Fr John Zuhlsdorf, Author at Catholic Herald

Fr John Zuhlsdorf

April 07, 2016

In the traditional Roman calendar, on April 11 we celebrate the feast of Pope St Leo I, “the Great” (d 461). Leo has had several feast days over the centuries. Once upon a time he was celebrated on June 28, which was the day that his relics were moved, or translated, to the Vatican Basilica. It

Omnium Gatherum

March 31, 2016

The feast of the Annunciation, celebrating Mary’s pivotal “Yes!” to God, the instant the Eternal Word took our flesh, the Incarnation, was transferred this year to Monday April 4 because of the Sacred Triduum. In the traditional form of the Roman Rite, every time we say the Creed we genuflect at the mention of the

Omnium Gatherum

March 24, 2016

There were reports last November that some conferences of bishops, including that of England and Wales, had requested that the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei review the Good Friday petition for Jews which Benedict XVI composed and inserted into the 1962 Missale Romanum. It seems that this request was originally an initiative of the German bishops.

Omnium Gatherum

March 17, 2016

March 19 is the feast of the glorious St Joseph, earthly father of Our Saviour, spouse and chaste guardian of the Virgin Mary. Among his titles in the litany in his honour we sing “Pillar of families, Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of the

Omnium Gatherum

March 10, 2016

Traditionally the Fifth Sunday of Lent is called First Passion Sunday or First Sunday of the Passion. “Passiontide” begins. It is also known as Iudica Sunday, from the first word of the Introit of Mass (from Psalm 42/41), and sometimes Repus (from repositus, analogous to absconditus, “hidden”) because crosses and other images in churches are

Omnium Gatherum

March 03, 2016

One of my favourite saints, St Frances of Rome (d 1440) has her feast on March 9. She married into the Ponziani family, whose medieval palazzo still stands in Trastevere. When first I moved to Rome many years ago I lived in that palazzo. Therein is a chapel in the room where she died, indeed

Omnium Gatherum

February 25, 2016

The Collect for the Third Sunday of Lent in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite is found in the ancient Veronese and Gelasian Sacramentaries. The Mass formulary for this third Sunday is one of the oldest that has come down to us. On this day in ancient Rome the catechumens who sought to enter

Omnium Gatherum

February 18, 2016

In the Roman Church on February 22 we observe the Feast of the Chair of Peter. “Chair” refers to the cathedra, the technical name for a bishop’s chair which symbolises the teaching authority he has as a successor of the Apostles. The church in which you find the local bishop’s permanent, official chair is a

Omnium Gatherum

February 11, 2016

With this First Sunday of Lent we are fully into our 40-day season of purification and preparation. Speaking of 40, the Latin for Lent is Quadragesima, “40th”. St Leo the Great (d 461) used the phrase quadragesimale ieiunium, “the Forty Fast”, for Lent. English “Lent” comes from Old English lencten for “spring”. Let’s see the

Omnium Gatherum

February 04, 2016

Ash Wednesday comes early this year, namely on February 10. You should already be planning what your Lenten discipline will be. I suggest something more challenging than giving up chocolate … again. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence, generally from meat. You might consult what your bishops said in 1985 about fasting

Omnium Gatherum

January 28, 2016

On February 2 we resolve the last traces of the Advent/Christmas cycle with the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as it is called in the traditional Roman calendar; the Presentation of the Lord in the newer. Forty days have passed since Christmas. Many people remove the last of their Christmas decorations

Omnium Gatherum

January 21, 2016

While many this Sunday will see Holy Mass clothed in green, purple is the colour for the Traditional Latin Mass. In the classical calendar we have already moved into the pre-Lent Sundays. This is Septuagesima, or the “70th” day before Easter. Hard on the heels of the Christmas cycle this year, we enter a preparatory

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