Fr. Z's PODCAzTs

UPDATE:

Here's a clip from a "premium content" video for some Roman Sojourn Donors. It's nothing special, just part of my morning walk through the area to get some food stuffs for the day and to say hello to a few people as the day gets underway. And a splendid day it was in Rome.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/24_11_02_morning_walk_clip_000.mp4

Thank you, Lord, for this day, when the sun rose at 6:42 and when the sun will set at 17:05.

The Ave Maria has a couple more days in the 17:30 cycle.

Today is All Souls. It is not a feast. It is not a day of precept (obligation). However, you can gain indulgences for praying for the dead in this 8 day period.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Welcome registrant:

Goldfield

HEY!  sm****[email protected]!

HEY! and*****[email protected]!

My notes to you were bounced back.  New email?

In church last night...

I'll make a video of the formal displaying of the relics and post the link when it is ready.

In church this morning...

How to make lunch in Rome.

Buy pizza bianca.

Buy mortadella with black truffle.

Assemble like this.

In churchy news...

Too beautiful not to share...

This beautiful depiction of a Requiem Mass is a cutting from a 15th-century French Book of Hours (eastern France, perhaps Besançon). While the schola sings the Gregorian chant, a mourner in a dark robe approaches the altar, where the priest presents the paten for him to kiss,… pic.twitter.com/lCkf8Ju1Uc

— Vir Desideriorum (@VirDesideriorum) November 2, 2024

This is interesting from the great canonist Ed Peters

Holy days of obligation occasion disregard for canon law in the VAST majority of Catholics, provoke anxious consciences in a small but notable number of others, and augment the devotion of the devout not a whit. Abrogate the obligation and restore holy days to their proper date.

— Edward Peters (@canonlaw) November 1, 2024

One of the presidential candidates is pretty openly anti-Catholic.

As Senator, Kamala Harris tried to stop the nominations of three judges because they were members of the Knights of Columbus. https://t.co/Mvb5yOMua3 pic.twitter.com/YbGFEY0YCF

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) November 1, 2024

To accurate not to share...

Wise words we need to pay heed to today pic.twitter.com/T8oilyiEld

— Mark (@sitsio) November 1, 2024

In chessy news... HERE

(White to move and mate in 3)

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

For the sun's rising, I can report the hour of 07:34.  Sunset is still a bit in the future as I write at 18:14.

The Ave Maria is still in the 18:30 cycle.

It is the feast of St. Dimitri the 4th c. martyr.

Thank you for this day, Lord.

Welcome registrant:

N2SRK

St. Benedict saw the consistory list.

Last night took us to the Pantheon for Vespers for the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage.

Well attended.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_7963.mp4

The acoustics in there... horrible.   Quite simply.

One of my very favorite Crucifixes in Rome or anywhere.

I entitle this "Waiting for the bride... and waiting... and waiting...".  She was over a half hour late.

Meanwhile, chess was played in the sacristy... but that's about chess, so I'll put it in the comments with the puzzle... a hard one.

(White to move and mate in 4.  Hard, but once you see it, you can't un-see it.)

Chessy news... HERE

Please join up! I'll get the credit.

In churchy news.... there is a good piece by the always interesting Janet Smith at Crisis.   We are on the brink.  We are on the brink of an election. We are more than one brink, more than one serious brink.    I believe she is right in her assessment of the severity of the situation in the USA.  A taste:

The only hope we have for changing the laws on abortion (and saving this country!) is to elect those who will work to defend free speech and freedom of religion, who will deport illegal immigrants, who will ensure that elections are fair. Bonuses may well be a recovery of the economy, disbanding the deep state, reducing government waste, and peaceful settlement of costly wars.

Another good read is Fr. Raymond de Souza at The Catholic Thing on the sinking ship the Holy See Ship Synodality (aka "walking together").    A taste:

HSS Synodality set sail when Pope Francis announced in March 2020 the commissioning of a great new ship. The synodal process on synodality for a synodal Church will thus mark its fifth anniversary early next year. It has sailed through some rough waters, but even after five years, it is not clear where exactly synodality is headed. HSS Synodality has thus been on a voyage without a destination.

