Is it okay to attend an SSPX Daily Mass and Receive Communion?

[nsper7]

Would it be okay, in terms of Church law, to attend an SSPX Daily Mass and receive Communion there? I am asking hypothetically. Would it violate the Church’s rules about now receiving Communion in other places to receive at an SSPX Chapel and from an SSPX Priest? Also, could one receive Absolution from an SSPX Priest? Would these Sacraments be licit?

I am asking this as an honest question, not to start a fight. There are no SSPX Chapels close to where (I think Orlando would be the closes, I live in Gainesville, FL), but I am just wondering.

 

[Traddy]

All I know is that the SSPX Masses are valid, but not licit.

Which means…the priests are forbidden to say it! So by attending one of their Masses, you are indirectly supporting direct disobedience to the Pope.

I don’t know about confession, though I have doubts that it’s valid.

 

[JuanCarlos]

There’s a lot of debate on this topic.

My personal opinion is one could attend on Sundays and Holy days, provided it is the only TLM available and one has a strong preference for the TLM. If there was no access to an FSSP Church or other indult group and it was between the SSPX and a fairly typical NO, I would choose the SSPX.

 

[nsper7]

I would think it would be more tolerable to go for a Daily Mass (Non-Holy Day of Obligation) since there is no question of possibly violating the Sunday/Holy Day “obligation”. After all, no one has to go to ANY Non-HDO Daily Mass.

Personally, I do not think I would be able to, in good conscience, attend an SSPX Sunday/Holy Day Mass since I would worry I am violating the obligation and committing a grave/mortal sin right there. Daily Mass…well, if Traddy is correct and SSPX Masses are illicit, then I would not attend an SSPX Daily Mass either.

I have never been to a TLM (the closes Church that offers one is down in Ocala, FL), but I recognize the legitimacy of the NO/OF Mass, so it is not a problem for me. As I said, I was just wondering in principle since the closest SSPX Mass is farther away than the closest TLM Mass offered by a parish in good standing with the Church.

 

[Cluny]

Confession and marriage specifically require jurisdictin, which SSPX lacks.

Therefore any confession you make to an SSPX priest, unless in immediate danger of death, would be invalid.

 

[sparkielee]

Muchas Gracias, Juan. I’d prefer To attend the SSPX Mass over the Novus Ordo, if I’m in an area where there’s no FSSP Mass or anyone else doing the Tridentine Mass. Fortunately my parish does have a Latin Mass community including an FSSP priest who says Mass there every Sunday morning. The SSPX is not in our area. I told the FSSP priest that I became instantly hooked on the Traditional Mass. In fact I get up around 6:30 am for this Mass even if I can’t seem to get out of bed until noon the rest of the week-most of the time.

I hope we’re right as far as picking the SSPX over the New Order.

-sparkie

 

[jonkknox]

One definitely fulfills their Sunday obligation by going to an SSPX Mass. Canon law says that you fulfill your obligation by going to a Catholic Mass of any rite.

As with all issues of sin, the intention behind it is a key factor. If one is going to Mass because they want to hear Holy Mass according to the traditional form, that is not a sin. If you are going because well the Novus Ordo is “evil” or “sacrilegious”… that would be a sin.

There are other issues to look at, though. A new Catholic should be careful about what they are presented regarding the Faith. A SSPX chapel could (but not necessarily) be a near occasion of sin- schism. (I’m not saying the SSPX is in formal schism). Also, there is the idea of scandal. If people know you’re going to an SSPX chapel and don’t know any better, they could start thinking that you’re a crazy rad-trad, or on the other hand, they could end up going down the slippery slope to rad-tradism.

It’s best to stick with the FSSP and other approved organizations, or diocesan priests who offer the traditional Mass. Shoot, you can even tell one of your priests that you’d love to have the Extraordinary Form in town.

 

[RosaryCrusader]

Also, there is the idea of scandal. If people know you’re going to an SSPX chapel and don’t know any better, they could start thinking that you’re a crazy rad-trad, or on the other hand, they could end up going down the slippery slope to rad-tradism.

Jon, sorry, that’s not quite considered scandal in the proper sense of the word.

