Are blessings by SSPX priests valid?

[AllSeasons]

Let’s say it has do with blessing of an item. Do SSPX priests have the jurisdiction, faculties, and permission to do that? My understanding is that since it’s not a sacrament, and it’s not a juridic act, meaning it would change a person’s status in the Church, it should be valid?

And as a disclaimer, it’s not me who’s getting the item blessed. However, it is by and for people close to me. Thank you in advance.

 

[Filioque]

Well at least according the the legislation prior to Vatican II, which the SSPX insists on following; A priest who blesses a religious item such as a rosary must have faculties to do so by his superior or the Local Ordinary. To erect the Stations of the Cross, Consecrate a chalice and paten, etc he had to have a special indult from the bishop to do so at least prior to reforms made to the Rituale Romanum by Pope John XXIII.

Prior to the reforms only Franciscans or a bishop could erect the Stations unless the bishop granted the priest faculties to do so. Same with several other blessings that were referred to as Reserved Blessings.

Someone else can better answer the current legislation of the Church which I’m not as well versed in, but based on the old code, the SSPX by persisting to resist the efforts of the Holy See to be regularized the Society is placing themselves and their lay followers in a very questionable situations. They claim the right to establish chapels, and offer Mass because of an emergency state they percive. By establising and maintaing chapels where either Eastern or EF Masses are readily availible with the excuse that they are responding to the needs of the faithful, they seem to be determining that they are the Church as they make no effort to even approch the Local Ordinary seeking permission or submitting to his lawful authority. Far from an action which responds to a state of emergency, the blessing of a rosary, or enrolling someone in a brown scapular does not fall under a provision of an emergency or something absolutly necessary for the salvation of souls. Which further gives the impression that they consider themselves outside of the legitimate authority of the Church.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I think that you know that SSPX priests do not have faculties or jurisdiction. Seeking the blessing of a sacramental and material cooperation in sin should be mutually exclusive.

 

[ServusHumilis]

I really don’t know but it makes me curious whether the SSPX would be willing to do the old blessing on a St. Benedict Medal or follow the old rules and say “No, that’s reserved for Benedictines!”

 

[PJM]

=AllSeasons;11685285]Let’s say it has do with blessing of an item. Do SSPX priests have the jurisdiction, faculties, and permission to do that? My understanding is that since it’s not a sacrament, and it’s not a juridic act, meaning it would change a person’s status in the Church, it should be valid?

And as a disclaimer, it’s not me who’s getting the item blessed. However, it is by and for people close to me. Thank you in advance.

Can they ? Sure parents can bless their kids and so on.

Does it make a blessed item a SACRAMENTAL: no

God Bless you,
Patrick

 

[Lormar]

Well at least according the the legislation prior to Vatican II, which the SSPX insists on following; A priest who blesses a religious item such as a rosary must have faculties to do so by his superior or the Local Ordinary. To erect the Stations of the Cross, Consecrate a chalice and paten, etc he had to have a special indult from the bishop to do so at least prior to reforms made to the Rituale Romanum by Pope John XXIII.

Prior to the reforms only Franciscans or a bishop could erect the Stations unless the bishop granted the priest faculties to do so. Same with several other blessings that were referred to as Reserved Blessings.

Someone else can better answer the current legislation of the Church which I’m not as well versed in, but based on the old code, the SSPX by persisting to resist the efforts of the Holy See to be regularized the Society is placing themselves and their lay followers in a very questionable situations. They claim the right to establish chapels, and offer Mass because of an emergency state they percive. By establising and maintaing chapels where either Eastern or EF Masses are readily availible with the excuse that they are responding to the needs of the faithful, they seem to be determining that they are the Church as they make no effort to even approch the Local Ordinary seeking permission or submitting to his lawful authority. Far from an action which responds to a state of emergency, the blessing of a rosary, or enrolling someone in a brown scapular does not fall under a provision of an emergency or something absolutly necessary for the salvation of souls. Which further gives the impression that they consider themselves outside of the legitimate authority of the Church.

What do I do with all of the religious articles and statues that I have that were blessed by either SSPX priests or one of their bishops? Have them blessed again? What about their Holy Water?

 

[ProVobis]

Are there any Church documents on priest blessings? Is validity in the doctrinal sense the real issue here? It seems if we’re calling an FSSPX Mass valid, certainly the Last Blessing must be valid as well.

BTW, “to bless” is the accepted English definition of “benedicere.” (Some other languages use a cognate.) Bene = well, dicere = to speak. So in a sense we can all “bless.”

 

[Filioque]

What do I do with all of the religious articles and statues that I have that were blessed by either SSPX priests or one of their bishops? Have them blessed again? What about their Holy Water?

