Tag Archives: Images

A Prayer before Preaching

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

The task of preparing to preach is a serious one, upon which depends the spiritual good of the people entrusted to the preacher’s care. All priests are challenged to invest time and prayer into their preaching, carefully preparing what they … Continue reading →

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Christmas Greetings for the Popes, Current and Emeritus

Posted on November 26, 2018 by

I posted a couple of years about how to send Christmas greetings to Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI; those posts have always been very popular. I’m happy to share this information again, in case you want to include … Continue reading →

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Where should the priest look during Mass?

Posted on November 25, 2018 by

What is a priest supposed to do with his eyes during the celebration of Mass? The question probably seems trifling and frivolous to many, but the answer to it can greatly affect the experience of those assisting and praying at … Continue reading →

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Priest Gifts Compendium 2018

Posted on November 24, 2018 by

As I mentioned in my last post, this time of year I get a fair number of blog visitors who are searching the internet for “Christmas gifts for priests”. Please note, lest there be any doubt or suspicion: I am … Continue reading →

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Visit of the Incorrupt Heart of St. John Vianney

Posted on November 18, 2018 by

We will soon be blessed here in Birmingham to host the relic of the incorrupt heart of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. The Knights of Columbus are having the relic tour the country from November to May, … Continue reading →

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A Meditation on One of the Requiem Chants

Posted on November 2, 2018 by

Our mid-day Mass for All Souls here at the Cathedral of St. Paul will have a simple musical accompaniment: a chant schola singing the Church’s beautiful requiem propers. In my homily, which I copy below, I reflect on a surprising … Continue reading →

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Smartphone in Confession?

Posted on October 30, 2018 by

A couple of years back, I started to notice an uncanny occurrence: often things that I had spoken about (out loud) during the day would suddenly appear in online ads (e.g., on my Facebook). It didn’t take long for me … Continue reading →

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Vocations

Posted on October 29, 2018 by

I recently purchased a reprint of an old book, Vocations, by Fr. William Doyle, S.J. I believe it was Dr. Peter Kwasniewksi who helped bring it back into print, and I tend to trust his reading recommendations. He was surely correct … Continue reading →

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Vesting Prayers in Three Languages

Posted on October 28, 2018 by

It used to be that a priest was required to say a prayer with each garment that he put on as he prepared for Mass – ordinarily, seven prayers total, including the initial washing of the hands (there is not … Continue reading →

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Old Typography

Posted on October 26, 2018 by

Small details, such as ligatures connecting letters, made typography in past times more aesthetically pleasing – easier on the eyes. It was also an art form: look at that italicized ‘Q’! Most of our computerized fonts today are not in … Continue reading →

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Build A Bigger Church

Posted on October 2, 2018 by

The Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen made a great deal of money through his work on television and the talks and special media appearances he did besides. But one of the (surprising?) things we discover upon studying his life … Continue reading →

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Spanish Mass: When the Mass Parts Aren’t

Posted on August 25, 2018 by

It is an extremely widespread phenomenon that Mass parts sung at Spanish Masses do not have the correct words – that is, the words printed in the Roman Missal; words which, in the case of the main parts of the … Continue reading →

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