 

[jonkknox]

To cause scandal means to cause someone to stumble [into sin]

 

[Toribus]

According to Fr Zuhlsdorf it takes more than merely a “strong preference for the extraordinary form” to make attending a Mass offered by a priest in limited communion justifiable.

You would need to be so scandalised by the thought of attending ANY reasonable, licit Mass (reasonable in the sense that you can reach it without undue burden) that your only option is to either attend the SSPX Mass or skip Mass entirely.

Most people asking this question do not fall into this category. A “strong preference” indicates that if you’re in a pinch, you could tolerate a (gravely abused but validly celebrated) Mass for the sake of Our Lord.

 

[Cluny]

I don’t think it’s uncharitable or inaccurate to say that the status of SSPX as a society is at least cloudy.

It would give me great spiritual joy to see all doubt removed and full regular canonical communion be restored between SSPX and the Holy See.

It’s like the long standing estrangement between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate that was finally resolved and reconciled.

Both need each other.

 

[I_Believe]

Here is my experience.

I decide, after months of consideration, to go to the local SSPX chapel for Mass. There is a dress code posted on the wall just inside the entrance. I noticed it as soon as I stepped inside. Coat, Tie, and Jacket.

I made eye contact with an usher, and he smiled, welcomed me, and offered his hand in friendship. I introduced myself as a guest.

I wasn’t wearing a coat and tie, but he didn’t say a word about it. He opened the door to the Chapel and invited me to sit anywhere I like. Once I was in the pew, I noticed a gentleman in front of me wearing bluejeans, work shirt, and suspenders. And a couple of other men I noticed weren’t wearing ties or jackets. So I felt very comfortable at that point.

Wonderful High Mass, stunning choir, and the children ! It was wonderful to see school age children actually praying the Mass. No fidgeting, looking around, whispering. Definitely not what I was used to seeing. Teen girls in football jerseys, high school t-shirts, and worse. Sure the preschoolers were restless. Babies crying.

One 3 or 4 year old in the pew in front of me kept turning and smiling at me. I’d smile back and then return my thoughts to the Mass. Finally, we were kneeling and I showed him my folded hands and nodded toward the altar. He then folded his, and looked toward the altar. He turned his head and smiled, and then continued to look toward the altar. I’ll never forget that.

Anyhow, after Mass, I checked out the bookstore and picked up a couple of volumes of St Alphonsus’ works, then walked back to the cafeteria. The man that greeted me, had mentioned coffee and cake was served after Mass. A nice lady introduced herself and welcomed me to the Chapel. We chatted awhile, and she introduced me to a few folks, including her husband and the priest.

I left without hearing a single word from the pulpit or otherwise about VII, the Novus Ordo, or any other divisive topic. I was only asked if I was a Catholic.

And after assisting several Masses there early last year, I can say I prayed with Catholics.

 

[Toribus]

Here is my experience.

I decide, after months of consideration, to go to the local SSPX chapel for Mass.

…

And after assisting several Masses there early last year, I can say I prayed with Catholics.

Didn’t want to weigh down the page by quoting the whole post, so I cut all but the first and last lines. It sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful experience - at the local FSSP parishes I too love seeing families with children (who pray!) and Catholics who know to be friendly before and after Mass.

It is for exactly the experiences like you’ve just described that I can’t wait for the SSPX to be normalised. The Church desperately needs more communities like this - prayerful, respectful to Our Lord and his Liturgy, charitable in living out the entire Catholic Faith. I for one am convinced that the loonies we hear about (in both secular and diocesan media) are but a fringe of the movement, with the bulk being what you encountered.

=====

With all that said, I think it’s important to give even more kudos to the priests and laity who stayed within the Church during the bad years, and suffered tremendously for it. I am only 23 years old, and by the grace of God missed the worst of it, but I am enormously grateful for the handful of priests, religious and laity that I have met (as well as the uncounted masses I haven’t) who stuck with it for so long, that I may experience the indescribable sweetness of the Catholic Tradition.