Perhaps the purpose is the voyage, not the destination...

You said it, Father.  That's the point.  The outcome is the establishment of constant process that brooks no dissent that cannot be marginalized by means of listening and dialogue.  The goal is "permanent revolution" and that can only be achieved not through direct attacks on liturgy, law and doctrine, but by erosion through hints, dangling carrots, perpetual dialogue.   I grew up in a caucus state.

So, HSS Synodality ("walking togetherity") has been sailing sailing sailing.  It has also been hulled a few times by the Holy See's own torpedoes (e.g., Fiducia supplicans).

And... well... more chessy... At ChessBase there's a good article about current World Champ Ding Liren, who is going to defend his title against Gukesh.  It's going to be ... painful, I think.   Ding talks about the psychological, emotional problems he has struggled with for years.  He is a compelling person with an interesting story.

I will never forget sitting where I am now and watching those last fatal moves in the tie breaker in Astana (... where Bp. Schneider is...) against Ian Nepomniachtchi (it's pronounced Непомнящий, by the way). And Nepo's reaction. He was pretty sure he had a draw. the commentators thought it was a draw. Then Ding pulled a fast one with a minute on the clock, playing Rg6. Ding refused a draw down on time and played for the win. Video of the end of that game HERE. Treat yourself.

And check out the great wines of the monks of Le Barroux, traditional Benedictines, in S. France.

Take a few minutes - right now, not later - and read the piece over at the ever valuable The Catholic Thing by my old friend Msgr. Hans Feichtinger. This is outstanding in its perspicacity and in its concision. There is hardly a word wasted (which is good because the policy of The Catholic Thing is to keep their daily offerings under 1000 words).

I'm going to presume on my friendship with both Msgr. Feichtinger and the editor of TCT Robert Royal and read this piece for you, so that you can listen to it easily in your car or elsewhere... perhaps several times.   Their webpage has a button to hear a computer generated reading but I think I will be able to manage a slightly more interesting recitation.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/24_10_21_TCT_Feichtinger.mp3

A taste:

What Are Synods Good For?

[...]

The very idea that evangelization needs more synodality is, in fact, questionable. Evangelization needs witness, prophecy, holiness. For synods to have a place in the work of evangelization, they need to stay away from political ways of thinking.

When people engage in a lot of Church sociology, it’s a sure sign of being stuck in a confused nostalgia about Christendom, and in approaches that have been failing for some decades: pace Cardinal Radcliffe, but the reasons why bishops, clergy and laity in Africa (and not only there) reject Fiducia supplicans are deeply biblical and doctrinal, not “pressure” they feel from Orthodox, Protestant or Muslim groups in their countries, bolstered by Russian, American, or Arab money.

Such a statement is theologically shallow, and Marxist in its reductionism of all things to power and money. On closer inspection, it’s even a kind of a conspiracy theory and/or a projection. The pressure from people with power, influence and money, endlessly pushing an LGBT agenda, is much stronger in North America and Europe. This ideological colonization is by now exhausting even the papal patience.

[...]

What happened at 07:17?   What is going to happen at 18:35?

What about at 18:45?

Welcome registrant:

KatherineK38

Lately I've celebrated masses with intentions for:

VD

A (leukemia)

FSSP

Also, for my benefactors

Also, a 1 year anniversary Requiem.

Also, a couple whose 50th anniversary is today.  YAY!

I can take some intentions.  HERE

Thank you Lord for this day.

Speaking of 50th anniversary, while this might be the most flattering shot of Pippo, it did catch him in one of his moments wherein he revels in what he does.  These 50 roses are for Mary at The Parish from the Golden Couple today.

Pinna and Peppa looked on, slightly interested at what Pippo was upp to.

Pippo gave me some peppers.  As I walked around I felt like Diogenes.   Near the apartment, I had wry remarks from the neighbors, like "Buona PASTA!"

On my way to the ATM (thank you donors) there was this with lovely light at the Mons Pietatis.

In churchy news... what's going on?  Oh, yes, *yawn*... walking together about walking togetherity.

