Pò sì jiù – 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{]:¬)
If they think this is going to go away, they are delusional. Keep in mind the phrase: quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur. Also, yesterday in some commentary on the strange opinions of a bishop, I mentioned the issue of “unity”, … Read More →
First… Good News from Arlington: FSSP Entrusted with New Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory pic.twitter.com/oHJhaygeiW — Arlington Latin Mass Society (@tlmarlington) June 21, 2026 I’m informed that the bishop of Camden will suppress the faithful who desire to worship … Read More →
What’s with the bishops of Kentucky? Remember. It is always about the people who want the traditional Mass. DIOCESE OF OWENSBORO McRaith Catholic Center I Office of the Bishop Rev. David Kennedy Immaculate Conception Parish ‘112 S. Day Street Earlington, KY 42410 … Read More →
At Rorate there is a bit of alarming but, giving the player involved, not surprising news. Bp. Bonny of Antwerp, Belgium, said “I will make every effort to ordain married men as priests for our diocese by 2028.” He claims … Read More →
Today in the Italian daily Il Foglio there is an article which starts… Catholics increasingly persecuted after the Agreement with China Human Rights Watch report: the situation has worsened after the agreement between Beijing and the Holy See. An assessment … Read More →
When Leo called the consistory, there were several proposed agenda items. Fr. McTeigue aptly describes what happened. [T[hey were going to talk about lots of things and then they talked about not as many things as the things they were … Read More →
The hits just keep rolling in. Get this. An “expert” (I know people who know him) has clarified for us what the DDF doctrinal note about titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary mean. CNA has it. My emphases and comments. … Read More →
It is hard to watch what is happening in the Diocese of Charlotte. It is hard to watch what is happening and wonder if there isn’t something seriously out of whack. It’s as if the 1980’s are back. First, the … Read More →
Here’s the raw material. Highlights… my emphases: […] In light of this knowledge, I wish to share a bit of background. Shortly after I was named Bishop-Elect of this beautiful Diocese, I received communication from the Dicastery for Divine Worship … Read More →
UPDATE: 7 Nov 2025 A commentator, below, wrote: The Greensburg story might be fake news. https://thecatholicherald.com/article/diocese-of-greensburg-denies-banning-ad-orientem-for-novus-ordo-masses And also… Yeah, I just talked to a representative of the Diocese of Greensburg, and he confirmed that Bishop Koulick has made no restrictions … Read More →
I prepared this a couple days ago, but I didn’t post it. With this new tweet, however, it’s time to hit “enter”. It seems that the bishop forbade photos or video of the last TLM. We were hoping to share … Read More →
This is one of the Latin Mass communities banished in Charlotte, NC. In their final Sunday TLM, the faithful of St. Ann’s sing the Salve Regina following Mass, as they have done for years. This is the beauty and transcendence … Read More →
Bishop Garcia, former bishop of Monterey, issued the letter to the Latin Mass community located at Sacred Heart Church in Hollister, CA, on 14 September (coincidently the anniversary of Summorum Pontificum going into effect) snuffing out their TLM and community … Read More →
The pogrom goes on. It goes on despite not knowing what Leo XIV has in mind. The OUTGOING/GONE Bishop Garcia of Monterey (California) is terminating the TLM that has been going on for 17 years. Yes, “out”. Bp. Daniel Garcia was … Read More →
I am not much into the veneration of now St. Carlo Acutis. Not my age group, I guess. However, when I see the videos and photos of the crowds of people who do venerate him, I cannot deny that there … Read More →
UPDATE: Someone should remind the Bishop of Charlotte of the USCCB position on liturgical screens: pic.twitter.com/Gjc1zpiWlS — Multiclassing Cleric (@lukei4655) September 5, 2025 Firstly, I warmly recommend the documentary Bread Not Stones. It puts a human face on the reports … Read More →
Concerning the origins of the dreadful “Book of Blessings” (De Benedictionibus), which ironically doesn’t bless anything. I thought there was one prayer which truly blessed, an option for a rosary with the traditional version they ported in, but they changed … Read More →
I’m told by the editor of Regina Magazine, which made this film, that it is to be released next week.