 

[EnchantedEve]

I would say yes, go to the SSPX Mass. You would fulfill you Sunday and Holy Day of Obligations here (Rome has already said this) and, while not in full communion yet, are certainly on the road. You will hear no heresies or ambiguities taught here, only the full Catholic Faith. This is why I support SSPX, because I have come to feel that they are in good faith and try to do what is best for the Church and their own souls. Nowhere have they ever preached heresies or falsehood, so I do not see what is to be avoided. I know people can cite numerous examples of bad experiences at the New Mass, so I will not meditate on that further. I attend the New Mass in Italian, where the old priest is still faithful to the best of his ability. But if there was an SSPX chapel nearby I could attend regularly, I would. May God be with you!

 

[Aramis]

Remember: By attending an SSPX mass, you are encouraging the SSPX priest to break his vows of obedience to the hierarchy of the church. You are encouraging him thus to sin. Repeatedly, and unrepentantly. (If he were repentant, he’d have left the SSPX and returned to communion.)

 

[I_Believe]

Remember: By attending an SSPX mass, you are encouraging the SSPX priest to break his vows of obedience to the hierarchy of the church. You are encouraging him thus to sin. Repeatedly, and unrepentantly. (If he were repentant, he’d have left the SSPX and returned to communion.)

So, wouldn’t a confirmed Catholic who was excommunicated and then had the excommunication lifted be in communion once again, …albeit irregular communion in this case ?

 

[EnchantedEve]

Remember: By attending an SSPX mass, you are encouraging the SSPX priest to break his vows of obedience to the hierarchy of the church. You are encouraging him thus to sin. Repeatedly, and unrepentantly. (If he were repentant, he’d have left the SSPX and returned to communion.)

Ah, but we must also remember that a priest’s first allegiance is to the Faith, and that he should follow this even if all the heirarchy is not. Certainly, I think any priest who preaches the Catholic Faith instead of following Cardinal Mahoney et. al. into error is being true to his vows, for as St. Thomas states: “An unjust law, it would seem, is no law at all.” Also, St. Robert Bellarmine: “A Catholic should correct his superiors, even publicy, if it is in defense of the Faith.” Nowhere do I know of Church law that says: Follow your bishop into uncertainty and error, and in some cases, destruction, out of obedience.

“Obedience is the servant of Faith, not obedience.”

Just a thought. I think most SSPX priests would have no problem obeying their bishop if they professed the True Faith whole and entire, and not just sometimes.

 

[Toribus]

Ah, but we must also remember that a priest’s first allegiance is to the Faith, and that he should follow this even if all the heirarchy is not. Certainly, I think any priest who preaches the Catholic Faith instead of following Cardinal Mahoney et. al. into error is being true to his vows, for as St. Thomas states: “An unjust law, it would seem, is no law at all.” Also, St. Robert Bellarmine: “A Catholic should correct his superiors, even publicy, if it is in defense of the Faith.” Nowhere do I know of Church law that says: Follow your bishop into uncertainty and error, and in some cases, destruction, out of obedience.

“Obedience is the servant of Faith, not obedience.”

Just a thought. I think most SSPX priests would have no problem obeying their bishop if they professed the True Faith whole and entire, and not just sometimes.

I think that last comment unwittingly makes an unjust and uncharitable judgement on the bulk of licitly appointed bishops. It also places incompetent individuals as judges over the bishops, when the only valid judges are the Holy Father and (obviously) Christ Himself.

 

[RosaryCrusader]

To cause scandal means to cause someone to stumble [into sin]

Jon, it means more than that… the act must be evil or give the impression of evil which does not apply to the situation you desribe.

 

[Ad_Gentes]

Some may want to give the impression that it is fine to attend an SSPX Mass, but that is NOT the official position of the Catholic Church. While the excommunications were lifted by the Holy Father, the SSPX is still on a state of schism and attending one of their chapels is equivalent to promoting and supporting that schism. The SSPX has NOT met all the requirements to come back into full communion with the Church. Regardless of any preferences of the TLM over NO Mass, the fact remains that SSPX Masses are valid, but NOT licit. In other words, it is illicit for a Catholic in full communion with Rome to attend an SSPX Mass. In addition, SSPX’s priests do NOT have the faculty to confer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, thus such confession would be invalid unless under danger of death (CIC Cans. 974 §2, 975, 976).

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