Fr. Z's PODCAzTs

It's Thursday in the 4th Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santi Silvestro e Martino ai Monti, in the rough and tumble Suburra area of Rome. Today Fr. Patrick Troadec, SSPX, gives us a fervorino about how the Lord raised from death a widow's only son. He deftly quotes Ambrose and Augustine on the symbolic roles of those involved. (HINT: You might be one of them!)

It's Wednesday in the 4th Week of Lent and the Feast of the Annunciation. The Roman Station is Saint Paul's outside-the-walls, where you find the tomb of the Apostle. Joseph Ratzinger explain how Mary is, in her person, the true Zion, the true Israel, the true "people of God". The Benedictines of Gower Abbey sing to us.

It's Tuesday in the 4th Week of Lent. The Roman Station is San Lorenzo in Damaso, another of the many churches dedicated to St. Lawrence, so beloved of the Romans. Card. Bacci talks about a well-formed and about a badly-form conscience. People can make excuses for their sins. Also, today is the commemoration of St. Gabriel the Archangel. We hear a little Advent music for a change. The Benedictines of Gower Abbey sing to us.

It's Monday in the 4th Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santi Quattro Coronati, the Four Crowned Saints, early martyrs who refused to weaken their identity. Today Pius Parsch helps us to get our bearing on where we are in Lent.

It's 4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare. The Roman Station is Santa Croce in Gerusaleme, The Holy Crss in Jerusalem. There are reserved here relics of the Lord's Passion recovered by St. Helena and brought to Rome. We hear today Fulton Sheen and Card. Bacci. Bacci talks about Christian love. Sheen has a fantastic image about prayer. You will also hear a bit of the wonderful Benedictine nuns of Gower Abbey

It's Saturday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Susanna, though it would be at observed across the street at the beautiful beautiful Carmelite church St. Maria della Victoria where you find Bernini's astonishing statue of St. Teresa in ecstasy. We hear today Fulton Sheen make a comparison between our sins and an epidemic, and how to heal them. In these podcasts I sometimes use snips from this lovely disc of music: Motecta Trium Vocum. Beautiful.

It's Friday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is San Lorenzo in Lucina, where you find the grate upon which Lawrence was burned. Today the late Archbp. Alban Goodier connects our discipleship and whole way of life with the Passion of the Lord. He prepared His Apostles for what was to come. Therefore, He prepared us.

It's Thursday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Sts. Cosmas and Damian, doctors, martyrs, twins, who were martyrs in the time of Diocletian. We hear about how these twins were, as twins, significant in Rome. Fr. Patrick Troadec, SSPX, gives us a splendid examination of our hearts in regard to wrongs we smart from and grudges or anger we might cling to.

It's Wednesday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is San Sisto, though observed (when permitted) at Ss. Nereo e Achilleo. In this time of growing privation, though not very serious for most of us... yet... Card. Bacci talks to us about how to deal with privations, in their different kinds. There are spiritual privations, as well, and some of them are self-inflicted and bad.

It's Tuesday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Pudenziana. Today we hear a magnificent prayer, comprehensive, attributed to Pope Clement XI (+1721). It is truly a "universal" prayer, because it covers all the needful bases.

In this PODCAzT I read for you the Latin version of the extract from the traditional Rituale Romanum of A Prayer In Times of Epidemics (RR Tit. IX. Ch. X). It really should be done in Latin.

It's Monday in the 3rd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is San Marco near the Piazza Venezia. Today St. Thomas Aquinas bends our minds around Christ's saving work, divine, accomplished through His humanity, for us who must receive it properly.

It's the 3rd Sunday of Lent. The Roman Station is San Lorenzo fuori le mura. St. Lawrence outside-the-walls We hear about the difference of Major and Minor Basilicas in Rome. Also, Fulton Sheen gives us great advice about not being too discouraged when we fall and sin. Helfpful.

It's Saturday in the 2nd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santi Marcellino e Pietro Card. Bacci talks about the "philosopher's stone" of the spiritual life. Fulton Sheen pulls our masks off. We have a lovely Collect from the Mass. The Benedictine of Gower Abbey sing to us.

It's Friday in the 2nd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is San Vitale. Today we hear about envy, jealously, with the help of Thomas Aquinas, Dante and Dorothy Sayers. I sincerely believe that many of the tensions in the more traditional side of the Catholic blogosphere are driven by this perverted desire to deprive others of the goods they enjoy and their accomplishments.

It's Thursday in the 2nd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Trastevere. This is one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Mother of God. We hear from Fr. Troadec today about Dives and Lazarus, the Rich Man and the Beggar.

It's Wednesday in the 2nd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. I have a personal relationship with this basilica. Today Fulton Sheen talks about how monotonous Christ's life was.

It's Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Balbina. However, it's observance was moved to San Bartolomeo on the Tiber Island. Moreover, in Rome churches have been shut down for the time being because of coronavirus. Today, in addition to hearing about Santa Balbina and the Chains of Peter, St. Alphonsus de Liguori coaches us about preparing for death. Then, a taste of the most sobering words we will ever hear in life. There is a snippet of the singing Benedictine nuns of Gower Abbey.

It's Monday in the 2nd Week of Lent. The Roman Station is the amazing San Clemente. Today we hear the last Angelus address given by Benedict XVI. It was the 2nd Sunday of Lent. He talks about climbing the mountain of prayer, but then going back down into action. We hear also from the beautiful nuns of Gower Abbey.

It's the 2nd Sunday of Lent. The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Domnica. Today we learn about a Pope with a square halo and hear from Card. Bacci about books and learning.