Mail from priests – Fr. Z's Blog: Recent Episodes
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" - Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)
From my friend Fr. McTeigue, one of the good ones. Excerpt: What 99.9999 percent of Catholics need to do is go to confession regularly. Unless you are living in China, being hunted down in Nigeria, or facing some comparable obstacle, … Read More →
From a priest… I think… QUAERITUR: Preparing for a funeral Mass in the near future; Is it permissible to chant the Dies Irae sequence in a Latin requiem Mass using the ordinary form? Didn’t see it anywhere in the copy … Read More →
At the wonderful The Catholic Thing you will find an opinion piece by a priest writing under a penname (to avoid the Eye of Sauron as is only correct). The piece is entitled “The ‘Polar Unity’ of the Two Forms … Read More →
Fr. Allan McDonald has a blog called Southern Orders. At that blog he issued a “challenge” to me. HERE Father has taken exception to what I wrote about a homily (homilies) given by Fr. David Carter in Chattanooga about the … Read More →
Remember the B as in B, S as in S put out about the TLM recently by the Windy Prelate? HERE
I must share these videos. First, among his defense of manhood, which is enough… his description of “Fr. Cheerful at St. Typical’s”… oh my. When he describes the banality of what many men find in parishes … oh my. Excerpt … Read More →
UPDATED: 5 August 2025 at 1014: I received this important note. Hi there, dear and Reverend Father! I know Chris Hall pretty well. He often visits our abbey, and I am happy to report that he converted to Our Holy … Read More →
This is pretty sad. One of the last parish TLMs in the Archdiocese of Detroit…for now….at Holy Family Church. pic.twitter.com/VY8D6WNl22 — Alex Begin (@AlexanderBegin) June 30, 2025 Even with the election of a new Pope, whose views are not yet … Read More →
For the last month and change, one of the most frequent observations I’ve heard from people is that its funny how we are so happy just to have something like normalcy. The most frequent word I’ve heard in Rome and … Read More →
UPDATE 31 May 11:28: Readers have asked for the whole letter, which I did not have. The link in the email didn’t work and posted a screenshot of what I had. Another reader found the whole thing: HERE This should … Read More →
Those of us who have been reading Catholics things on the interwebs will with fondness, respect and sorrow remember the wonderful, erudite, amusing posts of the late Fr. John Hunwicke. Fr. Hunwicke died 13 months ago. He had had a … Read More →
From a priest reader… As I’m sure you’ve noticed, each night in St. Peter’s Square, a small schola has sung the Oremus pro Pontifice for the Holy Father. It’s a gesture that is simultaneously reverent and traditional, yet incredibly simple. … Read More →
From a priest friend (summarized): QUAERITUR: At Gloria.TV there is a story about aberrations in Germany [Imagine my shock!]. One was a Baptism problem: the priest said the words while the godfather poured the water. Is this a valid Baptism? … Read More →
A loss for us all. In my opinion, his wonderful blog should be left intact. Also, if there are such capabilities through Blogger, it should be downloaded and preserved. In your charity, please pray for his soul and for his … Read More →
The other day I had a text exchange with a priest friend asking about why, because it is a leap year, we didn’t celebrate St. Matthias. He wasn’t sure about why the leap year changed the date. I responded that … Read More →
This is worth notice. Priests of the Cathedral in San Francisco have issued their own statement about FS… Conscience First (English and Spanish)
A couple weeks ago, I brought to your attention a 4 November piece at Catholic World Report by Fr. Robert McTeigue, SJ, which commented on the “Eucharistic Revival” which is underway under the impulse of the bench of bishops. Fr. … Read More →
I give full marks plus an extra kudo to Jesuit Fr. Robert McTeigue, SJ. His article at Catholic World Report is OUTSTANDING. How many times have I here urged GO TO CONFESSION! Have I not again and and begged priests … Read More →
I warmly ask the readership to pray for Fr. John Hunwicke of the superb blog Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment. I’ve been told that he is ailing and it might not be trivial. Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment is an obligatory daily … Read More →
Amazing. Photos of the ordination of 842 priests at the XXX International Eucharistic Congress in Barcelona at the Olympic stadium in Montjuich on May 31, 1952. 21 altars were erected on which 21 bishops celebrated Holy Mass simultaneously. Each bishop … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I’m going to entirely recast this question in my own words because I need to address the answer to priests, rather than to the laymen who sent the original query. It seems that a priest recently … Read More →
I just concluded a driving road trip that chalked up over 3400 miles. There were a few perilous moments and one or two that were, frankly, frightening. One involved a human who shouldn’t be allowed to drive and the other … Read More →
Are there any readers here from the Diocese of Kotor in Montenegro (Dioecesis Catharensis) or from the nearby area of Croatia? Why? I’m looking for a priest. When the recent Grand Chess Tour started in Zagreb, there was a simul … Read More →
I alert the readership to a blog post by a priest friend and commentator here, Fr. Martin Fox. You want to check into this. I am mindful of a story I read at the National Catholic Register about how in … Read More →
Fathers, are any of you going to the St. Paul Center’s July conference for priests in West Virginia? I’m working out transportation, whether to fly, drive and see things and people along the way, etc. Drop me a line? If … Read More →
