Should I Go To SSPX?

[Dempsey1919]

I am seriously considering attending Mass at a local SSPX chapel because I feel that I will progress spiritually by doing so. I have a preference for the EF Mass and the traditional spirituality of the Roman rite and I think that the SSPX will be better able to meet my needs than my current parish.

I have a strong preference for the EF Mass; I do not question the validity of the OF Mass but I personally feel that the Extraordinary Form is superior. The EF Mass greatly enriches my life and I feel spiritually uplifted afterwards. I regularly attend the OF Mass through the week but I am often scandalized by the lack of respect shown by the congregation; people rarely genuflect, many routinely show up late for Mass, and many people gossip before and during Mass, which makes it very hard to pray. They don’t seem to take the Mass seriously. In fact, I often feel out of place when I kneel and pray before Mass because nobody else seems to do this.

The people who attend the EF Mass at my parish are very different! They are all very respectful; they dress appropriately, they genuflect, they pray, and they show consideration to others by keeping whispered conversations to a minimum. The whole atmosphere during the EF Mass is reverent, respectful and is more suited to prayerful contemplation. The Mass feels like the Mass, and not a social function. The other members in the congregation inspire me to pray more often and to take the Mass more seriously. I am considering the SSPX because I want to be part of a community, which takes the Mass and the doctrines of the faith seriously!

I love the OF Mass when celebrated reverently, but I find the behaviour of some people to be shocking and distracting. I find it very hard to pray during the OF Mass because of the attitudes and behaviour of the people! I’m also sick of the implied doctrinal dissent from the pulpit. One of the priests in my parish is a well-known liberal who supports the ordination of women amongst other things. He does not directly preach these things, but he’ll say things like “hopefully, the Church will improve in the future…” I often pick up on things during his sermons, which betray his beliefs. He is a very nice man but I want a priest who believes in the entire Catholic faith as taught by Rome. The Sermons during the EF Mass are far better! The priests who celebrate the EF are very orthodox and they aren’t afraid to preach on the moral doctrines of the Church. I have heard traditional priests preach on the teachings of Humane Vitae, and against the evils of abortion. I have never heard similar sermons during the OF Mass. I want to attend the SSPX because I want to hear orthodox sermons during the Mass.

I am a faithful Catholic but I find it hard to continue without any kind of community support. More often than not, I am scandalised by the behaviour of other Catholics I meet at my parish. Forgive me if I am being judgemental but it’s just the way I feel. I want to be part of a community, which helps to strengthen and build my faith, not weaken it! Is the SSPX the place to go?

 

[Cristiano]

No! At least until it is fully reconciled with Rome or you cannot attend a regular parish. If you are concerned with your spirituality get a solid orthodox spiritual director.

 

[DomusAurea]

I’m not sure how things are progressing between the church and sspx … a few years ago my answer would have been a very loud and clear “NO!”.

Consider if the question really is if the sspx will fulfill your needs best. Isn’t the question where you are best needed?

I have some friends who felt attracted by SSPX because the extraordinary form was so very important to them. We told them to stay put, have patience and help out in their ordinary parish. Now they have two extraordinary form masses to choose from every sunday and get to train ministrants and help out with designing the necessary missales and have a small gregorian choir.
Needless to say they’re glad they stayed put and didn’t cause a scandal.

Ask your bishop about the SSPX-congregation in your town. Are they true and faithful? Are they obedient to the Holy Father and his bishop?

 

[Dempsey1919]

Ask your bishop about the SSPX-congregation in your town. Are they true and faithful? Are they obedient to the Holy Father and his bishop?

The SSPX in my area have no formal ties with the Bishop and are not part of the Diocese. The priests of the SSPX are validly ordained but there are doubts about their canonical status at present. They are real priests but they exercise their ministry without papal approval. However, I am thinking of attending their Masses because I feel my soul will benefit from the orthodox preaching and atmosphere they will provide.

