SSPX and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass

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catholic03

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Pax Christi:

I really admire, from what I have seen on the internet, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. I am a teenager and have grown up with the Ordinary Form. I have no issue with the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Female Altar Servers, Communion in the Hand among other things. However, I am very orthodox in my adherence to Church teaching and have a very conservative interpretation of the Catechism and the sixteen documents of the Second Vatican Council. I also think that it makes the liturgy much richer not to have EMHC’s, female altar servers and communion in the hand but have no theological issue with it, and at the Ordinary Form I receive communion in the hand and may one day become an EMHC.

I love the Extraordinary Form but it is not offered in my Archdiocese apart from by the Society of St Pius X. Can the Christian faithful, who are properly disposed, regularly attend a mass offered by this canonically irregular ‘society’. Could I attend mass every Sunday celebrated by this society despite the fact that they have no canonical jurisdiction?

God Bless.
 
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Hello Catholic Answers Forums Members:

I was not supporting the SSPX. I was just asking if it is allowed for a faithful Catholic to attend mass offered by them.

Please tell me what to change so that my flagged post is unflagged, as I do not know what I said that was offensive.

I am very sorry for offending anybody, and I DO NOT support the SSPX in anyway. They are in schism but I was only asking if I might attend mass offered by them.

I am a defender of Pope Francis, and Amoris Laetitia and explained that I have no issue with female altar servers, EMHC’s etc.

I will change my post to avoid it being flagged, but please tell me what to change.

Thank you for your help.

God Bless!
 
Posts on CAF are far too easily flagged. As for attending an SSPX parish, I personally would discourage it because of the irregularity; that’s my opinion and the advice I was given by other Catholics I respect. It’s too bad your archdiocese does not have an FSSP parish. If you can find a group who appreciate the EF maybe there is a priest who would be willing to offer one? Or petition the bishop (some are more open to it than others).
 
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Thank you. I often hear conflicting accounts as to whether it is sinful, but I agree that the SSPX has very dangerous views.
 
They are still canonically irregular. I assume that the Church states a member of the Christian faithful may attend in good conscience.

I may disagree slightly with you in that I would, if given the opportunity, attend the EF mass with a canonically regular society. I also have no issue with what many traditionalists would regard as ‘liturgical abuses’.

I am at the moment happy in my OF parish and have no problem with female altar servers or EMHC’s.

Nonetheless, the EF mass seems so rich and I would like to attend it. I have a wonderful 1960 Sunday Missal as well.
 
catholic03 said:
but I agree that the SSPX has very dangerous views.
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Which makes it very problematic if you would appear to support them, don’t you think? And attending their Mass would certainly look like support, both to them and to others.
 
I do not support them and think they should be avoided at all costs, APART from if you like the EF mass and they are the only group that offers it.

God bless.
 
catholic03 said:
I do not support them and think they should be avoided at all costs, APART from if you like the EF mass and they are the only group that offers it
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Nonetheless, attending their Mass would give the SSPX, and others, the impression that you support them.
 
Do you think I should best avoid them?

I probably will, as I think they are an issue. Unless they can accept the Church’s doctrines then they are canonically irregular and it is a sin to attend their masses (or I assume it is).
 
catholic03 said:
Do you think I should best avoid them?
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I don’t think it would be morally prudent to go to an SSPX Mass when you have easy access to totally legitimate Masses approved by you local ordinary.

Even if you hypothetically happened to live in a place where no RCC Masses were available, and the only Masses available were SSPX Masses, you would be under no obligation to attend an SSPX Mass.

I agree that attending an SSPX Mass would be a scandal because it would seem that you are supporting a group of dubious standing that is at odds with the Holy Father.
 
I’m Ukrainian Greek Catholic and occasionally have attended the EF, both SSPX and diocesan. The SSPX may be in an irregular canonical situation but they are not schismatic. Every SSPX priest prays for His Holiness Pope Francis and the local archbishop/bishop (here, it’s Archbishop Chaput [I’d love to meet him one day]).

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) under Cardinal Ratzinger (now BXVI) declared in the 1990s that the situation of the SSPX is “an internal matter of the Church” (verbatim).

Pope Francis has allowed the faithful to go to an SSPX priest for confession (he extended this permission indefinitely beyond the Year of Mercy) and SSPX priests are allowed to witness marriages.

The SSPX priests I’ve known are good priests. They helped me in some difficulties when I couldn’t contact my own pastor.

Also, any priest - even a SSPX priest - can give a Catholic the Last Rites.

I respect your decision not to attend the SSPX near you. My post is intended solely as a clarification.
 
catholic03 said:
However, I am very orthodox in my adherence to Church teaching and have a very conservative interpretation of the Catechism and the sixteen documents of the Second Vatican Council.
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It seems to me that avoiding something that is considered “irregular” by Holy Mother Church would be most consistent with your orthodox and conservative mindset.
 
Yes not only SSPX pray for Holy Father but the community there is unbelievable. I’m only recent member but when I recently became sick and couldn’t go mass for couple weeks one of staff called me and sent me photos of Mary Statue and lit candles saying she’s praying for me. I only met her once briefly so it meant a lot.
 
The Little Story of My Long Life tells about how he went into the seminary. Paraphrasing a bit, he wanted to go to the diocesan seminary but his father told him to go join his brother in the seminary in Rome. He didn’t want to go. His father ordered him to go to Rome, and the rest is history. 😉
 
Look up resources, such as Coalition for Ecclesia Dei or Una Voce, etc. They might inform you of a Mass near you, and/or how you might be able to help initiate a Mass in agreement with the Church.

In my diocese, there is no Latin Mass parish, but 3 parishes feature EF, offered by diocesan clergy. Most Catholics outside those parishes do not know those Masses are available.

I agree with those who emphasize the virtue of Prudence. Suppose an SSPX priest is considering a move to Rome. You filling that empty seat might help him postpone a good move.
 
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