Fr. Z's Blog

Today is the anniversary of several notable events. The most noteworthy, according to me, are the following.

It is the anniversary of St. Simon Stock’s vision of Mary in 1251, hence it is the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

In 1969 Apollo 11 lifted off.

In 1970 Fischer with black beat Spassky in Game 3.

In 2021, based partly on a lie about a results of a survey of bishops, the cruel Motu Proprio Traditionis custodes was promulgated along with a letter to Catholic Bishops. It was, and still is, a black mark in the Church’s pastoral mission procuring repeated blows by bishops and the dicastery on the already bruised people of God. Pray regularly, please, a Memorare for its abrogation.

Welcome registrant:

DanShell

A word of thanks is due to several of you readers who have sent me items from my wish list.  Alas, more and more often it seems there are no “gift slips” included, which means that I don’t know who sent what and I have no way to write a note of thanks.  Just recently I received a couple of brass candle “followers” that are the correct size for some altar candles which another reader sent.  Also, I received a book about an interested historical person in New York and some – yum – beef jerky.  THAT was a real help during my recent travel misadventures and misconnection.  I had tucked a pouch into my backpack before sallying forth into the unknown and therefore had something to eat when I got stuck in ATL after everything was closed.  I have some wonderful San Marzano tomatoes and some chess puzzles, wonderful hot chili oil, etc.  Also, I’m taking my desktop to an expert to clone my c: drive to a very much larger SSD.  One of you sent my the drive.  I tried to do it myself, but it didn’t work.  I need help with it.  It’ll cost not nothing, but it will be worth it.  My point is, thank you, all of you for being so good to me.  I pray for my benefactors and regularly (every Sunday now – more often when I’m in Rome) say Mass for you.  It is my pleasure and duty.

Another note.  I’ll be updating the “mom’s stuff” page shortly.   And a couple of you reached out to acquire some things.  I’m on it.

Meanwhile…

At Infovaticana we read:

A group of laypeople has founded the association Pro Fide Ecclesiae, in Germany, a new movement that seeks to give voice to Catholics who do not feel represented by the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) or heard by the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK). According to Kath.net, the initiative was established last Sunday in Offenbach am Main and counts among its founding members the emeritus bishop of Chur, Marian Eleganti, one of the most critical voices regarding the German Synodal Way.

The promoters of the association maintain that there is a broad sector of “conservative in values” faithful who remain loyal to the Church’s magisterium and who have been excluded from ecclesial debate in Germany. Although they assert that these Catholics are not a minority in the parishes, they denounce that they have become practically invisible in official dialogue and media coverage.

A lay movement in defense of the magisterium
Pro Fide Ecclesiae defines itself canonically as a lay movement, inspired by the conciliar decree Apostolicam Actuositatem on the apostolate of the laity, although it is also open to priests and other members of the clergy.

Its main objective is to strengthen the Catholic faith and promote firm adherence to the Church’s magisterium, as well as to establish links with other associations of the faithful that share the same orientation.

Among the founders is Bishop Marian Eleganti, who summarized the purpose of the initiative with a forceful statement: “We want to defend the faith against heretical interpretations and falsifications”.

HA!

Black to move. Mate in …?

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance, utilities, groceries, and now also my late mother’s place.  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.  

BREAKING: The House has passed legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide, ending the twice-a-year clock changes by a 308-117 vote. Backed by President Trump, the bill now heads to the Senate. If approved and signed into law, Americans would no longer have to… pic.twitter.com/6iy9O9ZWYf

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 14, 2026

Black to move. Mate in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Also, I note with interest the pastoral letters issued by some bishops about the SSPX situation.  I mentioned the other day that I was please that a bishop openly said that he would be willing to talk to any SSPX priest who would approach him.  Some one sent me a note with letters from other bishops. Caggiano of Bridgeport makes an inviting appeal.  Burbidge of Arlington refers to his “brother priests” though he doesn’t explicit invite them.  Lucia of Syracuse, on the other hand, wrote a rather harsh letter, and seems to go a bit beyond what the Holy See so ineptly indicated about frequenting SSPX chapels.  He suggests that going to a SSPX chapel after reading his letter – even once – would be formal adherence to schism.  That can’t be, of course, but that’s the take away.   Moreover, they all repeat the claim the SSPX absolutions are now invalid.  They get that from the “Explanatory Note”.  The problem I see with that is that there is no clear legitimate statement that Leo XIV removed the faculty.  The Dicastery can’t do it without Leo.

