Tag Archives: Catholic Culture

Ringing the Bell at the Consecrations

Posted on June 16, 2019 by

The practice of ringing a bell at the consecration (or striking a small gong-like bell or using some other sort of chimes) is not required, but is certainly widespread. Some places did abandon it in the past half-century, sometimes for … Continue reading →

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Rose Petals on Pentecost

Posted on June 11, 2019 by

This past Sunday, June 9 — Pentecost — we had our second annual “Shower of Rose Petals” in my parish at the conclusion of our 11am Solemn Mass. This custom picks up on the rather ancient tradition at the Pantheon … Continue reading →

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Confession during Mass?

Posted on June 10, 2019 by

May confessions be heard during Mass? There is still rather a lot of confusion about this question — both among priests and laity. It is not unusual to hear of a priest who, with a great sense of certitude, declares … Continue reading →

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The Biretta

Posted on June 6, 2019 by

One of the delights in reading old books that comment on the liturgy, is that they often provide profound explanations of the meaning of the various things we say and do during the sacred liturgy. One example of this is in … Continue reading →

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Gestures during the Gloria

Posted on June 5, 2019 by

Continuing a theme I’ve recently been addressing here, we may consider other ways that the richness of our Catholic liturgical tradition as handed down to us in the Extraordinary Form of the liturgy may be brought to bear on our … Continue reading →

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Retirement of a Bishop

Posted on June 4, 2019 by

My bishop, the Most Rev. Robert J. Baker, S.T.D., turns 75 today. Happy Birthday! Many people of course realize that bishops ordinarily retire when they reach 75, and so are wondering “what happens next” — some are also anxious about … Continue reading →

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Come, Holy Spirit — What does this mean?

Posted on June 3, 2019 by

At this time of the year, as we prepare for the Feast of Pentecost, it is not uncommon to see many people invoking a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and praying that He will come into their lives. There … Continue reading →

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How Does One Make Holy Water?

Posted on May 31, 2019 by

Is it enough for a priest to make the sign of the cross over plain water, to make it “holy water”? Holy water is one of the Church’s sacramentals. “Sacramentals” are sacred signs instituted by the Church that “signify effects, … Continue reading →

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Who may use the Exorcism of Pope Leo XIII?

Posted on May 30, 2019 by

I remember once, many years ago, when I was more involved in pro-life activities, I was in a certain place praying outside an abortion clinic and the other good lay people who were praying there (I was a layman also … Continue reading →

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A (Simplistic?) Thought on Medjugorje

Posted on May 28, 2019 by

It was recently reported that Pope Francis had authorized pilgrimages to Medjugorje (they had formerly been forbidden — and that directive was widely and flagrantly disobeyed). There is a proviso (which will likely be ignored by many), that these approved … Continue reading →

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The Marital Debt

Posted on May 23, 2019 by

One very traditional (and important) Church teaching that has all but disappeared from Catholic consciousness in recent decades is that of “the marital debt”, also known as “the conjugal debt”. This teaching has to do with the obligation that spouses … Continue reading →

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Confession behind the Screen

Posted on May 22, 2019 by

The recent legal moves against the seal of confession in California — see Bishop Barron’s commentary here — are a good argument for only having anonymous (behind the screen) confessions. So a brother priest tweeted — and I heartily agree. No priest is … Continue reading →

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