Fr. Z's PODCAzTs

It's Saturday in the 2nd Week of Lent.

The Roman Station is Santi Marcellino e Pietro

Card. Bacci talks about the "philosopher's stone" of the spiritual life.  Fulton Sheen pulls our masks off.  We have a lovely Collect from the Mass.   The Benedictine of Gower Abbey sing to us.

It's Friday in the 2nd Week of Lent.

The Roman Station is San Vitale.

Today we hear about envy, jealously, with the help of Thomas Aquinas, Dante and Dorothy Sayers.   I sincerely believe that many of the tensions in the more traditional side of the Catholic blogosphere are driven by this perverted desire to deprive others of the goods they enjoy and their accomplishments.

It's Thursday in the 2nd Week of Lent.

The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Trastevere.  This is one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Mother of God.

We hear from Fr. Troadec today about Dives and Lazarus, the Rich Man and the Beggar.

It's Wednesday in the 2nd Week of Lent.

The Roman Station is Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.  I have a personal relationship with this basilica.

Today Fulton Sheen talks about how monotonous Christ's life was.

It's Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Lent.

The Roman Station is Santa Balbina.  However, it's observance was moved to San Bartolomeo on the Tiber Island.   Moreover, in Rome churches have been shut down for the time being because of coronavirus.

Today, in addition to hearing about Santa Balbina and the Chains of Peter, St. Alphonsus de Liguori coaches us about preparing for death.  Then, a taste of the most sobering words we will ever hear in life.  There is a snippet of the singing Benedictine nuns of Gower Abbey.

It's Monday in the 2nd Week of Lent.

The Roman Station is the amazing San Clemente.

Today we hear the last Angelus address given by Benedict XVI. It was the 2nd Sunday of Lent. He talks about climbing the mountain of prayer, but then going back down into action. We hear also from the beautiful nuns of Gower Abbey.

It's the 2nd Sunday of Lent.

The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Domnica.

Today we learn about a Pope with a square halo and hear from Card. Bacci about books and learning.

As a favor to a friend, I'll repost this old podcast.  It is the Eve of the Feast of St. Agnes, which of course reminds us of the famous poem by Keats.

I, fan of poetry that I am, read out Keat's poem, 42 Spencerian stanzas.  It is torrid and lush, with marvelous moments and imagery, imbued with the revival of romantic, courtly love which was coming back into vogue in the early 19th century.

The poem takes inspiration from a superstition, which I explain in an introduction.

The Eve of St Agnes would inspire the Pre-Raphaelites, as a matter of fact.

Speaking of Pre-Raphaelites, one of their circle, was Christina Rossetti, a poet in her own right.

Christina Rossetti wrote a poem which later was made into a Christmas carol: In the Bleak Midwinter.  We are still within the Christmas cycle until Candlemas.

At Epiphany we Latins have - traditionally - chanted a solemn proclamation of the key liturgical dates or movable feasts for the new year of salvation, just begun.

This underscores how these dates and seasons are all interconnected.

The liturgical year is a reflection of and on the mystery of our salvation.  And, never forget, the mysteries shape us. We are our rites.

Some liturgical dates are movable. For example Septuagesima, in 2019, fell on 17 February. This beginning of Pre-Lent doesn’t fall on the same date every year because the date of Easter changes each year.  In 2020 it will fall on 9 February.

“But Father! But Father!”, you libtards are surely sputtering.  “What does this chant sound like? Do it in English like the spirit of Vatican II wanted!   But you won’t because YOU HATE VATICAN II!”

We will use Latin on Epiphany, of course.

Here is what it sounds like, in case some deacon or priest out there, less familiar with chant, wants to give it a shot.  It sounds rather like the Exultet, sung at the Easter Vigil.  The Noveritis is a little awkward in parts.

You can find a printable PDF of the Noveritis 2020 HERE.  NB: It has Ascension Thursday on the correct day!

Fathers.  Here is how to sing the Noveritis for 2020, on Epiphany.  I'll take it slowly so that you can get it into your ears.

Here is ADVENTCAzT 02, for Monday in the 1st Week of Advent.

Today Bp. Schneider talks about how Christ's friends make Him suffer, Fulton Sheen reflects on how God would work in us and the Lord describes something of the End Times.

These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened.

Have an idea for a reading in these podcasts?  HERE   Make some Mystic Monk Coffee and have a listen!

PS: These podcasts should also be available through my iTunes feed, though maybe not immediately. Let me know how you are listening.  Through the plugin on this post? Through iTunes? Downloading?   Did you enjoy what you heard?  DONATE