Fr. Z's Blog

Let’s have a look at the Collect for today’s Mass of Pentecost Monday.

COLLECT (1962MR):
Deus, qui Apostolis tuis
Sanctum dedisti Spiritum:
concede plebi tuae piae petitionis effectum;
ut, quibus dedisti fidem, largiaris et pacem.

I found this prayer in the 8th c. Liber sacramentorum Gellonensis.

I like that elegant splitting of Spiritum Sanctum with dedisti.

Our trusty Lewis & Short reminds us that effectus, us, (efficio) means basically “a doing, effecting; execution, accomplishment, performance; with reference to the result of an action, an operation, effect, tendency, purpose”.  Blaise & Dumas offers that effectus has to do with the “realization of a prayer”.

LITERAL VERSION:
O God, who gave the Holy Spirit to Your Apostles,
grant to Your people the realization of their dutiful petition,
that you may bestow also peace
upon those whom you have given faith.

What immediately jumps into my mind are the references to peace in the ordinary of the Mass and also in the moderm form for sacramental absolution.

Allow me to stretch to a connection, in view of the Roman Station.

Christ is our Lord and Liberator.  After His Ascension he sent our Counselor and Comforter.

Together, under the eternal aegis of the Father, the Son and the Spirit bring us from bondage to freedom, anxiety to peace.  We need not fear our judgment.

This is accomplished through the ministry and mediation of the Church.

As a People who are members of Christ’s Body the Church we approach God’s mercy with a sense of filial duty, petitioning both the immediate effect of Christ’s merits and also the long-term effect of heavenly peace.

In the words of the Church’s worship, Christ Himself strikes from our limbs the heavy chains of our oppression.

This is true “liberation theology”.  This is a cause of tears of joy.

Meanwhile, for another kind of tears, in the Novus Ordo today it is back to green.  No Octave of Pentecost. 

You know the now infamous story of Paul VI, which a friend of mine dubbed the

Feast of the Lacrimation of Paul VI.   

I wrote about it many times.  One example: HERE

That story has made the rounds, with embellishments.  I’m the source of that anecdote, recounted to me in Rome many years ago by a former papal MC, whose word I have no reason to doubt.

For more on those dark years…

For more on that era check these PODCAzTs:

093 09-11-16 40 years ago… Paul VI on the eve of the Novus Ordo
094 09-11-20 40 years ago… Paul VI on the eve of the Novus Ordo (Part II)
095 09-11-24 40 years ago… Paul VI on the eve of the Novus Ordo (Part III)

Here’s another reason to weep. 

There today in the Novus Ordo an optional Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.  Here is what we find at the at Vatican News for Pentecost Monday.  You can’t make this up.

Art by RUPNIK?

This image, friends, warms my beady black heart.

These are the vestments which some of YOU readers commissioned for Ss. Trinità in Rome.

All set up and ready for the priests in the mornings of the Octave of Pentecost.

Thank you again to

TP, MR, SS, KA, ML, AT

I hope for action shots, with the altars full.

Through May 27, save up to 25% see more below

In chessy news, Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious at Casablanca Chess 2024 with Hikaru Nakamura, followed by former champ Viswanathan Anand and Bassem Amin.  In other news, water is still wet.  The format was interesting.  It wasn’t interesting enough to hold my attention for more than a couple games in each day, not because the idea of the tournament wasn’t interesting, but mainly because one of the commentators was wasn’t interesting. Danya Naroditsky was the strong member of the team, with some humor and anecdotes and something in the voice which implied that he cared.  The highly talented Jan Gustafsson was as laconic and mellow as Tania Sachdev is verbose and irritating. Mind you, this has nothing to do with their chess knowledge! It’s their delivery. If those who produce these streams to entertain fans… and that’s their goal… they should take that into account. This new event needed an A team.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Meanwhile, white to move and mate in 2.

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

With Memorial day a week away, to quote James Taylor, “summer’s here… I’ve got my cold beer…”. I recommend the beer from the monks of Norcia only a little chilled, not super cold like American beer (too cold… and you can’t taste it… which might be the point). Norcia beer, three kinds, is spectacular.

Meanwhile, I am preparing for an informal tournament between clubs from neighboring towns.  What to do?

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™.

Welcome registrant:

CharityBeginsAtHome

Meanwhile, in Casablanca where we wait… and wait… and wait… there were results from Round 1.  This is an interesting “variant” tournament wherein players start from positions in historic games.  In the first game, with the position of move 11 in the 1889 Chigorin v. Steinitz, Carlsen (won) v. Vishy and Nakamura (won) v. Amin (players from 4 continents).  Round 2 was move 11 in Game 10 of the Xie Jun vs. Alisa Galliamova Women’s World Championship Match in Kazan/Shenyang in 1999, Amin v. Carlsen (draw) and Nakamura v. Vishy (draw).  Round 3, move 12 in the 14^th game of the 1985 Karpov-Kasparov match Amin v Vishy (draw) and Nakamura v Carlsen (won).