There is a very good read at Crisis today. Fr. Robert McTeigue, SJ, looks into the nebulous notion of “synodality”, which can mean just about anything. He uses a term from analytic philosophy, “blik”. Yes, Father explains what “blik” is. NB: … Read More →
How fresh the Fathers of the Church can be in our own times. No wonder Pope Benedict wrote that we need to recover the perspective and methods of the Fathers. Let’s not imagine that we are the only ones who … Read More →
UPDATE: 29 July 2024 The French Olympics peeps said “Oh no! That wasn’t the last supper! That was an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus [that] makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings”. They lied. The … Read More →
At the Italian site Messa in Latino there is an English translation of an interview about matters concerning the Vetus Ordo and – especially – the people who desire it, with Andrea Grillo (aka Mister Cricket). HERE As MiL says: “In … Read More →
Reactions to Harrison Butker’s commencement speech abound. Today there are couple of note. First, at Crisis is a piece by Paul Kengor: “Hell’s Fury for Harrison Butker” subtitled: “If you’re sick of the bullying thugs of cancel culture, then stand with Harrison … Read More →
A while back I wrote a review of Anthony Esolen’s fine book Nostalgia. HERE In it, I wrote: How often is the charge of “nostalgia” flung as a cliché into the teeth of those who desire, with their legitimate aspirations, the … Read More →
I ran into a notable quote today at one of my daily stops, the estimable Laudator. The quote is from the work On the False (or Dishonest) Embassy by the ancient Athenian orator Demosthenes (+384 BC). The context is the negotiation of the … Read More →
I saw a piece at the Baltimore Sun which says that the Archdiocese of Baltimore will be the 30th diocese to declare bankruptcy. They will close parishes. What will be left? 21 of 61. Meanwhile, there is an FSSP parish … Read More →
I was alerted to a manipulative piece at Fishwrap (aka National Schismatic Reporter) with a massively ironic headline and intro. The Institute of Christ the King took over a parish in Cleveland that has Hungarian roots. Of course they started … Read More →
It has been quite a week. During this last week I’ve felt a real malaise, a spiritual smog. Many have written asking for my comments on highly visible disasters. Firstly, my insights lead me to the brilliant conclusion that, “Yup, … Read More →
Sad news continues. Remember… it is an attack on Tradition and on the Traditional Roman Rite, but even more it is an attack on the people who want them. They don’t like the people. Bad news. France On the eviction of the … Read More →
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 … Read More →
UPDATE: On a related note, at One Peter Five find the transcript and video of Card. Sarah’s recent talk at the presentation (HERE) of Bp. Schneider’s catechetical Compendium. Card. Sarah’s talk dealt with the crisis in the Church. He has … Read More →
Right now some clamor for everything in the Church, all her doctrine, liturgy (which is doctrine), law, structures… everything… to be “reinterpreted” in light of the “spirit” of Vatican II and the “spirit” of ongoing “synodality” (“walking togetherity”). From the … Read More →
I call your attention… no. Wait. To those who don’t like the Traditional Latin Mass… to those who don’t like me personally or what I write or defend… to those who don’t understand why there are Catholics who aren’t just … Read More →
LifeSite today looked at what the participants of “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity” are discussing and it fits with what I have written before. The true content of the “W-T” is the process itself. The aim is to make “W-T” a … Read More →
The point of the “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity” is the process itself. The process is the content, the message. That does not mean that there are not sidelines, some of them dominant. One of them is the normalization of … Read More →
Form a committee or some kind of group and after awhile they will want to know how much power they have. I read at CNA: Synod on Synodality members ask ‘for greater discernment’ of Church teaching on sexuality Participants in … Read More →
Because I entertain moments of self-hatred which I evolve into moments of reparation for for “walking together”, I tuned into a YouTube video of the very thing… “Walking Together about Walking Togetherity”. It is a morning session from yesterday. If … Read More →
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, … Read More →
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the new leadership of now-Card. Fernandez, responded to a series of Dubia sent in by Dominik Card. Duka, OP, of Prague on 13 July 2023 about administration of Holy Communion to … Read More →
On the way back to Rome, Francis was slightly Mongolian grilled when asked about the book that is making waves The Synodal Process ((“walking together”)) Is a Pandora’s Box: 100 Questions and Answers which has a Preface by Card. Burke. … Read More →
But remember, you can’t have the Traditional Latin Mass because there is one expression of the Roman Rite. Right? IRELAND This version of the Our Father has divided opinion online What are your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/pfAUm0VO2J — Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) September … Read More →
Remember my New catholic Red Guards trope? pic.twitter.com/ufXNaJknZq — Matthew Hazell (@M_P_Hazell) August 28, 2023 This one ticks several boxes. Fr. Z kudos.
