Fr. Z's PODCAzTs

Fr. Z's PODCAzTs@wdtprs

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PODCAzT 185 St. Leo the Great's Christmas Sermon for A.D. 440

PODCAzT 185 St. Leo the Great's Christmas Sermon for A.D. 440

St Pope Leo the Great was Pope in a tough time. Think Vandals, Goths and Attila the Huns. He had been deacon to Pope Sixtus III and was in charge of the mosaic decorations of the beautiful arch in St Mary Major, which presents an anti-Manichean theology reflected in his later sermons as Pope. He point the exclamation point on correct Christology of the Council Chalcedon. St. Leo's Latin was terrific. It has the concision of the ancient Roman genius and it sparkles with polished tropes and clausulae, rhythmic endings of sentences. His Latin comes alive again when read aloud. The sermons are well structured with an introduction, examples, and exhortation. Benedict XIV Lambertini (you can have your own Benedict XIV coffee mug (www.cafepress.com/frzsstore/14535091) named him Doctor of the Church in 1754. Leo died in 461 and his tomb is in the Vatican Basilica. The great marble relief of him facing down Attila was recently cleaned and restored. We have Leo's Christmas sermons from 440-44 and 50-54. This sermon, the most famous because it is quoted in the nocturns of Matins for Christmas, was preached in the old basilica of St Peter on Christmas Day of 440. 1580 years ago today. Let's hear the English first, and then the Latin. I hope its message of hope and joy and encouragement rings in your ears for this whole Christmas season.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 26: “The love with which you do it"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 26: “The love with which you do it"

Here is ADVENTCAzT 26, for the Vigil of Christmas. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Fr. Troadec conditions for receiving grace.  Fulton Sheen gives excellent vocational advice.  Pius Parsch starts with a little liturgical pointer.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 25: “Pollution of the temple"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 25: “Pollution of the temple"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 25: “Pollution of the temple" These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Fr. Troadec explains dryness of the soul.  Peter Kwasniewski talks about how many have tried to eliminate kneeling, with the inevitable result.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 24: “A form of avarice today consists in..."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 24: “A form of avarice today consists in..."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 24, for Tuesday in the 4th Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Fr. Troadec has an insight about a form of stinginess, avarice, peculiar to our times.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 23: “Many want God, but on their terms, not His"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 23: “Many want God, but on their terms, not His"

Here is ADVENTCAzT 23, for Monday in the 4th Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Pius Parsch talks about the mystery of our failing and of our sins in the light of God's plan for us. Card. Bacci on Christ's swaddling clothes.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 22: "To sum up Advent..."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 22: "To sum up Advent..."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 21, for the 4th Sunday of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Pius Parsch sums up the 4th Sunday which itself is a summary!  Fr. Troadec warns us about a spiritual trap.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 21: A resolution at the foot of the manger

ADVENTCAzT 2020 21: A resolution at the foot of the manger

Here is ADVENTCAzT 21, for Ember Saturday in the 3rd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Card. Bacci explains what primary resolution we should make as we gaze at the Christ Child in the manger.  Pius Parsch tries to put the mosaic pieces together.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 20: Striking parallels between Mary and the ark of the covenant

ADVENTCAzT 2020 20: Striking parallels between Mary and the ark of the covenant

Here is ADVENTCAzT 20, for Ember Friday in the 3rd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Edward Sri about the amazing parallels in Scripture which reveal Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant.  And we hear the next O Antiphon, O Adonai.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 19: “Come, to teach us the way of prudence!"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 19: “Come, to teach us the way of prudence!"

Here is ADVENTCAzT 19, for Thursday in the 3rd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, we hear from Fr. Troadec about the O Antiphons and then Pius Parsch explains the logical progression of the themes of  the Antiphons. Oh yes... we also hear the first O Antiphon, O Sapientia.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 18: “Fasting has ever been the bread of strength."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 18: “Fasting has ever been the bread of strength."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 18, for Ember Wednesday in the 3rd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Pius Parsch fills us in on the antiquity of Ember Days. St. Leo the Great preaches from the 5th century to us about fasting.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 17: “Be perfect."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 17: “Be perfect."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 17, for Tuesday in the 3rd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Card. Bacci talks about how to obey God and "be perfect", even though that's impossible.  Fr. Gabriel in Divine Intimacy talks about our senses.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 16: “What is 'meekness'?"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 16: “What is 'meekness'?"

Here is ADVENTCAzT 16, for Monday in the 3rd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, starting on Paul's admonition to the Philippians, Fr. Troadec teaches us about "meekness", called also "gentleness" and "forbearance".  Card. Bacci talks about true success.

