John Zuhlsdorf

John Todd Zuhlsdorf (born October 28, 1959) is an American Catholic priest, of the Diocese of Velletri-Segni,[1] and currently living in the Diocese of Madison.[2] He is also a Catholic blogging personality known as "Father Z". He currently works in Madison, Wisconsin.[3]

The Reverend John T. Zuhlsdorf
Orders
Ordination	May 26, 1991 by Pope John Paul II
Personal details
Born	(1959-10-28) October 28, 1959 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Nationality	American
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Alma mater	University of Minnesota
Motto	Zelus Domus Tuæ (Zeal for your House)

Ordination history of John Zuhlsdorf
History Diaconal ordination Ordained by Paul Augustin Card. Mayer Date July 2, 1990 Place Basilica San Nicola in Carcere, Rome Priestly ordination Ordained by Pope John Paul II Date May 26, 1991 Place Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Life

Zuhlsdorf was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1959. As a young man he studied at the University of Minnesota. Formerly a Lutheran, he says his conversion to Catholicism was set into motion after hearing a piece of sacred polyphony on the radio. He was ordained a priest in Rome by Pope John Paul II on May 26, 1991.

After ordination, Fr Zuhlsdorf attended the Patristic Institute Augustinianum, which conferred a Licentiate of Sacred Theology.

Later, Zuhlsdorf became a weekly columnist for the traditionalist newspaper The Wanderer,[4] and has appeared on EWTN and the Fox News Channel. Since 2011 he has written a weekly column for the Catholic Herald in the UK. He is best known for his blog Fr. Z's Blog (previously named: What Does the Prayer Really Say?), in which he comments on Catholic tradition and current Church events, advocates for reverent celebration of both authorized forms of the Roman Rite liturgy of the Mass, the post-Vatican II form and the 1962 Tridentine form, and for the growth of the sacrament of Penance.[5][3] "The Staggers", the blog of the British magazine New Statesman, listed Zuhlsdorf's site as one of the top ten Christian blogs in the world.[6]

In September 2017, after Zuhlsdorf wrote a post titled “Should a seminary headline a homosexualist activist as a speaker?” about an upcoming talk by Fr. James Martin, SJ at Theological College, a seminary located at but independent of the Catholic University of America. Martin became the subject of online criticism.[7] Two days after the post was published, Theological College withdrew Martin's invitation.[8] The Catholic University of America issued a statement denouncing the decision to cancel.[9]

Zuhlsdorf is president of the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison, Wisconsin.[10]

References

1. "Presbiteri Diocesani" (in Italian). Dioscesi Suburbicaria Velletri-Segni. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
2. "Active Clergy". Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
3. Salai, Sean (August 7, 2014). "The Catholic Blogosphere: Q&A with Father John Zuhlsdorf". America.
4. Stewart, Phil (July 7, 2007). "Pope revives old Latin mass, sparks Jewish concern". Reuters. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
5. Rarey, Matthew A. (November 2, 2012). "Pilgrims arrive in Rome to celebrate Latin Mass permission". Catholic News Agency. Vatican City.
6. Emanuelle Degli Esposti (June 10, 2011). "Top Ten Christian Blogs". "The Staggers" rolling blog. New Statesman. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
7. Zuhlsdorf, John (September 13, 2017). "Should a seminary headline a homosexualist activist as a speaker?". Fr. Z's Blog. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
8. Joe Bernstein (February 1, 2018). "Meet the Blogger Priest Firing Red Pills At the Vatican". Buzzfeed News. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
9. Catholic University Public Relations Office (September 16, 2017). "University Statement on Father James Martin, S.J. Invitation". Retrieved September 7, 2019.
10. "Father John Zuhlsdorf, new President of the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison, to Celebrate Traditional Mass at Holy Redeemer Church Nov 25". November 18, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2014.

External links

• Fr. Z's blog