Today is the Feast of Carlo Acutis.  It is also Columbus Day.  I, however, used Mary on Saturday with added orations for Thanksgiving.  But we could use Carlo Acutis, once proclaimed a saint and on the universal calendar.

Far more interesting than anything going on with walking together is this purple rock on Mars:

Yes, this is a purple rock on Mars, 225 million kilometres away. And here it is in your feed!

Image captured by NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover. pic.twitter.com/NQWNbYyVp5

— Curiosity (@MAstronomers) October 12, 2024

Hey Fathers!  How about a clerical Guayabera shirt?

In chessy news... HERE

I stopped at the chess guys yesterday in the P.za der Fico.  They are about the same.  I note that they had been there for hours by this point.

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7:11 and 18:45 are God's times to light and dim the skies over the Eternal City.

It is the Feast of St. Bruno, which will delight a friend of mine, and also one of the days of the year when the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii is raised at Noon, wherever you are.  Yes, this is the same place where the archeological digs are.   It is also where former satanic priest Bl. Bartolo Longo converted.

I have an image of a massive wave of prayer lifted to God through the intercession of the Mother of God rolling hourly from across the globe like an ascending wave.

Please go for more about the Supplica to Our Lady of Pompeii... offered on 8 May and on the 1st Sunday of October.  HERE

Last night I was out with a well-known Catholic commentator for a bite and a chat.

Just as I was about to leave the apartment, from my window...

We went to a favorite place nearby which has something that has become a regular choice for me.  It is an appetizer, but it could be a regular course.   A seafood stew.

After supper, walking back through the Campo, I saw - couldn't miss - that most of the street lamps are still blinking because of a storm a couple weeks back.

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Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

I created a search link at wdtprs dot com slash shop dot htm

Enter anything and search.  You might get a window that "The information you’re about to submit is not secure". Ignore that and "send anyway".

Don't forget the traditional Benedictine monks of Norcia who make stupendous beer. Perhaps your parish priests might like to have some.

In churchy news... I saw an interesting tweet that at a presser for the Walking Together about Walking Togetherity yesterday there were about the same number of panelists as journalists in the seats. Even the newsies have given up. They probably watched the stream... maybe. However, that way there was no way to ask questions. I guess they don't care.

Another church in France was burned. HERE How many is that now?

The Vatican website is still featuring art by Rupnik. Unreal. HERE

Not so churchy, more political, but really funny if you know...

Spice up Halloween and election season this year - what could go wrong? pic.twitter.com/EeS9T1JQpK

— Classical Studies Memes for Hellenistic Teens (@CSMFHT) October 4, 2024

The Nashville Dominicans have VOCATIONS. HERE

The traditional men's institutes in France have VOCATIONS. HERE

In chessy news... HERE

Today the sun rose over the Eternal City at 07:10. It will set, shedding golden light on the streets, at 18:47.

The Ave Maria Bell ought to ring at 19:00.

I can take some Mass intentions. Mass Intention Form HERE

It is the Feast of St. Placid. I recommend the precious little book, published in the 1950’s called The Life of Little Saint Placid, originally in French, by Mother Geneviève Gallois.

I had long hoped that it would be republished.  IT HAS BEEN!   St. Augustine Academy Press, who made the truly stunning book about Holy Mass in the traditional Roman Rite, obtained permission to republish the lovely little book.   I admire the exquisite spiritualized art by Mother Geneviève.

A sister named Placida went to Mother Geneviève and asked her to draw her a picture.  Mother drew 104 and thus the book was born.

It is a work of deep spiritual value and nearly painful charm.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

The lovely light on the facade of The Parish church, Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini.

Thank you, Lord, for this day.

I was so happy to be able to make spaghetti alle vongole last night. It was marvelous. I make it patiently.

Garlic is necessary.  This is not the weak-ass garlic we usually get in the USA.

Leave it large, but smash it a little

I simmer it with hot peppers, some oil, wine and I had a little bit of chicken stock from my soup the other day.

I cooked, mostly, the spaghetti ahead.  In go the clams, well purged.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_7334.mp4

I fish them out as they open.