To demonstrate what a prodigious visual memory these guys have, Carlsen said:

 “The last game looked very similar to Karpov-Kasparov games from the second match, and I seemed to remember that Garry’s knight ended up on g4 and maybe h2. But that was about it. The first game I thought it has to be a Steinitz game since he’s the only one who plays like that. Probably against Chigorin, as they had a World Championship match in 1889, and there were a lot of Evans Gambits. The second one, I had no clue!”.

There is also a video of Carlsen identifying games from single positions.  Scary.

Three more rounds today.

Meanwhile, thanks to the kind but anonymous “A reader” who sent gift cards for Panera, which is virtually the only way I will buy their good but over-priced fare.   Why is this a thing?  We play OTB at a Panera.  Gratias tibi persolvo.

Nice people! Great service!

Interim, motus ad lusorem cum militibus albis pertinent. Scaccus mattus, scilicet mors regis, duobus in motis veniat.

NB: Detineam explicationes in crastinum, ne vestrae interrumpantur commentationes.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Meanwhile, Chess House has a 20% off sale going on.  CODE: S6296

Suggestion: If you travel or know someone who does, you might have a look at this: HERE  This is a spiffy travel set, remarkably compact and light (13.4 oz), with wood pieces, magnetized, extra queens, and a leather-backed folding 9″ board!  It is in a small pouch that fits in the bottom of my backpack when I am on the move.

It is interesting to root around at Chess House and see what they have.  May you can help to start a parish chess club!

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

The largest ever Chartres Pilgrimage for Pentecost departed central Paris today, from Saint Sulpice, for Chartres Cathedral.

There is a YouTube channel for it for live events and which can be watched on demand.

Yes, at The Parish™ preparations are being made for the Feast of St. Philip Neri (which is also my anniversary).  How I wish I could be there.  And now I, too, am a member of the Archconfraternity, the first priest invested who isn’t ex officio for who knows how long.

Welcome registrant:

OorahHooah

Nice people! Great service!

NB: At Chess House right now through May 20 20% off with coupon S6296

White to move and mate in 2.

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 – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Speaking of a Triduum, and speaking of Benedictine nuns, he wonderful nuns of Gower Abbey, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, have this disc and digital download:

Tenebrae at Ephesus

US HERE – UK HERE

These are the RESPONSORIES of Tenebrae for all three days of the Triduum.  They are, arguably, the most beautiful chants of the entire liturgical year. So, it isn’t Holy Week or even Lent… so what?

In chessy news, there is talk that the World Championship could be held in Singapore. I hear Singapore is interesting.

Also, I note that several readers, including at least one priest, has signed up for chess.com using my link.  Thank you.

There is a new thing going on in Casablanca.  A tournament with a chess variant.  Players will rapid games from positions of historical games.  Present shall be, Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and former world champ Viswanathan Anand.

I await the results!  And wait… and wait… and wait….

Today things keep rolling along and I, uncharacteristically, am paying some attention.

In regard to the terrific speech that Harrison Butker made for commencement at Benedictine College, as the lib world has a spittle-flecked nutty, I was sent these two screenshots…

What do you suppose is their average age?

Here’s something to think about…

Gower Abbey, in Gower, MO, is there the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles are.  They have so many vocations that they have to found daughter houses.  They are building a huge new place in Ava, MO and a bishop in England is helping them take over an old abbey.

The Benedictines of Mount Saint Scholastica are associated (how much is hard to tell) with Benedictine College in Atchinson, KS.   These two communities, one at death’s door and the other bursting life, are about 45 minutes apart by car.

A look at the website of the lib sisters is enlightening.  They have a photo gallery!

The shot of sister carrying the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday, with a humeral veil, is striking.

The Benedictines of Mary, at Gower Abbey, also have a photo gallery.

Compare and contrast.

Meanwhile, a friend informs me that Butker’s jersey is now among the top sellers in NFL jerseys.

And there’s this from the NYPost… it’s good to know that Archbishop Naumann is still a priest.

He is still a deacon too.

About the diaconate, I saw this at The Pillar….

[…]

This week marked the deadline for the world’s bishops’ conferences to submit feedback ahead of this October’s session of the synod on synodality, and several reports claimed significant support for the admission of women to the diaconate.

Australia, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland all posted their reports online and, as Luke Coppen noted this morning, claimed “widespread agreement” for a female diaconate.

