B
Binx
Guest
In the short time that I have frequented this board, I have witnessed a number of untruths, perpetuated with alarming regularity, regarding the Society of St. Pius X. Although much longer refutations are readily available, the purpose of this post is to dispel those myths in concise fashion.
Myth #1: The SSPX has been excommunicated.
When in 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated without a papal mandate four bishops, Pope John Paul II invoked the latae sententiae excommunication of Canon 1382 to be applied to the Archbishop as well as to the four newly-consecrated bishops.
However, according to Canon 1323, the penalty cannot be applied to one who “acted under the compulsion of grave fear, even if only relative, or by reason of necessity or grave inconvenience” (1324.4). Furthermore, the conditions causing the grave fear or the perceived necessity or the perceived grave inconvenience need not be objectively verifiable. It is enough that the one violating a law “thought, through no personal fault, that some one of the circumstances existed which are mentioned in 1323.4” (1323.7).
The following are well-documented perceptions of the Archbishop (and the bishops he consecrated):
Myth #2: The SSPX is in schism.
According to Canon 751, “Schism is the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” It is true that Archbishop Lefebvre made an act of disobedience by conducting the consecrations without a papal mandate. “However, not every disobedience is a schism; in order to possess this character it must include besides the transgression of the commands of superiors, denial of their Divine right to command” (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Neither the Archbishop nor any member of the society he founded denies the divine right of command granted to the Pope.
From a July 1, 2008 press release by the Society: “The SSPX does not claim the exercise of a magisterium superior to the Holy Father’s, nor does it seek to oppose the Church. Following in the footsteps of its founder, it wants to hand down what it has received, namely ‘what has always been believed everywhere and by all.’ It claims as its own the profession of faith addressed by Archbishop Lefebvre to Paul VI on September 24, 1975: ‘Jesus Christ has entrusted to His Vicar the charge of confirming his brethren in the faith, and has asked him to make sure that every bishop faithfully keep the deposit of the faith, according to St. Paul’s recommendation to Timothy.’”
From the current front page of the Society’s English website: “The Society of St. Pius X professes filial devotion and loyalty to Pope Benedict XVI, the Successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ. The priests of the SSPX pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and the welfare of the local Ordinary at every Mass they celebrate.”
Conclusion: The SSPX is not in schism because it denies neither the ruling office of the papacy nor the particular present occupant of that office, nor even his predecessor.
Myth #3: The SSPX has no jurisdiction.
It is true that the priests of the SSPX have been denied ordinary jurisdiction. In extraordinary circumstances, however, the Church can and does supply jurisdiction (Canon 144), even to censured priests (Canon 1335), based on the general principles of the law’s purpose (Canon 19), the highest of which is the salvation of souls (Canon 1752).
In the time since the Second Vatican Council, many Catholic souls have cried out for the traditional mass, the traditional sacraments, the traditional practices—in short, the traditional faith—in order to save their souls, and have been denied by their local ordinaries. The Society of St. Pius X, seeking to carry out the normal mission of the apostolic church, has responded to these pleas in charity and with supplied jurisdiction.
Conclusion: Although the SSPX does not have ordinary jurisdiction, it has legitimate claim to supplied jurisdiction, which is provided via Canon Law.
Myth #4: SSPX masses are invalid.
There is no dispute among the Roman Curia that the priests of the SSPX are validly ordained (see, for instance, Msgr. Perl’s letter to Una Voce). Therefore, so long as such a priest uses—minimally at the consecration—proper form (guaranteed by the 1962 TLM missal) and likewise intends what the Church has always intended by those words, the Mass is a valid one.
Conclusion: Although technically illicit by way of current censures, the masses offered by the Society of St. Pius X are valid.
Christian charity demands that these damaging myths not be perpetuated, especially on a discussion board such as this one, which presumably is interested in all things true as they pertain to Catholic tradition.
Myth #1: The SSPX has been excommunicated.
