worked within a secular society.

The piece is short. Go read it.

Finally, this book pertains to the attempt by some to build up the Council by bashing tradition.

Illusions of Reform – Responses to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy: in defense of the Traditional Mass and the the faithful who attend it.

US HERE – UK HERE

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, Synod, The Drill | Tagged Fr. Thomas Weinandy
7 Comments

ROME 23/10 – Day 03: Consolations and lots of tomatoes

Posted on 3 October 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the Eternal City today, where there are many wonders and many woes, the sun rose after my egress to church at 07:07 and it will set, upon even more woes, as 18:53. The Ave Maria bell, in a well ordered Vatican should ring at 19:00… but it won’t.

Half destroyed by the trip over the last couple of days, I hit the rack really early and rose punctually at 0400. With a couple of hours before even thinking about heading to church I got some office said and wrote the post about the Dubia that Card. Duka submitted about Communion for the divorced and remarried.

Heading off for Mass.

It’s going to be pretty dark by the time I get to the end of my time here.

I can’t easily express what a consolation it was to be back in my familiar place, in this good rhythm and with these wonderful people. At a certain point in Mass, the “Memento of the Living” at which I remembered all my Roman donors in particular, my throat sort of closed up, and it wasn’t in anaphylactic shock.

It was especially poignant because it is the Feast in the Vetus Ordo calendar of St. Thérèse de Lisieux, who has over the decades been so good to me at key moments.

After Mass and more office, I stopped at a side altar and prayed this in regard to the circus about to begin in Rome.

Breakfast with a friend.

In the Campo there’s always so much to please the eye. I bought some things at my regular stand. It’s nice that after all this time we are familiar enough that they can pull my leg a bit. (This isn’t my regular stand, by the way.)

For you who sent donations mentioning flowers I went to Pippo and got some tulips last night and a white rose this morning in honor of St. Thérèse.

If you earmark a donation for flowers, I’ll use it on flowers or, in absence of empty vases (few) on groceries.

I suspect St. Thérèse might be working on me right now which is both comforting and concerning. Last August, when I was in Lacrosse for a conference at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I ordered a reproduction of the altar painting of St. Thérèse in the Basilica. I have already those of Miguel Pro and Maria Goretti. The last I will get will be St. Gianna Molla. Anyway, it didn’t come and didn’t come and so I called and inquired. It had to be made and sent from the maker. It didn’t come and didn’t come. It arrived the night before I started the first leg of this trip. Now, my first full day and a beautiful one at that, is her feast. I stopped thinking that these sorts of “coincidences” were coincidences a long time ago.

St. Thérèse, please intercede for all the priests who will read this today and in days to come. Thank you for your interventions in times past. Thank you for what you may be up to now, whatever it is. Keep it up. I need it.

Perhaps more Rome stuff later.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in 2.