Mantilla the Hon on the Use of Incense

Last updated on: February 1, 2015 at 12:54 pm By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Guest blogger Mantilla Amontillado is the founder of Veritas Vestments. She holds a degree in Ecclesiastical Haberdashery from Salamanca University. She has done the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella three times on horseback and is engaged to the famous matador, Senor Augusto Torquemada. Hon, I am going to Mass last week and I hear everybody coughing and spluttering when Father use the incense. What is this? Everybody so uptight about the incense. “Ooh, it makes my eyes water! Ooh, they... Read more

Satan Be Muzzled!

Last updated on: January 31, 2015 at 1:48 pm By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Over at Sacred Page the Bible Scholars point out that when Jesus tells the unclean spirit in today’s gospel to “Be Quiet!” the language is stronger. Jesus’ simple response immediately drives him out: Quiet! Come out of him! In fact, the Greek term, phimōthēti, actually can be translated, “Be muzzled!” All of this further underscores Jesus’ unique power. I like that. It portrays Satan as a raging, snarling beast. And so he is. “Be alert and be vigilant for your adversary like a snarling... Read more

Why I Did Not Ban Girl Altar Servers…

Last updated on: June 10, 2025 at 10:05 am By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

…even though everyone thought I was going to. Meanwhile on the West coast Fr Illo–A priest in San Francisco has made the headlines this week for banning girl altar servers. Was he right to do so? He certainly has the right to do so, and I respect his reasons for making the decision. When I served as chaplain to the local Catholic High School I didn’t exactly ban girl altar servers. I only had one or two and they graduated.... Read more

How is the Devil at Work in the World?

Last updated on: January 31, 2015 at 10:48 am By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

There are several reasons why there is an extraordinary interest in demon possession and exorcism. The phenomenon is dramatic and horrible and there will always be a fascination with the dark side of reality. However, I believe there is also a vital interest in possession and exorcism because it is one of the few areas of life where the evidence of the supernatural and the real power of Jesus Christ working through the Catholic faith is evident. Anyone who has... Read more

Raw Story or Raw Sewerage?

Last updated on: January 30, 2015 at 2:08 pm By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

It seems your blogger has been mentioned as a raving right wing nut who hates Pope Francis. A story over at Raw Story lumps me in with conservatives like Pat Buchanan, Cardinal Burke, John Vennari and Archbishop Chaput. Apparently we’re all “Scary Ultra Right Wing Catholics.” This is not a raw story it’s raw sewerage. I should send the Todd Unctuous who wrote this some of the emails I get from genuinely scary right wing Catholics who castigate me for being... Read more

Slubgrip is Here!

Last updated on: January 30, 2015 at 1:19 pm By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

The hard copies of Slubgrip Instructs have been delivered! The demon Slubgrip has been demoted to teach Popular Culture 101 at Bowelbages University. These Lenten Lectures focus on the different ideologies and godless philosophies that undermine our culture and weaken Catholicism. It’s good Lenten reading for anyone, but it is especially good for college and high school students who are facing challenges in the faith. Remember for these last few days of January you can still take advantage of the... Read more

Is There a Split in the Catholic Church?

Last updated on: January 30, 2015 at 1:27 pm By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Some time ago a priest friend I’ll call Tony was discussing the problems he was having with some colleagues and parishioners. Whenever he had an idea or tried to get something going he met resistance. It wasn’t that his people and fellow priests didn’t like him. It wasn’t that they were angry, rebellious or ugly. He said it was as if they were simply on a different wavelength. They were not connecting. They didn’t seem to have the same set... Read more

Prepare Now for a Holy Lent

Last updated on: January 29, 2015 at 11:24 am By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Lent is just around the corner. Have you made any preparations yet? In our parish we are not having extra services, Bible studies, meetings and stuff to do. Instead we are using new and old media to provide our people with a plethora of good materials so they can make their own Lent holy. St Benedict said everyone should read a good book during Lent, and what better book to keep by your side than a new volume to help... Read more

Pope Francis – Apocalypse Now?

Last updated on: January 29, 2015 at 9:03 am By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Pope Francis remains an exciting enigma for many. Some find him maddening while others find him enlightening and others are simply confused. My article for Aleteia this week gives the key to understanding Pope Francis. It opens the door to his world vision and this underlying perspective influences all that he says and does. Pope Francis, like Benedict before him, sees the Church in conflict with the world. His regular references to the battle against Satan and his call to... Read more

You Are Not Your Mood

Last updated on: January 27, 2015 at 9:55 pm By Fr. Dwight Longenecker

From the Big Red Book: If I were asked to give young man or woman a bit of advice taking only a minute or two it would run as follows: Try to regard your states of mind as visits to places. “Now I am in the angry place or the melancholy place or the misunderstood- by- everybody place.” The point is, if you do this you don’t identify yourself with these states of mind they are not you and it... Read more