15 Advent20

15 Advent20

Here is ADVENTCAzT 15, for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, "Gaudete!" These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today Pius Parsch presents a dialogue between a discouraged soul and Holy Mother Church.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 14: St John Paul II's Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

ADVENTCAzT 2020 14: St John Paul II's Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Here is ADVENTCAzT 14, for Saturday in the 2nd Week of Advent.  It is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. During his first visit abroad as Pope, John Paul II prayed before the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  We hear his prayer.  And we also hear a brief, intense prayer of Card. Bacci. Voces8 sing to us on their Equinox album. And from the "new world" Domenico Zipoli plays an Offertory piece.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 13: “Like a clean handle on a dirty bucket”

ADVENTCAzT 2020 13: “Like a clean handle on a dirty bucket”

Here is ADVENTCAzT 13, for Friday in the 2nd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Fr. Troadec talks about the scandal of the Lord and about our own time of trial.  Fulton Sheen gives sinners an encouragement.  A priest's prayer before his own Communion.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 12: "The Virgin is inseparably bound up with the Word."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 12: "The Virgin is inseparably bound up with the Word."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 12, for Thursday in the 2nd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Robert Card. Sarah reflects on the silence of Mary.  Card. Bacci talks about peace of soul. We hear a hymn from the monks of Le Barroux.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 11: “Let us go back in imagination to the day we were baptized."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 11: “Let us go back in imagination to the day we were baptized."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 11, for Wednesday in the 2nd Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Joseph Ratzinger teaches us about the Marian dogmas.  Card. Bacci gives us a gut check about how we are living. We also hear from the CD of music for Advent by the wonderful Benedictines of Gower Abbey.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 10: “What we receive is at least as important as what we do."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 10: “What we receive is at least as important as what we do."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 10, for Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Advent, Feast of the Immaculate Conception. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today, Joseph Ratzinger teaches us about the mystery of stillness.  Fr. Troadec pours out praise for our beautiful Blessed Mother, immaculately conceived.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 09: "Start with the little things."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 09: "Start with the little things."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 08, for the 2nd Sunday of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today Card. Bacci quotes de Maistre about the danger of "science" on its own... COVID-1984 anyone?!? Fr. Troadec talks about three kinds of souls who desire perfection.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 07: "True love of self."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 07: "True love of self."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 07, for Saturday in the 1st Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today we hear Card. Bacci what it Jesus meant when he said that we must "hate our life in this world".  Bp. Bossuet gives us a fervent prayer.   Fulton Sheen pipes in with a dose of reality.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 06: "God walks into your soul with silent step."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 06: "God walks into your soul with silent step."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 06, for Friday in the 1st Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today we hear about what will take place at the General Judgment.  Fulton Sheen gives an insight into how God comes to us. Pius Parsch talks about our vocations.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 04: "Do Thou in Thy clemency withdraw the scourge of Thy wrath!"

ADVENTCAzT 2020 04: "Do Thou in Thy clemency withdraw the scourge of Thy wrath!"

Here is ADVENTCAzT 04, for Wedesday in the 1st Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today we hear about our twofold renewal at the end of the world.  We have also an alarming image about our Advent preparation from Abbot Gueranger.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 02: "The wonders of creation are a mystical ladder that leads us to God."

ADVENTCAzT 2020 02: "The wonders of creation are a mystical ladder that leads us to God."

Here is ADVENTCAzT 02, for Monday in the 1st Week of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today we hear about St. Andrew's place at the beginning of Advent and at the end of the liturgical year.  We have some additional insight from Antonio Card. Bacci. We also hear from the CD of music for Advent by the wonderful Benedictines of Gower Abbey.

ADVENTCAzT 2020 01: “Jesus thirsts for us to thirst for Him”

ADVENTCAzT 2020 01: “Jesus thirsts for us to thirst for Him”

Here is ADVENTCAzT 01, for the 1st Sunday of Advent. These 5 minute offerings are a token of gratitude especially for my benefactors.  Thank you!  Chime in if you listened. Today we hear about the place of Advent in the liturgical year.  We have some additional insight from Fr. Patrick Troadec. The opening chant is the Introit from the 1st Sunday of Advent, Ad te levavi. We also hear music for Advent by the wonderful Benedictines of Gower Abbey.

PODCAzT 184:  St. Augustine preaches to the mob who lynched a cop who killed a guy

PODCAzT 184: St. Augustine preaches to the mob who lynched a cop who killed a guy

In 400, or thereabouts, in St. Augustine's see of Hippo, a 'miles', a soldier, probably a kind of police officer, did something very bad.  He probably killed someone.  The town went nuts and rioted and they lynched him.  The mob is still howling for more vengeance.   It is, apparently, ongoing. One of the things that Augustine reaffirms is that mobs do not have authority and that every is going to render an account of their part in the riots.   He gives concrete advise about how to shut down the violence, keep it from erupting again.

