Tag Archives: Books

Blessing of Paschal Foods/Easter Baskets

Posted on April 19, 2019 by

In some places there is an old tradition of blessing the food that will be eaten on Easter morning (thereby breaking the traditional Lenten fast). These foods are usually brought in a nicely-decorated basket to the church on Holy Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

The Mothers of Lu

Posted on April 18, 2019 by

On this Holy Thursday we consider the two sacraments our Lord instituted this day: the Holy Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. They are intimately connected – no priests, no Eucharist; no love and reverence for the Eucharist, no priests. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Lady of Sorrows in Passiontide

Posted on April 12, 2019 by

Today — Friday before Palm Sunday — is traditionally the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows in Passiontide; also known as “St. Mary in Passiontide”, “Our Lady in Passiontide”, or “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows”. This feast is found in … Continue reading →

Posted in Scheduled | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Trust the Church of God

Posted on April 9, 2019 by

An important and helpful quotation from Cardinal Newman — who is due to be canonized later this year: Trust the Church of God implicitly, even when your natural judgment would take a different course from hers, and would induce you … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , ,

How Much Water in the Wine?

Posted on April 8, 2019 by

During the preparation of the chalice (see HERE for another interesting post on this topic), the deacon or priest who is doing the preparation is supposed to add some water to the wine. This is done …as the Council of Trent … Continue reading →

Posted in Scheduled | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Realism of Moral Manuals

Posted on April 4, 2019 by

84. Night prayer is the last prayer of the day, said before retiring, even if that is after midnight. That norm, from the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, implies that the prayer of Vespers (Evening Prayer) shall … Continue reading →

Posted in Scheduled | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Placement of the Corporal – and the Hands

Posted on March 21, 2019 by

There is a lot that can be written about the corporal — the square piece of linen that is folded and unfolded in a very particular way, set beneath the chalice and paten during the celebration of Mass. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Scheduled | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

A Story about Devotion to St. Joseph

Posted on March 19, 2019 by

An Italian blog that I follow, Cordialiter, regularly posts excerpts from pious writings. I am happy to share this story from a book by Fr. Giuseppe Tomaselli on devotion to St. Joseph, in my translation. Though it may be easy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Blessing of Holy Water

Posted on March 10, 2019 by

There are major differences between the blessing of holy water in the more modern or “Ordinary Form” of the liturgy and the older or “Extraordinary Form”. In the older form, salt and water are mixed — after they have both been exorcised … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Month of Saint Joseph

Posted on March 1, 2019 by

March is the month of St. Joseph. I have commented on various occasions about how the Lord, in his providence, seems to cause certain saints to achieve greater prominence at certain points in history. St. Joseph is one of those … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Parish Ritual – UPDATED 2/27/19

Posted on February 27, 2019 by

UPDATE 2/27/19: Since posting the following review on 2/24, someone really close to the project/publisher called me to discuss some of the concerns I raised. He gave some helpful background on all the (heavy) work that went into compiling this … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hoc | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lenten Fasting in the Eastern Churches

Posted on February 25, 2019 by

I’ve already posted a couple of times in the way of encouraging everyone to get ready for Lent by giving up excuses and thinking carefully about what one might give up — not just “doing something extra” or reflexively “giving up chocolate”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Scheduled | Tagged , , , , , , , ,