[…]

According to the German bishops’ portal, the teaching on sacramental ordination being reserved to men alone “isn’t infallible doctrine,” and the cardinal appeared to agree, saying “It can be changed. It needs arguments and time.”

[…]

Maybe the Benedictines of Atchison can get involved!

UPDATE:

Meanwhile, somehow this fits right in…

FRIDAY MUSIC

Here’s a photo of the autograph manuscript of Mozart’s Symphony No. 1, written when he was 8 years old. Its opening movement contains more musical ingenuity & depth than the entire output of Taylor Swift.

For your listening pleasure:https://t.co/0yXvkC1FyH pic.twitter.com/6pYce6rtbP

— Peter Kwasniewski (@DrKwasniewski) May 17, 2024

For big Masses with Popes the Vatican’s  Office for Liturgical Celebrations issues a booklet.  We find in the booklet for Pentecost (19 May 2024) that, in the text for the consecration of the chalice, there has been a reversion:

Thus, at least for the sake of this Sunday, the choice was made to force a a Latin word to mean something it has never meant in the history of that language because a Greek word (polloí) had been made by Lutheran Scripture scholar Joachim Jeremias to mean something it had never meant before. All this was based on Jeremias’ guess about a word Jesus might have said in yet another language read through a lens designed correct an offense to Protestants implicit in the Church’s consecration formula. That’s what ICEL did back in the 70’s, though it was corrected by Benedict XVI in the wake of Liturgiam authenticam. ICEL and others set aside the probability that Evangelists and Paul knew what they were doing and meant what they wrote (with the Holy Spirit’s help). Never mind the Fathers of the Church. Never mind the explicit teaching in the authoritative Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part II, 4, which states that the Church cannot say pro universis.

It’s Back To The Future.

In other news, the document with the new Norms of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for proceeding in the discernment of alleged supernatural phenomena has been released. HERE It was announced on 13 May, last Monday, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. That immediately set of the spidey senses of molti (maybe not tutti). Some suspected that this move was designed to reduce criticism of the Holy See aroused by negative implications in the messages of apparitions. Some alleged Marian apparitions have not been positive about what’s going on. One is, of course, forced to wonder why the Mother of God would appear just to say, “Everything’s fine. Keep doin’ whatchyer doin’! You’re okay just the way you are.”

The last norms were issued by Paul VI in 1978.

Some suspected that the move was designed also to cast doubts, or undermine, previously studied and approved apparitions, perhaps because they, too, were not wholly positive about what is going on.

Indeed, the new norms do not provide for approval of apparitions or messages, etc. They merely provide for a nihil obstat statement, that something is free from error. There is to be no determination that some event is of divine origin.

As I understand the norms, the role of diocesan bishops has been attenuated.    In effect, the diocesan bishop is no longer free to make a determination on his own without, first, consulting the Holy See and, next, agreeing with what the Holy See concludes.  The bishop can investigate and so forth, but in the end his hands are pretty much tied.

Also, I read at CNA that Francis did an interview for 60 Minutes (the long-running CBS interview/investigative show).   That piece posted a tweet (yes, I know it’s X now).  Apparently this is what the producers of 60 Minutes wants us all to take away:

The Pope addresses his conservative critics in the church.

“Conservative is one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that. It is a suicidal attitude,” says Pope Francis. This Sunday on 60 Minutes, the Pope sits down with @NorahODonnell. https://t.co/mEN4CWeXMW pic.twitter.com/HPYgVm4kIp

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) May 16, 2024

Conservatives are suicidal!

“Because one thing is to take tradition into account, to consider situations from the past, but quite another is to be closed up inside a dogmatic box.”

The comments under that tweet express some disagreement with Francis.

White to move and mate in 2.

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 – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In chessy news, something interesting is developing.    There is going to be a “poker” style “buy in” tournament.  Four players each must pitch in $1 million.  Each would play six games of rapid against the others.  1st place $2 million, 2nd place $1.5 million, 3rd place $0.4 million, and 4th place $0.   It would be at the same place where the G.O.A.T. Challenge was, a luxury resort in northern Germany. I think the players are Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and the disagreeable Hans Niemann whom I believe would not fare well. It should be great viewing, especially with beer from the traditional Benedictine monks of Norcia!

From: Instructiones Fabricae et Supellectilis Ecclesiasticae, I, 23 by St. Charles Borromeo:

Even in the most modest church there must be at least two, to keep men distinct from women. If there are many officiants, as in cathedrals and collegiate churches, there will be one for each, always distinct between those reserved for one sex and the other. It must be made of wood, closed on five sides but open on the front, with the possibility however of locking it with a gate or a grate so that “when the confessor is not there, lay people, vagabonds or dirty people cannot sit there and sleep idly, with irreverence of the ministry that is exercised there. It must be divided vertically into two areas, one for the priest and one for the penitent, and must be placed so that the priest is always towards the high altar and the penitent towards the door. The partition between the two areas must be opened by a door which towards the confessor will have a curtain and towards the penitent a rather thick grate with holes the size of a chickpea. On both sides there will be reminder signs for the respective functions.