In goes the pasta to finish cooking in the broth.

And assembled.

In churchy news... Gavin Ashendon gave a splendid talk at the Catholic Identity Conference. HERE

In chessy news... HERE

Our day brightened at 07:09 and it will darken at 18:48, if storm clouds don't darken it first.

The Ave Maria should ring at 19:0o.

It is the Feast of St. Francis.

It is a 1st Friday.

Lord, thank you for this day.

A week or so before I set out for my present Roman Sojourn, I contacted Gammarelli (the legendary ecclesiastical tailor shop) about progress on the BLACK VESTMENT PROJECT for The Parish, Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini.

They told me the new vestments might be ready about mid-October.

Some history.

You might recall that the black vestments there were a hodgepodge of very worn and mismatched elements.  Such as...

I got an estimate and started a pledge drive to sound interest in having new 7 new vestments in black made, one with my coat of arms (ne obliviscantur).  Pledges came right away.  We got the ball rolling, donations were collected, the order was placed.

Yesterday, the Feast of dear St. Therese, Gammarelli wrote that the vestments were ready!

Here they are, all 7, stacked up and ready to be blessed.

You might notice that this time Gammarelli got our directions right.  No cross on the chalice veil and the cross on the maniple higher, where the widening begins.

Indeed... Zelus domus Tuae!

On my way to errands.  Just for nice.  Roman nasoni are such a joy!

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_7314.mp4

I went to the fishmonger and got clams for tonight. Spaghetti alle vongole. In case you are wondering, vongole veraci are 28/kg

I am purging them. You can see them starting to drink in the salty water and get rid of the undesirable mud, etc.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_7322.mp4

In churchy news...

I note that Cupich of Chicago has given his thorough explanation of Francis' remarks about all religions being paths to God. It was even picked up by Vatican News, he did such a good job. HERE

Also, at Fishwrap (aka National Sodomitic Reporter) we read that that eminent Franciscan Friar Daniel Horan (aka The Horan of Babylon) has left the Franciscans and the priesthood. Such a loss. How he will be missed. He says that he is making a "transition" to a new kind of life. I suppose he means ... not being a friar, but you never know.

In chessy news... HERE

The sun rose over Rome at 7:06 and it is going to set soon at 18:52.

The Ave Maria today changed to the 1900 cycle.   It is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, to whom we owe so much joyful gratitude and... attention.

Angele Dei, qui custos es mei,

me tibi commissum pietate superna

(hodie, hac nocte)

illumina, custodi, rege, et guberna!

Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for this day.

A taste of last night's edge of golden light towards the aforementioned sunset.

Notice the "mascherone" and the kids with the soccer ball.  Rome.

What greeted me this morning.  Click for larger.

I have my eye on a new place and I won't have this view.   But I'll get over it.

This isn't the Feast of St. Raphael, but Raphael certainly was Tobit's Guardian Angel!   This is one of the beautifully restored paintings at The Parish.

Breakfast with The World's Best Sacristan™.

Last night we were bringing some things over to my place from storage and I saw that many of the lamps were blinking.  "What gives?"  Remember a couple weeks back I posted some video of a bad storm at Rome?  It seems that that storm screwed up whatever regulates the consistency of current (capacitors?) to these lights.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_7249-1.mp4

In the church across the way, dedicated to St. Jerome, St Philip Neri started his Oratory.  Here is a little inscription for those who are so inclined.  I know at least one of you are, because you asked for it.   There is interesting information in here for the history of the Roman Church.

TEMPLVM HOC CLARISSIMVM, OLIM S. PAVLAE, MATRONAE ROM.