I also believe that the entire SSPX will be welcomed into full communion with Rome in the future. Furthermore, I believe the SSPX will be instrumental in helping the Church to come to an true interpretation of Vatican II in light of the whole Tradition of the Church.

 

[Onegin]

This topic keeps coming back like the plague.

The SSPX is 1) a valid Mass that 2) will fulfill your Sunday obligation. If you feel that your spiritual life will be assisted by attending Mass at your local chapel then, by all means, go. If you feel that attending Mass there will only cause you to worry about the internal matters in the Church and won’t be of spiritual benefit, then don’t go.

I doubt, however, that asking for advice on this issue is going to meet with anything close to a uniform response on CAF.

I attended both a SSPX chapel and a FSSP parish simultaneously for about 2 years. I was lucky to have both and if I didn’t want to drive for the early Mass on Sunday for one, I could go to the other. Both provided great spiritual benefit in the form of the TLM. The SSPX chapel provided some great outside catechism opportunities that the FSSP didn’t. All these things are considerations which you can look into in making your decision.

I’ve heard that the SSPX-goers can be intimidating and strict about new members, but personally, I never experienced it. Mostly, the attendees were ordinary folk like you and I who simply loved the TLM and wanted to be exposed to Tradition in every aspect of their lives (schools for the kids, catechism, traditional sacraments, etc).

I guess it comes down to location, location, location. Hopefully you are in a good one!

Hope this helps.

 

[CDNowak]

1st: Have you checked for other EF opportunities (LMS has listings and a map)?

Other than that, if you have a spiritual director that can advise you talk to him, but it seems to me that there is no reason that you should not attend occasionally (Well unless Bishop Williamson is at the local SSPX chapel, that might be a reason to avoid it). If you do choose to attend regularly, then I heartily advise having some sort of anchor in the local Church as well.

 

[DomusAurea]

The SSPX in my area have no formal ties with the Bishop and are not part of the Diocese. The priests of the SSPX are validly ordained but there are doubts about their canonical status at present. They are real priests but they exercise their ministry without papal approval. However, I am thinking of attending their Masses because I feel my soul will benefit from the orthodox preaching and atmosphere they will provide.

I also believe that the entire SSPX will be welcomed into full communion with Rome in the future. Furthermore, I believe the SSPX will be instrumental in helping the Church to come to an true interpretation of Vatican II in light of the whole Tradition of the Church.

Well there’s your answer. Obedience. And patience. That’s what will meet your needs. You can not go to the SSPX.

 

[pnewton]

Such a question has no answer that you can not give yourself. I would mediate on the facts that you know. On one hand, you are aware of the current status of the SSPX. Also, you know that we walk by faith. Consider what your spiritual needs are. God will meet us where we are and at times we need the feeling of reverence to be proper disposed to receive God. On the other hand, God also does his greatest work in our times of suffering. Many Saints went through a dark night of the soul to emerge stronger. Then, after you have considered all, and if you are convinced it is not sinful, then do what you want.

I would suggest also that you read the links posted as a sticky at the top of this forum, particularly Msgr. Perl’s letter.

 

[Onegin]

Oh, as a footnote, I’m not sure where on the island you are, but there’s a good diocesan TLM once a month in Nottingham, another in (I think) Derby once a month and a more-or-less weekly TLM at the SSPX chapel in Leicester.

The people at the Leicester chapel are an older bunch and are extremely friendly. Because the SSPX Priest isn’t always available, many (if not all) of the attendees at the Leicester chapel also frequent another diocesan parish in the city that sometimes offers the TLM on Sunday.

It’s a pretty transient group.

 

[Dempsey1919]

The people at the Leicester chapel are EXTREMELY friendly, and it only took one visit for them to welcome invite me out for tea and chatting about tradition, etc. Because the SSPX Priest isn’t always available, many (if not all) of the attendees at the Leicester chapel also frequent another diocesan parish in the city that sometimes offers the TLM on Sunday.

