Tag Archives: Food

Blessing of Herbs for the Assumption

Posted on August 14, 2019 by

This evening, on the Vigil of the Assumption, I offered the traditional Blessing of Herbs that is affiliated with this feast day. This is the first time as a priest I had done so. This blessing has mostly fallen off … Continue reading →

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Teaching How to Receive on the Tongue

Posted on June 21, 2019 by

One thing I’ve encountered in various places is that there are people who wish to start receiving communion on the tongue (maybe when they made their first communion they were only given the option of receiving in the hand), but … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Does Friday Penance Bind Gravely?

Posted on April 5, 2019 by

Today, when this is being posted, is a Friday of Lent — a day of abstinence from meat for all Catholics who have completed 14 years of age. But is it really a sin if one chooses to eat meat anyhow … Continue reading →

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Lenten Abstinence for Vegetarians and Vegans

Posted on March 5, 2019 by

The law on abstinence, which applies to Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent, requires us to abstain from eating any meat on those days. Under current law, broths made from meat may be taken, as long as there … Continue reading →

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Quinquagesima Sunday – Choosing Our Lenten Penances

Posted on March 3, 2019 by

Today, “about 50 days” before Easter, is traditionally known as “Quinquagesima” (Latin for “50th”). We had a guest priest at the Cathedral, so I did not celebrate Mass here; rather, a priest at a neighboring parish was kind to let … Continue reading →

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Sundays in Lent – Both/And

Posted on March 2, 2019 by

My friend, Fr. Zehnle, posted something on Twitter today that I thought was very good: I think he’s responding to the classic Catholic discussion on how the Sundays of Lent are not included in the Lenten season, because if you … Continue reading →

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Pre-Lent

Posted on February 15, 2019 by

This Sunday (three Sundays before Ash Wednesday), February 17, 2019, is traditionally known as Septuagesima — Latin for “seventieth” and understood to be approximately the seventieth day before Easter. Septuagesima is the traditional beginning of Pre-Lent. This observance has been abolished in … Continue reading →

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Non-Penitential Fridays 2019

Posted on December 27, 2018 by

Code of Canon Law, canon 1250: The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. Code of Canon Law, canon 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food … Continue reading →

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Coming Up: Blessing of Wine

Posted on December 24, 2018 by

This Thursday, December 27, is the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. And the Roman Ritual gives us a special blessing connected with his feast day: the blessing of wine! I’m happy to share here a PDF that I created with … Continue reading →

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The Purification of the Church

Posted on August 3, 2018 by

Last weekend in my parish I preached on the current scandals in the Church and our response to them. You may be interested in reading that homily here. In it, I encouraged prayer and fasting for the purification of the Church. … Continue reading →

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Baptism by Beer?

Posted on February 24, 2017 by

In preparing a handout for RCIA, I am brushing up on the matter and form of each sacrament.  With baptism in particular, many questions can arise about the matter of the sacrament. Can we baptize with beer – in a … Continue reading →

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