Tag Archives: Prayers

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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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Blessing Enemies – Or Else

Posted on February 18, 2019 by

“Break thou the arm of the evildoer” (Psalm 10:15). “Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers” (Psalm 35:3). “O God, break the teeth in their mouths” (Psalm 58:6). “Let them be blotted out from the book of the living” … Continue reading →

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Morbid Introspection

Posted on February 14, 2019 by

Dom Mark Kirby is the Prior of the excellent Silverstream Priory (Benedictines), north of Dublin in Ireland. He is also probably (so many of us think) the author of the book In Sinu Jesu…The Journal of a Priest at Prayer, which … Continue reading →

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Candlemas 2019

Posted on February 2, 2019 by

We had a lovely Mass this morning for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – traditionally known as “Candlemas”, the fortieth day after Christmas, the day when candles are blessed and carried lighted in procession. Also – in … Continue reading →

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The Roman Canon and Children

Posted on January 25, 2019 by

In seminary we were given some sort of vague familiarity (or at least knowledge of) the so-called “Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children” that had been composed as an option for the Novus Ordo at Masses where the majority present … Continue reading →

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Blessings for Ordinary Things

Posted on January 15, 2019 by

The Church has many wonderful blessings to enrich and enhance our daily life. Every priest should have a copy of the 1962 Rituale Romanum, which contains these blessings, many of which were not carried over to the post-conciliar “Book of Blessings”. … Continue reading →

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A Change of Rubrics

Posted on December 30, 2018 by

The Church teaches that the faithful have the right to the liturgy celebrated according to its laws — according to the rubrics — for they express the mind of the Church and are a guarantee of the catholicity of our … 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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Rorate Mass

Posted on December 16, 2018 by

At the kind instance of a parishioner, I scheduled a Rorate Mass this year. Not only had I never been to one of these Masses; I had not celebrated one either. I did it as a High Mass (Missa Cantata), … Continue reading →

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