Since I am in Chicago, I post today a link to a story from this date last year, 4 August 2022, about the Archdiocese and the Institute of Christ the King. HERE You might remember that the local Archbishop said … Read More →
Remember: It’s not just the rites that they fear, because they make them uncomfortable, it’s the people who desire those rites whom they really distain. It’s the people. The TLM is effectively banned at the Shrine of Ars. How is … Read More →
There’s going to be a webinar on Synodality (“walking together-ity”). SYNOD ON SYNODALITY – A NEW KIND OF CHURCH Australasian Catholics Coalition for Church Reform (ACCCR), Yarra Theological Union (YTU, and Garratt Publishing are pleased to present the Synod on … Read More →
What will the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together-ity”) be like? One clue is to look at the list of the participants. First, however, I note this, from Jesuit-run Amerika Magazine: Here is a list of the participants: HERE … Read More →
Feel like a castaway these days? Feel like those who should have the greatest care of you have sloughed you off for the sake of the ways of the world? You are not alone. With that as a preamble, if … Read More →
I just threw up in my mouth a little. They never learn. Will it take another fire? Source, the great Twitter feed of Fr. V. Fr. Z says follow Fr. V. And …
I put on my hazmat suit this morning after a friend sent a link from Fishwrap to our chat group. Vatican’s secretary of state: Clerical abuse not linked to homosexuality Yet while the cardinal’s reflections are notable coming from the … Read More →
For the last couple months I was too happy to have had the desire for self-harming. However, now that I am not in Rome anymore I ventured over to the Fishwrap and revisited the darkness of self-inflicted irritation. Sr. Joan … Read More →
Remembering always that the Traditional Latin Mass needs to be snuffed at Catholic schools like Steubenville, here’s what’s going on at Notre Shame. From Breitbart: The University of Notre Dame’s gender studies program is hosting a talk with the author … 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 →
Yesterday I received a PDF of a new “Decree” from the Archbishop of Cincinnati, Dennis Schnurr. HERE The Archbishop has introduced a new “policy” on ad orientem worship. There must be in every parish or “cluster” (they say “family”) of parishes at … Read More →
Archbp. Georg Gänswein did a video interview with Die Tagespost. He was asked about Benedict’s reaction to the Motu Proprio Traditionis custodes, that mess of cruelty. Gänswein said that reading that Motu Proprio was a “turning point” for Benedict (Einschnitt, … Read More →
This year 1 January, the Octave of Christmas or the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God fell on a Sunday. All Sundays are Holy Days of Obligation. Next year, 2024, 1 January falls on a Monday. That means that, … Read More →
A couple weeks back Hell’s Bible (aka NYT) published an airy yet vicious attack piece about Catholics who attended the Traditional Latin Mass. Apparently, if you go to the Vetus Ordo, you might be a white right-wing extremist of some … Read More →
I try not to pay too much attention to Jesuit-run Amerika Magazine. It occasionally intrudes. Even less to I want thoughts of or by Austen Ivereigh. I am therefore grateful to my friend Fr. Raymond J. de Souza who, writing … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: My parish has recently been gifted a beautiful new set of Sacred Vessels for use at Holy Mass. We have asked the bishop to bless them when he’s next due to come here for Confirmations but … Read More →
Signs of the times… First, Archbp. Vincenzo Paglia – head of the Pontifical Academy for Life – did an interview for RU-486‘s (aka The Tablet) with the writer most suited for that sort of intercourse. You will recall that when … Read More →
The claim is made by hyperpapalists and the Vatican II Calf extremists that the Vetus Ordo is antithetical to the “spirit” of the Council and that the Novus Ordo is the true manifestation of that “spirit”. Is it? Priest on … Read More →
UPDATE: 21 Oct 22: Check this out. Hilarious and sad at the same time. HERE Originally Published on: Oct 19, 2022 While bad news is unpleasant, and often we do well to sidestep the avalanche that hurtles at us everyday, sometimes … Read More →
From the National Catholic Register (the Catholic paper, not the other one, the Fishwrap). Pope Francis announced on Sunday that the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together”) will be extended to 2024. Speaking in his Angelus address on Oct. … Read More →
From Vatican News: Cardinal Grech: Synodal process is mature fruit of Vatican II As the Pontifical Lateran University begins the celebration of the 250th anniversary of its founding, Cardinal Mario Grech reflects on the Second Vatican Council and synodality. Cardinal … Read More →