If it was a rosary or some other religious article which has indugences attached to it, just have your local parish priest bless it. Statues or other items which do not require special faculties I would not worry about. If a priest who is not irregular visits your home, you can have him bless them at that time, but I would not be obsessed with the issue. Holy Water blessed by a priest who does not have faculties from the local ordinary or a lawful superior would be holy water. As Catholics we would recognize the holy water blessed by an Orthodox priest as special faculties are not required to bless it as they would be for “Lusteral Water” which a bishop blesses for the blessing or consecration of a church or altar.

 

[otjm]

What do I do with all of the religious articles and statues that I have that were blessed by either SSPX priests or one of their bishops? Have them blessed again? What about their Holy Water?

You are not having them blessed again; you are having them blessed for the first time.

No faculties; no blessing. No blessing, the articles are not blessed, ergo having them blessed by a priest with faculties is for the first time.

Their water was equally as holy as what comes out of the faucet. Maybe even less so?

 

[Lormar]

If it was a rosary or some other religious article which has indugences attached to it, just have your local parish priest bless it. Statues or other items which do not require special faculties I would not worry about. If a priest who is not irregular visits your home, you can have him bless them at that time, but I would not be obsessed with the issue. Holy Water blessed by a priest who does not have faculties from the local ordinary or a lawful superior would be holy water. As Catholics we would recognize the holy water blessed by an Orthodox priest as special faculties are not required to bless it as they would be for “Lusteral Water” which a bishop blesses for the blessing or consecration of a church or altar.

You are not having them blessed again; you are having them blessed for the first time.

No faculties; no blessing. No blessing, the articles are not blessed, ergo having them blessed by a priest with faculties is for the first time.

Their water was equally as holy as what comes out of the faucet. Maybe even less so?

Well, it is not like I have just a Rosary or two. Or a statue or two. When I was young, my mother used to tell me I had enough religious articles to open up a store. Decades later, I could probably open up a religious article department store. My pastor already thinks I am a relic from the past. If I show up with a shopping cart full of statues and other articles…

 

[otjm]

Well, it is not like I have just a Rosary or two. Or a statue or two. When I was young, my mother used to tell me I had enough religious articles to open up a store. Decades later, I could probably open up a religious article department store. My pastor already thinks I am a relic from the past. If I show up with a shopping cart full of statues and other articles…

Well, if you are a relic from the past, then you should definitely be a blessing to others!!!

 

[GaryTaylor]

I don’t know the validity of their Priests, I don’t see why not just bring them to a Catholic priest in communion with Rome though.

 

[Brandon_Cal]

I’m having a lot of trouble understanding this.

Anyone with valid Apostolic Succession and valid Holy Orders has valid Sacraments, irrespective of their communion, or lack thereof, with the See of Rome. This is why the Orthodox and the SSPX celebrate valid Masses (howbeit illicit), correct?

If communion with the See of Rome is necessary for the valid blessing of Sacramentals, then both the Orthodox and the SSPX lack valid blessings. Unless there’s some other criterion by which the Catholic Church deems blessings “valid” that has yet to be stated in this thread, this is the necessary conclusion followed by the aforementioned premise. I suspect, however, that the Catholic Church does not go so far as to say Orthodox blessings are invalid. Can we get something a little meatier than personal opinion here, please?

 

[dans0622]

Some canons could be cited. First, canon 1169 §2 says: “Any presbyter can impart blessings except those reserved to the Roman Pontiff or bishops.” For the most part, the notion of “invalidity” doesn’t touch upon sacramentals or blessings. Only “constitutive” blessings (also known as consecrations/dedications) can be invalid since only this sort of blessing has legal effects. For example, a priest cannot dedicate a church unless he has the faculty to do so (see c. 1169.1; 1207). But, if we are talking about blessing a rosary or medal, there are no legal effects that result from the blessing. These are “invocative” blessings.

Regarding priests who are under a penalty, canon 1335 gives some insight: “If a censure prohibits the celebration of sacraments or sacramentals or the placing of an act of governance, the prohibition is suspended whenever it is necessary to care for the faithful in danger of death. If a latae sententiae censure has not been declared, the prohibition is also suspended whenever a member of the faithful requests a sacrament or sacramental or an act of governance; a person is permitted to request this for any just cause.” This mirrors a canon in the old Code so is nothing new.

Everyone knows that the SSPX exercise no legitimate ministry in the Church and the bishops and priests are in a state of “suspension.” That suspension is the aforementioned “censure” which prohibits their celebration of the sacramentals. This prohibition does not mean each and every blessing offered, or other sacramental celebrated, by an SSPX priest is “invalid.” They are prohibited from doing it but they still have the ability, due to the power of orders. If there is no just cause or danger of death, the priest’s actions are illicit.

In general, I don’t think a miserly approach helps or reflects the generosity of the Church. So, I say these blessings are as effective as that of any priest. Ordinarily, of course, it is best for Catholics to approach priests who are exercising legitimate ministry in the Church.

Dan