PODCAzT 183: Bp. Schneider's call for a Crusade of Eucharistic Reparation - ACTION ITEM!

PODCAzT 183: Bp. Schneider's call for a Crusade of Eucharistic Reparation - ACTION ITEM!

Bp. Schneider has called for a Crusade of Eucharistic Reparation. He released a text on his site, Gloria Dei, about sins against the Blessed Sacrament, offences against our Lord in the Eucharist, and the need of such a coordinated campaign. Let’s hear what Bp. Schneider has to say in his text. I read the whole text from Bp. Schneider's site, make some comments after with some recommendations for ACTION! and then read also the PRAYER that Bp. Schneider attached for the same Crusade.

PASCHALCAzT 54: Low Sunday "in albis":  "The Easter lesson comes down to our own lives."

PASCHALCAzT 54: Low Sunday "in albis": "The Easter lesson comes down to our own lives."

Today is the Easter Octave Sunday, or Dominica in albis, for the white baptismal garments of those who were recently baptized.  It is sometimes called “Thomas Sunday” because of the Gospel reading about the "doubting" Apostle.  It is also famously called “Quasimodo Sunday” for the first word of the opening chant, the Introit (cf. 1 Peter 2:2-3). It is called “Low Sunday” probably in contrast to the hoopla of last Sunday. Oh yes… now it is often called “Mercy Sunday” because of the emphasis on the dimension of the mercy of God’s redemptive act celebrated at Easter. The newest, third edition of the Missale Romanum of 2002 specifically labels this Sunday: Dominica II Paschae seu de divina Misericordia. The Roman Station is St. Pancras on the Gianicolo Hill. Today we wrap things up in the final podcast for Lent and Easter cycle, with wisdom from Card. Bacci and from Fulton J. Sheen.

PASCHALCAzT 53: Easter Saturday:  The white garment

PASCHALCAzT 53: Easter Saturday: The white garment

Today is Easter Saturday! The Roman Station is St. John Lateran.  We were here one week ago for the Vigil of Easter. I rant a little and then share something related to my rant from Fr. Troadec's books.

PASCHALCAzT 52: Easter Friday:  Of demons and altars

PASCHALCAzT 52: Easter Friday: Of demons and altars

Today is Easter Friday! The Roman Station is Santa Maria ad martyres, once the ancient temple to all the pagan gods, the Pantheon. I rant a little, and do not exclude my observations about Pachamama on the altar of St. Peter's Basilica. The wonderful nuns of Gower Abbey take us in and out… toward the Ascension.

PASCHALCAzT 51: Easter Thursday: "How many Easters have we spent?"

PASCHALCAzT 51: Easter Thursday: "How many Easters have we spent?"

Today is Easter Thursday! The Roman Station is Santi Dodici Apostoli, the Twelve Holy Apostles.  The relics of the Apostles James the Lesser and Philip are here.  Also, find the tomb of Pope Clement XIV, who suppressed the Jesuits. Card. Bacci gives us a sobering thought in the midst of our Easter joy.  Fr. Patrick Troadec of the SSPX presents Mary Magdalene and her great love for Christ. Today I'm still thinking of Paris and the yesterday's anniversary of the burning of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris.  I used a recording of the Cathedral's bells yesterday.  Today, we are back in Paris, listening to, among other things, the bells of Saint-Nicholas du Chardonnay.

PASCHALCAzT 50: Easter Wednesday: The heart and the fire

PASCHALCAzT 50: Easter Wednesday: The heart and the fire

Today is Easter Wednesday! The Roman Station is St.  Lawrence outside the walls.  I talk about what it is like to be a convert.  Also, we hear about the 7 Pilgrimage Churches in Rome. Fulton Sheen gives us a look at the human heart. Today is the sad anniversary of the burning of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, a horrible sight.  We hear music from their great choir, the huge "bourdon" bell ringing, and a recording I made of the bells of the north tower when I was in Paris a couple of years ago.

PASCHALCAzT 49: Easter Tuesday: Real peace

PASCHALCAzT 49: Easter Tuesday: Real peace

Today is Easter Monday! The Roman Station is St. Paul's outside the walls.  A few years ago, the tomb of the Apostle was rediscovered.   I am happy again to read today from the new English translation of Fr. Patrick Troadec’s work Toward Easter.  I don’t have to translate from the French original now. He talks about real peace, Christ's peace.

