Four Last Things – 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{]:¬)
You’ve no doubt seen news by now about the shooter in S. Minneapolis (my native place) at Annunciation Church during a morning school Mass. first of the new school year. The killer – “trans” – killed children (8 and 10), … Read More →
Today’s Station is St. John Lateran. We hear about the white garments of the recently baptized. Scott Hahn reflects on the fact that Heaven is more real than the reality we experience with our senses.
I asked several times for prayers for a friend and archconfrere in Rome, Giancarlo. He suffered from the complications of a terrible congenital malady of the liver. Giancarlo passed away a few minutes ago. He had received the last rites. … Read More →
Lately I have almost every day been adding orations from the Votive Mass “pro infirmis” during my celebration of Holy Mass. The orations from that Mass are poignant. Here is the Secret: Deus, cuius nutibus vitae nostrae momenta decurrunt: suscipe … Read More →
I haven’t yet figured out Fr. Weinandy’s motives for the seemingly inexplicable and most odd attack on the Vetus Ordo some time ago. That said, this is a good piece at The Catholic Thing that says things that need to … Read More →
I was sorry to read today of the death of Michigan-based Catholic radio personality Al Kresta at the age of 72. He succumbed to liver cancer. Read of him at the National Catholic Register HERE. He was a good fellow. … Read More →
“Divine Mercy! Rah, rah, rah!” Right? Right. However… We have come to Low Sunday, Dominica in albis, the Octave of Easter. I reviewed something of what Fathers of the Church had to say about our Gospel passage on this famous … Read More →
You, dear reader, have an immortal soul. One of the most important things we pray in the Litany of Saints … those who know and use only the Novus Ordo perhaps have never heard this… is “A subitanea et improvisa … Read More →
The sun rose at 06:41 and it will set at 17:06. The Ave Maria will be silent when it ought to ring at 17:30. 5 full days left. It is the Commemoration of All Souls. I mentioned sunrise. Yesterday, All … Read More →
It has been a long time since I’ve read St. Gregory of Nyssa, but when I saw this video in an x-tweet, something jumped to mind. If memory serves, Gregory described our experience of the Beatific Vision as a spiral. … Read More →
Daily 5 minute podcast to aid your Easter joy. Roman Station: St. Peter’s in the Vatican TODAY: Divine Mercy or Dominica “in albis”? Fr. Troadec offers superb advice about living day by day. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf · PASCHALCAzT 2023 – … Read More →
Daily 5 minute podcast to help you in your Lenten discipline. Roman Station: St John at the Latin Gate TODAY: The Martyrdom of John and the separation of the sheep and the goats. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf · LENTCAzT 2023 – … Read More →
Daily 5 minute podcast to help you in your Lenten discipline. Roman Station: Santi Dodici Apostoli – Collect: San Marco TODAY: We hear of the amazing church which is the Station. Thomas a Kempis sobers us up. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf … Read More →
Daily 5 minute podcast to help you in your Lenten discipline. Collect Church is San Pietro in Vincoli and the Roman Station is Santa Maria Maggiore. It is Ember Wednesday in Lent, so we hear briefly about Ember Days. Then … Read More →
Daily 5 minute podcast to help you in your Lenten discipline. Roman Station: St. Peter in Chains (Collect Sts. Cosmas and Damian) We begin some reflections on the one thing that is certain but that we cannot predict. Fr. John … Read More →
Last night I didn’t schedule a formal ZedNet (ham radio net through analog and digital modes), but I wrote that I would have my handsets on in case someone “showed up”. Three people did. We used different modes and they … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have recently learned I believe several years ago then when going to confession one must confess mortal sins by kind and “x” times #. Well, I don’t think I’ve ever done that until I found … Read More →
There is a good piece at The Catholic Thing today about the concept … and eventually person … of the Antichrist. I’ll point out a couple things that caught my eye. First, something on a liturgical note. The writer, Francis … 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 →
Welcome registrant: CarKee1974 Meanwhile,… White to move and win. NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others. Support great monks. Get good wine.