And from my friend Fr. McTeigue:

Today at 1700 EDT I will say a Votive Mass “for the unity of the Church”, once called “ad tollendum schisma”.

Deus, qui errata córrigis,
et dispérsa cóngregas, et congregáta consérvas:
qu?sumus, super pópulum christiánum tuæ uniónis grátiam cleménter infúnde;
ut, divisióne rejécta, vero pastóri Ecclésiæ tuæ se úniens,
tibi digne váleat famulári.

O God, who settest straight what has gone astray,
and gatherest together what is scattered, and keepest what Thou hast gathered together:
we beseech Thee in Thy mercy to pour down on Christian people the grace of union with Thee,
that, putting disunion aside and joining themselves to the true Shepherd of Thy Church,
they may be able to render Thee worthy service.

Some will immediately think that this is aimed at the SSPX situation. While it is that, it is even more aimed at those who are clearly out of step with the Holy Catholic Church while still formally belonging to her. Those who tear at the unity of the Church through their ambiguous or heretical teaching, their twisted liturgical choices, their antinomialist anarchotyranny, their petty backbiting bullying and abuse of authority. These are the true underminers of the unity of the Church, not those who strive to preserve Tradition.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance, utilities, groceries, and now also my late mother’s place.  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.  

Good news and bad news all at once…. According to Infovaticana, the North American Jesuits are reducing their novitiate locations from five to two. The two new novitiates will be located in Detroit (Michigan) and Culver City (California). Go woke. Go broke. And they are just about bankkrupt. I feel badly for the really great Jesuits who are trapped in that mess.

I simply must…

In Indiana, what started as a simple maternity photo shoot quickly turned into an unforgettable moment—thanks to Buckshot, arguably the most photogenic horse in the county.

Amanda and Phil, the expecting couple, wanted their horses to be part of the shoot since they consider… pic.twitter.com/Jr6VKUapbj

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) July 13, 2026

Black to move and mate in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance, utilities, groceries, and now also my late mother’s place.  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.  

I’m glad that Rorate picked this up. I tried to get it from Le Figaro yesterday, but there is a paywall in place that I couldn’t get around.

This Saturday, July 11th, Notre-Dame de Bellefontaine Abbey officially receives a new monastic community. For Dom Louis-Marie, Abbot of Le Barroux, the decision is above all the fruit of spiritual discernment: “From the beginning, it has been a matter of following the signs of heaven and the signs of the Lord.”

On November 13, 2025, the last Trappist monks departed Notre-Dame de Bellefontaine Abbey, bringing to a close more than two centuries of uninterrupted presence at this monastery in the Mauges region. The future of the site remained uncertain. This Saturday, July 11th, a new chapter opens with the official installation of twelve monks from the Abbey of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux, who now ensure the continuity of a monastic life nearly a thousand years old.

This arrival is far more than a simple replacement of one community by another. It marks the return of Benedictines to a monastery whose origins reach back to the early twelfth century.

There’s more. This is like a balm for the soul. I have no doubt whatsoever that this foundation from Le Barroux will flourish and, perhaps in its own time, renew monastic life in another worthy and salvageable monastery. You can hear the office chanted by the monks at Le Barroux HERE.

?? ????? ???? — Douze moines de l’abbaye du Barroux, dans le Vaucluse, s’installeront aujourd’hui à l’abbaye Notre-Dame de Bellefontaine, en Maine-et-Loire, relançant ainsi une vie bénédictine interrompue depuis 1642, après le départ des moines trappistes en 2025. pic.twitter.com/tpq7Q749LX

— L’Écho Chrétien (@lechochretien) July 11, 2026

But the TLM must be suppressed in favor of the one “unique” Roman Rite… right?

we’re screwed https://t.co/JiQb535w2L

— Theologia Scholastica (@theoscholastica) July 11, 2026

White to move and mate in 4.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.