When I returned to the Church three years ago after a long absence, the first person to speak to me was a women who attended the EF Mass at my local Church. She was very friendly and gave me a warm welcome. Only afterwards did she mention that she also attended the SSPX chapel near by. She told me that the SSPX chapel was a very vibrant place with lots of people, including young families. I knew about the SSPX before I met her, but my attitude towards them changed after I met her. The only person who welcomed me was an SSPXer. At the time, I thought it was ironic because most Catholics labelled them schismatics and treated them like lepers.

My very limited experience with the SSPX crowd is the same as yours. They seem to have a sense of community which is sadly lacking from my local Church.

 

[Diak]

Please note the declaration of the Holy Father of March 12, 2009:

In order to make this clear once again: until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers – even though they have been freed of the ecclesiastical penalty – do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.

 

[Onegin]

When I returned to the Church three years ago after a long absence, the first person to speak to me was a women who attended the EF Mass at my local Church. She was very friendly and gave me a warm welcome. Only afterwards did she mention that she also attended the SSPX chapel near by. She told me that the SSPX chapel was a very vibrant place with lots of people, including young families. I knew about the SSPX before I met her, but my attitude towards them changed after I met her. The only person who welcomed me was an SSPXer. At the time, I thought it was ironic because most Catholics labelled them schismatics and treated them like lepers.

My very limited experience with the SSPX crowd is the same as yours. They seem to have a sense of community which is sadly lacking from my local Church.

There also seems to be an assumption that people who go to SSPX Masses are required to give a super-secret oath that they won’t go to Mass anywhere else. From personal experience, I’ve found that most people who are in the SSPX are pretty open to attending Mass elsewhere though sometimes, the lack of another TLM means that is not an option.

A pretty strong community can be created from a shared love of tradition and a desire to preserve it, intact. Many of the older folks were around before and after Vatican II and have been battling uphill to find a traditional parish ever since. They’re pretty committed to forming a strong community. That, I think, is the tie that binds most people there.

 

[Dempsey1919]

A pretty strong community can be created from a shared love of tradition and a desire to preserve it, intact. Many of the older folks were around before and after Vatican II and have been battling uphill to find a traditional parish ever since. They’re pretty committed to forming a strong community. That, I think, is the tie that binds most people there.

This is the main reason I am considering the SSPX. I’m at the stage where I need the support of Catholic friends, and since it is very hard to make friends at my current parish, I am considering alternatives. As I love the Traditional Mass and spirituality, the SSPX seems like the best place to go. I have thought about this for years but I am put off by the current canonical status of the Society. If they entered full communion tomorrow, I would immediately switch to their chapel.

 

[Onegin]

This is the main reason I am considering the SSPX. I’m at the stage where I need the support of Catholic friends, and since it is very hard to make friends at my current parish, I am considering alternatives. As I love the Traditional Mass and spirituality, the SSPX seems like the best place to go. I have thought about this for years but I am put off by the current canonical status of the Society. If they entered full communion tomorrow, I would immediately switch to their chapel.

I was put off by the canonical status too. STRONGLY. My friends who did go to the SSPX either frequently or infrequently were very respectful of this (they even bought me the Baronius Missal for Christmas instead of the Angelus one, in case I would be bothered by it ) but eventually, I made the decision to “test” it on my own.

In the end, I stayed there so long because the community was so good and because on Sundays, the Priest would teach a 1hr catechism course to the adults that really exposed me to so much theology that I had never learned. I really felt like I was immersed in all aspects of Catholic Tradition, rather than simply attending an “alternative Mass”. I still retained certain hesitations (for instance, I went to the FSSP for confessions, etc) which I still retain but don’t hinder me in other respects from attending or participating at the SSPX.

Eventually, the Priest at the chapel was sent on an assignment to France (this happens pretty frequently in the SSPX) which was quite sad and I had to move away for school. I still think the community there was pretty unique and it was inspiring to see how well not just the adults but also even the young children knew their faith. It felt a bit like stepping back in time.

Anyways, I can’t speak to your hesitations. I had them and still have some. But my experiences with the SSPX, although limited, did enrich my knowledge of the Faith and allowed me regular access to the TLM, so for that I am extremely grateful.