When in 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated without a papal mandate four bishops, Pope John Paul II invoked the latae sententiae excommunication of Canon 1382 to be applied to the Archbishop as well as to the four newly-consecrated bishops.
However, according to Canon 1323, the penalty cannot be applied to one who “acted under the compulsion of grave fear, even if only relative, or by reason of necessity or grave inconvenience” (1324.4). Furthermore, the conditions causing the grave fear or the perceived necessity or the perceived grave inconvenience need not be objectively verifiable. It is enough that the one violating a law “thought, through no personal fault, that some one of the circumstances existed which are mentioned in 1323.4” (1323.7).
The following are well-documented perceptions of the Archbishop (and the bishops he consecrated):
- A grave fear that without traditional bishops to ordain traditional priests, the traditional Catholic faith, sacraments, and practices would all die, leading consequently to the loss of many souls (which is in contradiction to the Supreme Law of the Church).
- That traditional bishops are absolutely necessary for the propagation of traditional Catholic faith, sacraments, and practices.
- That, based on many months of failed negotiations, Rome would only approve the consecrations if the Society was willing to make compromises against Tradition.
Myth #2: The SSPX is in schism.
According to Canon 751, “Schism is the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” It is true that Archbishop Lefebvre made an act of disobedience by conducting the consecrations without a papal mandate. “However, not every disobedience is a schism; in order to possess this character it must include besides the transgression of the commands of superiors, denial of their Divine right to command” (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Neither the Archbishop nor any member of the society he founded denies the divine right of command granted to the Pope.
From a July 1, 2008 press release by the Society: “The SSPX does not claim the exercise of a magisterium superior to the Holy Father’s, nor does it seek to oppose the Church. Following in the footsteps of its founder, it wants to hand down what it has received, namely ‘what has always been believed everywhere and by all.’ It claims as its own the profession of faith addressed by Archbishop Lefebvre to Paul VI on September 24, 1975: ‘Jesus Christ has entrusted to His Vicar the charge of confirming his brethren in the faith, and has asked him to make sure that every bishop faithfully keep the deposit of the faith, according to St. Paul’s recommendation to Timothy.’”
From the current front page of the Society’s English website: “The Society of St. Pius X professes filial devotion and loyalty to Pope Benedict XVI, the Successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ. The priests of the SSPX pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and the welfare of the local Ordinary at every Mass they celebrate.”
Conclusion: The SSPX is not in schism because it denies neither the ruling office of the papacy nor the particular present occupant of that office, nor even his predecessor.
Myth #3: The SSPX has no jurisdiction.
It is true that the priests of the SSPX have been denied ordinary jurisdiction. In extraordinary circumstances, however, the Church can and does supply jurisdiction (Canon 144), even to censured priests (Canon 1335), based on the general principles of the law’s purpose (Canon 19), the highest of which is the salvation of souls (Canon 1752).
In the time since the Second Vatican Council, many Catholic souls have cried out for the traditional mass, the traditional sacraments, the traditional practices—in short, the traditional faith—in order to save their souls, and have been denied by their local ordinaries. The Society of St. Pius X, seeking to carry out the normal mission of the apostolic church, has responded to these pleas in charity and with supplied jurisdiction.
Conclusion: Although the SSPX does not have ordinary jurisdiction, it has legitimate claim to supplied jurisdiction, which is provided via Canon Law.
Myth #4: SSPX masses are invalid.
There is no dispute among the Roman Curia that the priests of the SSPX are validly ordained (see, for instance, Msgr. Perl’s letter to Una Voce). Therefore, so long as such a priest uses—minimally at the consecration—proper form (guaranteed by the 1962 TLM missal) and likewise intends what the Church has always intended by those words, the Mass is a valid one.
Conclusion: Although technically illicit by way of current censures, the masses offered by the Society of St. Pius X are valid.
Christian charity demands that these damaging myths not be perpetuated, especially on a discussion board such as this one, which presumably is interested in all things true as they pertain to Catholic tradition.
or my reference to it.