Why I do what I do. From a priest: Dear Father, I wanted to drop a note of gratitude. I have been following your blog for over a decade now and, after 2 and a half years of ordination, I … Read More →
In a text message: A priest friend sent this. At least he was my friend before I listened to what he sent. I may never talk to him again because I can’t un-hear it. What was that recording? Put down … Read More →
A note to the priests and people of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, where someone in the chancery is trying to bully you into submission. Someone whom I gather is the “priest secretary” to the Archbishop of Atlanta, and who is … Read More →
Let’s be clear about something. If we do not ask for miracles, it is unlikely that they will be granted. Fr. John Hollowell has a brief video to explain that his brain tumor, which had returned, was miraculously healed through … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: On a recent podcast a priest said that asking a specific person in Purgatory to pray for you/us is necromancy. Thoughts? My first reaction is that Father seems not to understand the difference between conjuring spirits … Read More →
From a priestly reader… QUAERITUR: I cannot find when to use the Biretta at the Homily, should it be worn, if so, then does one wear at for the Epistle & Gospel readings in the vernacular/English? Thank you for your … Read More →
From the WSJ: Justice Delayed for Father MacRae A list of officers with credibility issues calls his 1994 conviction into question. Father Gordon MacRae has been in prison since 1994, when a New Hampshire jury convicted him of sexual assault … Read More →
I was requested by a reader to repost something I wrote back in the relatively happier times of 2017. Upon re-reading it, I think it stands still, adjustments having been made for the cruelty of Traditionis custodes. Published on: Jun 4, … Read More →
The ramifications for a priest of being canceled are manifold. Depending on their past (whether they are late vocations and have a pension) or their families (perhaps well-to-do), life can be really complicated. “Canceled” usually means not just emotional turmoil … Read More →
With so much that is British in the news right now, I have in mind my dearly missed priest friends in England. I haven’t been able to visit them for a long time. That being the case, here is a … Read More →
From a priest… QUAERITUR: Is it okay to learn how to say the Traditional Latin Mass? Where are we at with the whole overblown, skewed notion of obedience and authority today that it would enter into a priest’s mind that … Read More →
Update on Fr. Dana Christensen:. He is the young priest who has been struggling heroically with ALS. More than ever now, pray for him. Dear friends and family of Fr. Dana: This is Annie, his sister. Our family wanted to … Read More →
From the great Fr. John Hunwicke at his elevating blog Mutual Enrichment [emphases and comments mine]: Popes, Liturgy, and Authority (3): S PIUS V compared with S PAUL VI and PF We are sometimes told that the imposition of a new … Read More →
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 →
Fr. John Hunwicke’s blog is a constant source of fascinating details, amusing invective, and inverting insight. Those first two may be obvious, but what do I mean by “inverting insight”? I mean that Fr. H has a keen ability to … Read More →
I have an action item for you. Below, I am pushing a couple of books, one old and one new. Here on my treasure chest, this blog, I am channeling my inner Matthew 13:52. But first, a rant from your … Read More →
I saw quite a piece at The Remnant about a priest – Father James Mawdsley – who, in unmistakable terms, called out Francis and Roche and those others who have been trying to oppress the faithful who desire traditional Catholic liturgical … Read More →
Consider a few points, in no particular order. Traditionis custodes and the Dubious Dubia (TC&DD) are an incoherent mess. TC&DD are founded on faulty theological grounds: that Vatican II is the lens through which all doctrine and discipline of the … Read More →
It is a day of contrasts. I had posted about “A Tale of Two Archbishops”. Now I see Fr. Hunwicke making distinctions about contrasting pairings. Qui distinguit bene docet. My emphases. Ecclesial disorders CLERICALISM versus SACERDOTALISM “If the word had not … Read More →
At Rumble – HERE – there is a longish and passionate video from 2 Jan ’22 in English with transcript by Archbp Carlo Maria Viganò, once Nuncio in these USA, then targeted for cancelation by the powers-that-be for knowing too … Read More →
I direct the readership to the blog of a good friend Fr. Cliff Ermatinger, a priest in Milwaukee. HERE He will be putting his reflections and other good items… which I assure you will be worthwhile. You might bookmark it … Read More →
I had this question from a reader. I get this every once in a while. QUAERITUR: Can Holy Water, Epiphany Water, Easter water, be diluted and still maintain their efficacy? And, if yes, to what extent? Since I get this … Read More →
I received this great suggestion from a priest friend: There is great deal of angst among TLMers after Saturday’s Responsa. Thank you for what you have written in the aftermath. In addition to encouraging prayer and Confession, perhaps we could … Read More →
UPDATE: We made our goal! Thank you to everyone who contributed. If you continue to donate to the TMSM, we will put the funds to good use! ___ Oringinally Published on: Nov 24, 2021 I have a plea to make … Read More →
From Fr. Dana’s blog... Our Lady of Loretto The very icon that Fr. Dana Ambrose took to the hospital. I haven’t posted since my extended stay in the hospital, more on that later. What I wanted to do today is … Read More →
I am getting ready to say my three Masses today. A note from a priest reader prompts to post. On two days of the year, from the calendar and law itself a priest has the privilege of saying three Masses: … Read More →