PASCHALCAzT 47: Easter Sunday: Our resurrection must begin in this life

PASCHALCAzT 47: Easter Sunday: Our resurrection must begin in this life

Today is Easter Sunday! The Roman Station tonight for the Mass of the Day on Easter Sunday is St. Mary Major. Card. Bacci speaks of the personal impact of "resurrection".  Fulton Sheen about what is really important. One of the pieces today, the first part of the Introit for Easter is from my home parish in St. Paul, St. Agnes. I'm in the schola that made this recording way back in the 1980s. I also have some bells from the Duomo of Florence, Italy, for a friend.

LENTCAzT 2020: 45 – Holy Saturday: "Whatever mothers do for sons..."

LENTCAzT 2020: 45 – Holy Saturday: "Whatever mothers do for sons..."

Today is Holy Saturday in the Triduum. The Roman Station tonight for the Vigil Mass is St. John Lateran.   Card. Bacci gives us a note about what we ought to live for.  Fulton Sheen about Mary... simply wonderful. The wonderful nuns of Gower Abbey take us out… toward Easter Sunday.

LENTCAzT 2020: 41 – Monday of Holy Week: The Crucifix is a simple meditation manual

LENTCAzT 2020: 41 – Monday of Holy Week: The Crucifix is a simple meditation manual

Today is Monday in Holy Week.  Closer day by day.   The Roman Station is Santa Prassede all'Esquilino, one of the original parish churches of Rome. Here is kept part of the pillar at which Christ was scourged, brought back to Rome by St. Helena. Today Cardinal Bacci gives us another beautiful meditation, this time on Christ's Cross and, consequently, your cross.

LENTCAzT 2020: 42 – Tuesday of Holy Week: Inner Cross, Outer Cross

LENTCAzT 2020: 42 – Tuesday of Holy Week: Inner Cross, Outer Cross

Today is Tuesday in Holy Week.  Closer day by day. The Roman Station is Santa Prisca. We aren't sure who she was, but there is a really cool tradition about her. Fr. Troadec reflects on the Passion according to Mark, which we hear today in Holy Mass in the Traditional Roman Rite. Fulton Sheen gives us an image of unhappy souls. In these podcasts I sometimes use snips from this lovely disc of music: Motecta Trium Vocum.  Today's choice is about someone longing for the Eucharist: Desidero mi Iesu.

LENTCAzT 2020: 40 – Palm Sunday: This will be a truly mysterious Holy Week

LENTCAzT 2020: 40 – Palm Sunday: This will be a truly mysterious Holy Week

Today is Palm Sunday.  Holy Week begins. The Roman Station is San Giovanni in Laterano, the Cathedral of Rome. We are today one week from Easter.  Almost there. Today I rant a little with practical tips about how you might beneficially participate from afar in the sacred rites of this most Holy Week.

LENTCAzT 2020: 30 – Thurssday in the 4th Week of Lent: "I command you, get up!"

LENTCAzT 2020: 30 – Thurssday in the 4th Week of Lent: "I command you, get up!"

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!)

LENTCAzT 2020: 28 – Tuesday in the 4th Week of Lent:  Conscience and making excuses for sins

LENTCAzT 2020: 28 – Tuesday in the 4th Week of Lent: Conscience and making excuses for sins

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.

LENTCAzT 2020: 26 – 4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare: Millions of favors hang from heaven

LENTCAzT 2020: 26 – 4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare: Millions of favors hang from heaven

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

LENTCAzT 2020: 25 – Saturday - 3rd Week of Lent: No human being would have thought of this sacrament

LENTCAzT 2020: 25 – Saturday - 3rd Week of Lent: No human being would have thought of this sacrament

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.

LENTCAzT 2020: 23 – Thursday in the 3rd Week of Lent: "The sick are an image of ourselves"

LENTCAzT 2020: 23 – Thursday in the 3rd Week of Lent: "The sick are an image of ourselves"

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.

LENTCAzT 2020: 22 – Wednesday in the 3rd Week of Lent:  Doing without

LENTCAzT 2020: 22 – Wednesday in the 3rd Week of Lent: Doing without

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.

LENTCAzT 2020: 17 – Friday in the 2nd Week of Lent: Envy contains an element of fear

LENTCAzT 2020: 17 – Friday in the 2nd Week of Lent: Envy contains an element of fear

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.

LENTCAzT 2020: 14 – Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Lent: "Act as if each day were the last of your life"

LENTCAzT 2020: 14 – Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Lent: "Act as if each day were the last of your life"

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.