…came up slowly from behind. This blog is now in third place, having overtaken the Reverend Hermaneuticalness.  Is it possible that we could make second place and close in on American Papist? We’d need 47 votes to do so. It seems impossible, but anyway, vote now, and remember the Rule of the Crescat. Every time you vote for Fr.Z a scary gigantic puppet concelebrates Mass somewhere. Read more

The good Fr.Z first claims to walk on water, and the he claims that the biretta in this photograph is photo-shopped, then he claims here that the splendid ferriauolo in which I am pictured is ‘borrowed’! This bird loving priest is a preposterous popinjay! It is obvious that his claim that I am wearing a borrowed ferraiuolo is absurd. Given the present state of the Catholic Church in the USA, what clerical garment would be more difficult to borrow than... Read more

Our Lord Jesus Christ, born true man without ever ceasing to be true God, began in his person a new creation and by the manner of his birth gave man a spiritual origin. What mind can grasp this mystery, what tongue can fittingly recount this gift of love? Guilt becomes innocence, old becomes new, strangers are adopted and outsiders are made heirs. Rouse yourself, man, and recognise the dignity of your nature. Remember that you were made in God’s image;... Read more

The Benedictine monk divides his life into three parts: Work, Prayer and Reading. This gives a balance between the three aspects of life: Active, Spiritual and Intellectual. By developing all three the monk allows God to form and re-form his body, his mind and his spirit. For laypeople it is a reminder that we need to develop balance in our own lives between body, mind and spirit. Are you an intellectual bookish type who likes to read blogs? Get out... Read more

The Benedictine monk vows obedience, stability and conversion of life. Stability= God is not elsewhere Obedience=When my will is cracked open Grace comes in Conversion of Live= Why not be transformed into a living flame of love! Read more

I’m not big on conducted retreats where a priest tells you what to think and do. I’m sure they’re ok, but not for me. What do I do on retreat? Sleep, read, pray, walk around and look out the window. There’s a lot to be said for looking out windows. I think we should all spend more time looking out the window. You better find a good window to look out of first. It doesn’t have to be a fantastic... Read more

The title of this post is just to annoy Richard Williamson….but it is a big mountain to climb to catch the magnificent Fr.Z. It’s not for want of trying…I mean the latest addition to this blog–the clerical fashions page seems to be a big hit. So why isn’t this translating into votes? I realize it is a nuisance. You have to register, give an email address and password and so forth, but come along readers–give it the old college try!... Read more

A cheeky commenter over at Fr. Z’s blog hinted that I do not wear proper headgear. Begone doubter!! Read more

There’s something in human nature that wants to join and belong. We want to be a part of clubs, institutions, nations, federations, confraternities, fellowships, friendly societies, unions, movements and armies and organizations. We need to belong to a group, a family, an order of like minded brothers and sisters. We want to work together with shared beliefs to change the world. We want to fit into a hierarchy, a chain of command and an ordered society. There’s also something in... Read more

Do you remember the story of the Kakure Kirishitan? St Francis Xavier went as a missionary to Japan in the 1500s, and the result of the Jesuit mission was very successful. Tens of thousands of souls were converted. The warlords of Japan considered this a kind of alien invasion from the Phillipines and began to persecute the Catholics. Many were tortured and slain for their faith. St Paul Miki was a noble born Japanese youth who converted and became a... Read more