[…]

Nice people! Great service!

In every parish church there will be two confessionals so that the men, often displaying a certain amount of irreverence regarding the holy place or the holy action and not without offence to the pious objects, will not be intermingled with the women, nor crowded together with them when there is a large number for confession, but separated. In this way the men confess in one confessional, the women in the other; as is the case in many of the churches in this province, in which there are distinct parts for men and women; in those cases where the distinction has not been confirmed by a provincial decree, one confessional will be for the use of the parish priest, and the other for that of another confessor priest if, with the permission and approval of the Bishop, it is at times necessary to have him called in when there are a great number of penitents.

[…]

The prescribed form to be used in building the confessional is described below. Once this has been observed, some decoration may be added, such as carved moldings on the front or some other type of suitable ornament. First of all the confessional will be made entirely of worked wooden panels, either walnut, or some other type of wood. These will enclose it on both sides and on the back and will cover the upper part, while it will be completely open in the front part, and must not be closed in any way. It can however have, above all in the more frequented churches, a latticework door or a wooden gate, the parts of which are about four ounces apart, furnished with lock and key so that, when the confessor is not there, laymen, vagabonds or dirty people cannot idly sit or sleep therein, with irreverence of the sacred function there exercised.

Black to move and mate in 3.

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 – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

I’d rather not report on the disappointing results of the Chess.com Classic 2024. Everything changed on a single blunder.

On a happier note, help the traditional Benedictine monks of Le Barroux. Get some of the wine they make from the revived vineyards of the Avignon Popes in southern France.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Hey s*******31@gmail.com! My thank you note was kicked back as undeliverable. New email? Drop me a note, please, so I can update.

White to move. Mate in 2.

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

Click!
Code CCT24 for 50% off on premium membership right now

In chessy news, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) won Division II of the Champions Chess Tour Chess.com Classic 2024 ($15K) defeating, alas, my guy Wesley So who had fought his way back through 6 opponents in matches in the lower bracket. Wesley even fought back hard against MVL, winning an Armageddon and forcing a reset. Division I concludes today with, I hope, Magnus mopping the board with Alireza Firouzja.

My attention was caught by the new of a the 2024 Speed Chess Championship which will be held 25 July to 9 August. However the final will in Paris 6-8 September and people can be in the e-area to watch in person. This is all e-sport, not over the board. 5+1 and 3+1 blitz with 1+1 bullet in a double-elimination knockout format tournament. They will be present, but with screens between them (I think). That should make for faster play, although it is rather fun to see pieces flying and clocks banging rather than mouse slips and pre-moves. It looks like Magnus and Hikaru (speed rivals who have really battled in the past) will be in it, along with world #2 Fabiano Caruana, Firoujza (who must be defeated), MVL, world champ Ding Liren and, yay, Wesley So who is quite the dangerous speed chess player. More qualifications will be filled through chess.com Titles Tuesday dust ups.

In my own life.  I was at OTB yesterday.  Pain.  I analyzed one of my games and found that I was doing quite well into the middle game.  Then, disaster.  Not only did I completely miss my opponent’s hanging piece, I made a move that allowed him to gain tempo and get me reacting.   I did, however, use a zwischenzug effectively.  I been trying to work on in between moves.  I have a small book in a graduating series, containing puzzles which a reader sent from my wishlist.  The complier directs us to set up the position on a board and give it about 10 minutes.  I’m feeling quite sluggish.

In any event, Lord, thank you for this day.

Meanwhile, have you been following the “chess match” between “Beans” and Bp. Barron and his World On Fire empire on account of Bean’s ghastly piece in lib Commonweal?  It has Fishwrap‘s (aka National Sodomitic Reporter) full attention.  The puzzling Larry Chapp even stuck his nose into it, opining in an embarrassing way at Catholic World Report.  I can’t figure him out.  Anyway, Beans, in his usual tedious style of bomb-throwing and non sequiturs linked conservative Catholics with “Trumpism” (whatever that is… I think it is mostly patriotism, which completely confounds and terrifies the Left).  Beans smeared Bp. Strickland and Bp. Barron with the same besmirching brush, provoking Word on Fire to threaten a defamation lawsuit if Commonweal didn’t amend Bean’s piece.  I suspect that this can’t go anywhere in the courts because the bar is really high for public figures.  This will probably wind up in mutual zugzwang and a draw.