I received this email. First, let me say… GO TO CONFESSION! That means PRIESTS too! Next, use my tips for making a good confession. HERE Now… I received this email. Good afternoon, Father. In the middle of a recent confession, … Read More →
A series of short daily podcasts for Advent 2022. ROMAN STATION: St. Mary Major Today, we hear about an ancient element of today’s Mass, tied to the harrowing Gospel for Mass, Luke 21:25-33. We have a reminder about inevitable death, … Read More →
In Rome today the sun rose well after I did, at 6:43 and it will set at 17:04. I, however, unlike the sun, may have a nap: there will be no eclipse today… at least visible from Rome. If there … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Both of my parents were fortunate to receive the last rites and the apostolic blessing. I was filled with peace at their deaths because I had hope they may have been saved. That peace has been … Read More →
Continuing a look at Desiderio desideravi. The letter, as I wrote before, is a mixed bag. It seems divisible according to the voice and topic. That probably reflects authorship by different people or groups. The section I’ll look at today … Read More →
From a reader… I was the gentleman that called you in February and thanked you for harping on getting the Apostolic Pardon for the dying. I did that for my father, Daniel, and left a message after he passed. You … Read More →
From a priest… QUAERITUR: I thought this might be a question you would be interested in answering. The Prayers for the Dying in the modern ritual are brief, and rather weak. The alternative of course is the prayers from the … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Can a Catholic receive the Apostolic Pardon if he/she dies without a priest present. I read somewhere that, even in the absence of a priest, the Catholic Church grants a plenary indulgence to all Catholics at the moment … Read More →
In your kindness, please pray for the repose of the soul of Alice von Hildebrand who died today, 14 January 2022, at the age of 98. HERE She was a great lady of great faith and an inspiration for many … Read More →
This message from a friend sums up what I believe a great many people are feeling right now. They say I sow schism because I remain faithful to the Faith and customs of my forbears. I feel like I have … Read More →
In your kindness please pray for the repose of the soul of a priest friend who died one year ago, today, Christmas Day. Fr. Reginald Foster, OCD, was a famous Latinist. He was a complicated guy and not always easily … Read More →
I received a note today about the recent passing away of a long-time reader and commentator here (though he hadn’t commented for a while), John C (aka acricketchirps). His wife wrote: “He was anointed and received the apostolic pardon.” … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Why is it always an airplane? When Pope Francis went back to Rome from Greece he talked about the resignation of the Archbishop in Paris because of a past sexual scandal. One thing the Pope said … Read More →
This is the Last Sunday of the liturgical year. The last part of the liturgical year thematically dovetails with the first part of the new liturgical year. Advent was once longer, so the overlap of reflection on the End Times across … Read More →
I had asked you to give alms to help bury the dead. HERE Gaetano Tinnirello. He lived rough, in the streets, and often with his dog was at the doors of my adoptive parish Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini, the Vetus … Read More →
In my adoptive neighborhood in Rome, at my adoptive parish, there was a young man named Gaetano Tinnirello. He lived rough, in the streets, and often was at the doors of my adoptive parish Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini, the Vetus … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: I always hear that when we die and go to heaven we will see our loved ones again. That we will be together again. But how can that be? How can It be if someone you … Read More →
Two recent email exchanges brought up the importance of the Apostolic Pardon (AP). It is also sometimes called the Apostolic Blessing. The AP is a special indulgence given by a priest to a person who is dying which remits all … Read More →
Pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Hans Küng, dead at the age of 93. Küng did untold damage to the Church and the identity of Catholics through his persistent cage-match with heresy. He was forbidden to teach … Read More →
UPDATE: 26 March Time has been changed to noon MDT. Still at the Denver Cathedral with an FSSP celebrant. the link for livestream is https://livestream.com/accounts/3170708/events/9593864 Originally Published on: Mar 24, 2021 Recently there was a terrible mass shooting in Boulder, … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: As part of my Lenten practices, I’m trying to seriously keep before my mind, on a daily basis, the fact that eventually I will die. As you yourself often say, we should practice dying well and … Read More →
From a reader… QUAERITUR: Does a stillborn baby have to be baptized? A friend just gave birth to an 8-month stillborn baby who died in her womb early yesterday morning. What is the procedure before burial? Would appreciate your help. … Read More →
Run, don’t walk, to today’s Crisis Magazine offering by Regis Martin. Just DO IT. HERE A taste… […] In thinking about [Heywood] Broun’s conversion [by then Fr. Fulton Sheen], it is important that we not lose sight of the fact … Read More →