Question: Relics: Visiting relics at an SSPX community

[ccmcmg]

There are a large number of relics at a nearby church, and I have every reason to believe that they are real. I would like to visit them, and pray there.

However, they are located, displayed and ‘owned’ <?> at an SSPX parish/community. Now, of course, I wouldn’t be receiving the Sacraments, nor attending their services. But would I be doing anything wrong by visiting them? After all, the relics aren’t ‘SSPX’, but Catholic, unless someone were to inform me differently.

I live in the sticks, btw, so it’s not like there are many places like this, especially with this large number of relics displayed.

This is NOT a thread or discussion about SSPX, but I didn’t know how to phrase it re: Catholic community not in communion with Rome. If you are unsure about what SSPX is, please visit this link at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_St._Pius_X , via this search here on Catholic.com : forums.catholic-questions.org/search.php?searchid=23564683 and on EWTN at ewtn.com/search.asp

 

[Murmurs]

I can’t give you a definitive answer (if there is even one to give!), but my opinion would entirely concur with yours; a SSPX community possesses the relics but they can’t remotely have exclusive “right” to them, nor is anything about them changed based on who “owns” them. I would absolutely go

God bless,

Murmurs xx

 

[PaulfromIowa]

There is no reason that you cannot visit a SSPX chapel, or a Protestant church, for that matter. Just do not fall for any schismatic arguments.

 

[commenter]

There is no reason that you cannot visit a SSPX chapel, or a Protestant church, for that matter. Just do not fall for any schismatic arguments.

The OP sounds pretty solid in her faith. But her neighbor, who happens to see her going there, or hears about it, might not be so solid. Furthermore, someone at the SSPX chapel might be having second thoughts about the SSPX, considering a swim over to Rome. Maybe one reason they are still at this chapel is the relics. So her going there is a tiny influence on them to stay there, though that is not what the OP intends.

 

[pianistclare]

There have been 2 recent instances of a travelling priest who has well over 200 relics, that were on display at parishes near us. They were very well attended.
Perhaps this is a similar thing.
The Archdiocese approved this.

 

[landon13]

The SSPX is still Catholic. They still have valid sacraments. The SSPX have never been placed on the same level as the Protestants or the schismatic Orthodox, they are still Catholic and should not be shunned based on their current canonical status with Rome at this point.

 

[corsair]

Good reply, Landon13. Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[jeannetherese]

There have been 2 recent instances of a travelling priest who has well over 200 relics, that were on display at parishes near us. They were very well attended.
Perhaps this is a similar thing.
The Archdiocese approved this.

I attended that exposition when it came to the northwest and would highly recommend it.
It is currently travelling through New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The schedule is linked below.

treasuresofthechurch.com/schedule

O.P. What a wonderful opportunity for brining home a third class relic.
May God bless you.
Amen.

 

[Thomas_White]

There are a large number of relics at a nearby church, and I have every reason to believe that they are real. I would like to visit them, and pray there.

However, they are located, displayed and ‘owned’ <?> at an SSPX parish/community. Now, of course, I wouldn’t be receiving the Sacraments, nor attending their services. But would I be doing anything wrong by visiting them?

No, not at all. As you note, they are Catholic relics. I don’t think there could be any harm in simply viewing them in an SSPX church. Doing so is more likely a good thing.