DOMICILIVM S. HIERONYMI ECCLESIAE DOCTORIS MAXIMI HO

SPITIVM AC DIVTVRNVM S.PHILIPPI NERII DIVERSORIVM

VNA CVM ARA MAXIMA IN HONOREM S.DOCTORIS EIVSDEM

ERECTA (SVB QVA PRAETER SS:PRIMITIVI ET VITALIS)

RELIQVIAS EIVS TABVLA INCLVSAS ALIORVM PLVSQVAM

DVCENTORVM ITIDEM MARTYRVM CORPORA REQVIESCVNT

ILLM.VS ET RMVS D. CAROLVS ALBERTVS GVIDOBONVS

CAVALCHINI ARCHIEPVS PHILIPPENSIS RITV SOLENNI

CONSECRAVIT III KAL. OCTOBRIS ANNI MDCCXXXVIII

HVIVS VERO CONSECRATIONIS ANNIVERSARIVM FESTVM CELE

BRARI IN POSTERVM STATVIT. DOMINICA TERTIA CVIVSLIBET

MENSIS SEPTEMBRIS. QVA DIE XPI FIDELIBVS ILLVD DEVOTE

VISITANTIBVS PRAETER PLENARIAM QVOTIDIANAM ALIASQVE

PLVRIMAS SVMMORVM PONTIFICVM BENEFICENTIA ATTRIBVTAS

INDVLGENTIAS. ALIAM XL. DIERVM IN FORMA ECCLESIAE

CONSVETA PERPETVO DVRATVRAM CONCESSIT

ARCHICONFRATERNITAS CHARITATIS

NE REI MEMORIA EXCIDERET MONVMENIVM PONI CVRAVIT

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In churchy news... I recommend a piece by my friend Robert Royal at The Catholic Thing about the empty rehashing of 70's cliches in this round of "walking together about walking togetherity".

Also, the Holy See is bleeding red ink. My spies say that the hunt is one for buildings etc. to sell in Rome to plug the hole. Gosh. I wonder what would happen if their "messaging" changed? But who am I to judge.

In chessy news.. HERE

It began with optimism. It devolved into irritation.

The sun rose in Rome at 7:05 and WILL SET at 18:53. The Ave Maria bell should ring at 19:15. but it won't.

There was hardly anyone entering JFK. Some people were waiting in the Sky Priority line. Soon I knew why. 2 agents- one on the phone for some 20 minutes with a single customer, the other like molasses in winter. After each person she walked away for a little while. Then we found pre-check had closed 45 minutes before the scheduled time. The subcontactors controlling access to priority passengers were not letting people in until a Delta Rep came by.

Half a mile of hurried concourse later....

I managed to get a decent bowl of soup in the lounge before schlepping to the gate.

UPDATE

pThe aisle setup is weird. They are sort of staggered.

 

33 is across from 32.

Also since I added my Italian SIM this app is trying to correct everything I write In English. This could become annoying - fighting hostile spell check in two languages.

UPDATE:

On the way in.  Iconic.

Home sweet home... until I find home sweeter home.  Please PRAY.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/img_7245.mp4

Another entrance.  To the parish.

You can see the death announcement of Giancarlo.   They buried him today.   I missed that too.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In Rome the sun rose at 7:02 and set at 16:58. The Ave Maria Bell should have sounded at 19:15.

I am not yet in Rome but rather in Brooklyn hanging out with friends.

The flight into LGA was 30 minutes early, which is remarkable considering the crazy weather in the Eastern USA.

I have a couple days here, so this is Rome MINUS 2.

It is hard to believe that this is LGA...

Quiz.... which beer is mine...

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/img_7155.mp4

In churchy news... we've learned that there is to be an Apostolic Visitation of the FSSP. The last one was 10 years ago. So... every 10 years whether it's needed or not? HERE

I'm trying not to read too much into it.

Communiqué of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter

Fribourg, September 26, 2024

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) has recently been informed by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the opening of an apostolic visitation of the Fraternity. As the Prefect of this Dicastery himself made clear to the Superior General and his assistants during a meeting in Rome, this visit does not originate in any problems of the Fraternity, but is intended to enable the Dicastery to know who we are, how we are doing and how we live, so as to provide us with any help we may need.

The last ordinary apostolic visit of the Fraternity was undertaken in 2014 by the Ecclesia Dei Commission. As the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has been in charge of the FSSP and other former Eccelsia Dei institutes for the past three years, it now the competency of this Dicastery to look after the FSSP.

In chessy news ... HERE