Remember that art that the Synod (“walking together”) process in Philly excreted, not to reflect the actual opinions of young people but to drive an agenda? Well, it turns out that the art was intended not to reflect the actual opinions of … Read More →
It seems that Swiss Card. Koch has raised his concerns about the Germans “Synodal (“walking together”) Way”. In doing so, he has incurred the wrath of German bishops and others who have sent him, and the organizers of an event … Read More →
I firmly believe that their overreach will overtake them. Hitherto, Bp. Rey of Fréjus-Toulon in France has been open to accepting traditionally-minded seminarians and religious. Vocations in that diocese were up, unlike the rest of France. Hence, Rome is now … Read More →
Another jackass priest, in Ireland, Fr. Roy Donovan, of Limerick, committed an act of sacrilege, during the consecration in a Mass. He is part of the Ass. of Catholic Priests in Ireland. Hence, he’s a crackpot. What did he do this … Read More →
I read a story at CNA about a diocese in the Netherlands where the wonderous springtime of Vatican II has revolutionized all of Catholic life. So successful has the Vatican II reform been, that the Diocese of Roermond has said … Read More →
The Vetus Ordo is against Vatican II! That’s why it has to be crushed and the people who want it marginalized and demoralized to the point that they will quite simply leave the Church. Instead, what will bring about the … Read More →
Sometimes coincidences are just coincidences. Sometimes they aren’t. Yesterday, 1 September, on the anniversary of a very creepy thing, two very creepy things happened. 1- Francis gave a speech to the world’s bishops, more an more reduced to “branch managers” … Read More →
You will want to watch this before it is expunged from on orders from high atop the thing. Tucker Carlson’s opening monologue on 31 August 2022. He goes over the many ways in which the left, fully in charge, is … Read More →
I am sure that you have by now seen the moronic, sick, anti-Catholic dreck at The Atlantic about the Rosary written by … who? The writer feverishly connected the use of the Rosary, as a matter of spiritual warfare – … Read More →
I recently wrote: I am convinced that one of the reasons certain bishops and priests seem determined to suppress the TLM and isolate, marginalize the people who want it is because the TLM unsettles, disturbs, annoys, irritates, needles, vexes clerics … Read More →
The Council Fathers of Vatican II voted overwhelmingly to approve some few mandates that would result in a reform of the Roman Rite. A body was assembled to implement that reform. It was operated by radical ideologues who had their … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Some years ago I studied for graduate theology with several distinguished theologians, one of whom was chancellor for Card. Burke in Lacrosse. In those Canon Law classes, he made the point over and again that the … Read More →
Today at Le Crock… sorry… Le Croix… there is a piece by one Gregory Solari. Who? I asked the same question. I found this link. Involvement with McGill in Montreal. French, I think, maybe Swiss. Interested in Newman. Seems to … Read More →
From a reader…. QUAERITUR: We had a kneeler for those who wished to kneel and receive on the tongue. The Bishop ordered kneelers removed from the three parishes in the diocese that allowed their use. This impacts the elderly and … Read More →
A few days ago I received a copy of a note from the diocesan offices of the Diocese of Rome about the renovation of the sanctuary of the mighty Jesuit church in central Rome called “Il Gesù”. My soul groaned … Read More →
Above… Aeneas rescuing his family (not so much his wife) and household gods from the sack of Troy. Leonello Spada Who was Vincent of Lérins? He was a Gaul and writer who died about 445. His work Commonitorium is a … Read More →
I’ve been asked quite a few times today what I thought about the new “red hat” list for the College of Cardinals. I simply laughed. The ploy and play of the list is so obvious that it is hardly to … Read More →
The cruel implementation of the cruel legacy document of the Francis’ era continues in these USA, this time in Jacksonville in the Diocese of St. Augustine. This is from the Bulletin of the Immaculate Conception. The PDF has an absurd … Read More →
UPDATE: I received this and, in fairness, it ought to be shared: Dear Fr. Zuhlsdorf, Your posting about our parish slightly mischaracterizes what was said at mass today about Cardinal Gregory’s thoughts about the Extraordinary Form Mass at our parish. … Read More →
At Catholic Culture Phil Lawler has views about the recent appointment of one bishop to oversee two distinct dioceses. Yesterday’s news included the curious report that in two different cases—one in Ireland, one in Wales—Pope Francis had appointed one bishop to … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Now that canon law allows for females to be instituted acolytes, is it possible, prudential, for a female to be a straw subdeacon in a solemn high mass? Listen here wise guy. You are probably not … Read More →