 

[ProVobis]

This is the main reason I am considering the SSPX. I’m at the stage where I need the support of Catholic friends, and since it is very hard to make friends at my current parish, I am considering alternatives. As I love the Traditional Mass and spirituality, the SSPX seems like the best place to go.

This is where it gets dangerous. For you don’t know who exactly you’re dealing with. (True at a diocesan parish too, for that matter.) There is no problem if you just attend the SSPX Mass there because you prefer the EF and leave afterwards. But getting involved with activities associated with the congregation? That’s another thing.

I once got involved with a group at an independent parish. Priest reported to a valid bishop, Masses were valid, etc. Then some of the people started badgering the local bishop. That’s usually a red flag for me and I was out of there.

Same thing here. Once you start hearing of any friction between the local bishop and the SSPX or hear of the Novus Ordo isn’t valid stuff, you need to leave. Come and attend Mass once in a while but on a regular basis? Probably not a good idea.

This would hold true even if the SSPX were to enter “full communion” today.

 

[Timbothefiveth]

I am seriously considering attending Mass at a local SSPX chapel because I feel that I will progress spiritually by doing so.

You probably won’t. Try finding a traditional mass at your parish instead. The SSPX is essentially a protestant church in a mirror.

 

[DomusAurea]

This is the main reason I am considering the SSPX. I’m at the stage where I need the support of Catholic friends, and since it is very hard to make friends at my current parish, I am considering alternatives. As I love the Traditional Mass and spirituality, the SSPX seems like the best place to go. I have thought about this for years but I am put off by the current canonical status of the Society. If they entered full communion tomorrow, I would immediately switch to their chapel.

This has nothing to do with

• if the mass is more beautiful there
• if the people are friendlier there
• if the spirituality there makes you feel more at home

this is about obedience to the holy see. The Church is the Body of Christ. Who would want to tear yet another hole in it?

And you can be certain it will not go unrewarded.

Also consider that what you are asking from the church is by no means as unlikely now as it was just a couple of years ago. It is definitely moving along. Wouldn’t you feel rather awful if you started going to SSPX - knowing that you were being unfaithful - and then have it become perfectly ok just months later. Would those months really be worth it?

 

[Dempsey1919]

Once you start hearing of any friction between the local bishop and the SSPX or hear of the Novus Ordo isn’t valid stuff, you need to leave. Come and attend Mass once in a while but on a regular basis? Probably not a good idea.

I agree with you to a certain extent, but if I were to follow your advice, I would have to leave my current parish; and I doubt I’d find another one! While the majority of Catholics do not question the validity of the OF Mass, a great deal of them dissent from one or more teachings of the Church. In my parish, I know of many people who dissent from certain moral teachings of the Church. I also know for certain that my previous priest disagreed with Church teaching on celibacy, female ordination, and contraception. He was a great priest but he wasn’t very orthodox. The SSPX complain about some things, and mainstream Catholics complain about others things. It is very hard to find Catholics who agree 100% with Church teaching these days!

 

[Dempsey1919]

You probably won’t. Try finding a traditional mass at your parish instead. The SSPX is essentially a protestant church in a mirror.

I already attend the EF Mass weekly. I am considering the SSPX for other reasons. I have to strongly disagree with your statement that the SSPX are protestant! They are far from it!

 

[DomusAurea]

I agree with you to a certain extent, but if I were to follow your advice, I would have to leave my current parish; and I doubt I’d find another one! While the majority of Catholics do not question the validity of the OF Mass, a great deal of them dissent from one or more teachings of the Church. In my parish, I know of many people who dissent from certain moral teachings of the Church. I also know for certain that my previous priest disagreed with Church teaching on celibacy, female ordination, and contraception. He was a great priest but he wasn’t very orthodox. The SSPX complain about some things, and mainstream Catholics complain about others things. It is very hard to find Catholics who agree 100% with Church teaching these days!

In order to agree with the church 100% you must avoid sspx for the time being - would you agree?