Fr. Z's Blog

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is the 3rd Sunday of Lent.   In ancient times, scrutanies of catechumens began.    If most of the Roman Stations are minor basilicas, today you hear an explanation of the major basilicas and to whom they are assigned.  Also, Fulton Sheen gives us an important reminder. I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Saturday in the 2nd Week of Lent.    Scott Hahn talks about two Old Testament figures who may also have influenced the Mass formulary for today. Lenten Reflections From A Father Who Keeps His Promises – US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Friday in the 2nd Week of Lent.    Bl. Abbot Marmion helps us with his insights about a powerful devotional practice. I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Thursday in the 2nd Week of Lent.    St. John Chrysostom instructs us about almsgiving.  Whew! I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Wednesday in the 2nd Week of Lent.       Card. Burke talks to us from Hope For The World  US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

Back in 2009 I made a PODCAzT – TEN YEARS AGO?!? – about the hymn sung in the Liturgy of Hours in honor of St. Joseph.   That post eventually was augmented with photos sent by The Great Roman™ of a terrific procession in honor of St. Joseph in the streets of Rome.  HERE  There are also photos from the now somewhat lamented Holy Innocents in NYC, where good things took place. And from the Great Roman… Bigne di San Giuseppe Check it out!  I drilled into a beautiful Gregorian chant hymn to St. Joseph in the Liturgia Horarum, the Liturgy of the Hours. The hymn is Te, Ioseph celebrent and it is in the Liber Hymnarius for 1st and 2nd Vespers for the Feast of St. Joseph. Also of note, Fr. Hunwicke has comments about his hymn at his fine blog, HERE. Also we listened to an indulgenced prayer written by Pope Leo XIII, Ad Te Ioseph. Finally, we hear St. Bernardine of Siena (+1444) preach on our Patron of the Universal Church who is Patron of the dying. Buy a Liber Hymnarius!  US HERE UK HERE

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Lent.    St. Joseph is celebrated today. We hear the Litany of St. Joseph, a powerful intercessor.  Pray along! You will hear a cut from the lovely CD from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, Angels and Saints at Ephesus.  US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Monday in the 2nd Week of Lent.     Martin Mosebach explains more about kneeling.  I think today’s section is going to bother quite a few of you.  Let’s see if I am right. Mosebach’s book The Heresy of Formlessness: The Roman Liturgy and Its Enemy (Revised and Expanded Edition). US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is the 2nd Sunday of Lent.     Martin Mosebach explains more about kneeling.  Mosebach’s book The Heresy of Formlessness: The Roman Liturgy and Its Enemy (Revised and Expanded Edition). US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is EMBER Saturday in the 1st Week of Lent.     Joseph Ratzinger explains the order of the Ember Days of Lent.  Martin Mosebach continues to explain about sitting and kneeling.  Mosebach’s book The Heresy of Formlessness: The Roman Liturgy and Its Enemy (Revised and Expanded Edition). US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is EMBER Friday in the 1st Week of Lent.   Remember, it’s Friday in Lent.  It’s a serious penance day. Stations of the Cross for Priests!  HERE   Please, oh please, oh pleeeeeese pray these Stations for us? Martin Mosebach speaks to us about sitting and kneeling… yes, I’m on a roll with kneeling.  Here is another view.   If you haven’t read Mosebach’s important book The Heresy of Formlessness: The Roman Liturgy and Its Enemy (Revised and Expanded Edition). US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Thursday in the 1st Week of Lent. Fr. James Jackson helps us to understand why we kneel at Holy Mass in his splendid book:  Nothing Superfluous: An Explanation of the Symbolism of the Rite of St. Gregory the Great  US HERE UK HERE   I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Wednesday in the 1st Week of Lent.  Lenten Ember Days!     John Henry Newman describes in poignant terms the struggle of a soul against habitual sin and the Devil, the longing of a soul for freedom. I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today Fulton Sheen tells us about the priests who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity.   And Archbp. Lefevbre chimes in. Today is Tuesday in the 1st Week of Lent.  Remember to examine your conscience. Today there is a snip from the disc of music for Lent from the Nuns in of Gower Abbey. US HERE – UK HERE I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog.

These daily 5 minute podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day, a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. I provide these especially in gratitude to benefactors who help me and this blog. Today is Monday in the 1st Week of Lent. Are you taking stock? We hear today about the hymn for Vespers in Lent.