www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall An SSPX question

On Saturday last, I received a phone call from the mother of a friend of mine for whose three children I am a godparent.

It was a great and pleasant surprise as I hadn't heard from her for several years (I guess I could have called her too!).

During our conversation, however, she did say that both she and her husband are members of the SSPX and exclusively attend services at one of their chapels (she was once a Lutheran herself).

Personally, I think that is their business and I don't think it behooves me to say anything to them - as I don't believe I need to.

Anyone?

Alex

Hello Orthodox Catholic,

You may consider this hearsay, but back in 1997 when the Traditional Latin Mass was celebrated canonically only at the local Indult, which some of my traditionalist Latin Rite friends would call the "Insult", though I never considered the Indult as such, I did visit a local SSPX chapel. The priest stated in an informal chat that the local Archbishop of the diocese would accept the marriages performed by the priest at that chapel. I would not like to believe that a priest would lie to me about that, so I took his word for it, though I did not begin to attend Mass weekly at that parish. Nowadays, there are several parishes where the Extraordinary Rite is celebrated, including a FSSP parish, so if what that SSPX priest claimed was true then, I wonder if the current Archbishop has the same policy today.

Since my wife prefers the Ordinary Rite, and I only visit the FSSP and the Eastern Catholic parishes when I get a chance, I have not been back to an SSPX chapel since the couple of visits I made those many years ago. So, I don't know what the current priest serving at that SSPX chapel would tell me today.

As far as the SSPX are concerned, I believe those who attend there, most of them anyway, are just following their conscience and attending where they believe a true Mass is being celebrated. I found the impact of Vatican II very confusing myself, as far as the changes that I experienced, so who am I to judge. I have my own "dilemma", as those who read my posts in the other byzcath forums may know, so I can only say one must do what honestly seems right to them, since my knowledge is also finite.

Philip

Lay people can't be members of the SSPX per se (setting aside the difficult case of members of the SSPX "third order")... so they're pretty much just Catholics... There are issues with the validity of confession and marriage, but this year they have faculties for confessions, per Pope Francis.

If I had a friend who was becoming involved with the SSPX, I'd probably say something, but I'm highly versed in the issues involved... someone whose been involved for a long time already, I'm not sure I'd do anything, unless they were going to get married.

Dear Philip,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply!

These people are indeed very devout and I've known them all my life (they once thought I would marry their daughter and she is still unmarried - I won't entertain the thought that I ruined her for other men! ).

The Tridentine Liturgy is indeed very moving and I never really figured out for myself why the Latin Church felt the need to change things.

As-salaam alekum!!

Alex

Thank you for your thoughts sir!

Yes - they exclusively attend the SSPX chapel as they just don't like the Novus Ordo. And I'm happy the mother has gone from Lutheran to traditional Catholic, albeit with the SSPX.

You are more than correct and I've no intention of saying anything to them on the matter - they have their spiritual home and it is what it is.

Cheers,

Alex