To Those Who Attend an SSPX Parish

[adstrinity]

As hypothesized, my second thread regarding this group:

Why do you continue with the SSPX and not become part of an FSSP, Institute of the Good Shepherd (whom as I understand it is part of the Holy See), or The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer? What is it that the SSPX has that the three in full communion with the Church do not?

OR do you not descriminate as long as it’s Latin? An SSPX couple came to my FSSP parish a few weeks ago, but, they typically do not b/c of the distance.

 

[corsair]

Location has a lot to do with it. If its 200 miles to an FSSP parish and 10 miles to an SSPX parish, well guess what? many folks just go to SSPX. Its a matter of gas money, in many cases.

Yes, I know all the arguments about obedience and loyalty to the church, etc., etc.

I personally have no quams about going to any of them, including the NO (OF). But I do prefer the TLM.

 

[Onegin]

Lack of FSSP as well. There are no FSSP parishes where I live but they are in Scotland. The closest things is the occasional parish that offers a TLM once a month on a discretionary basis. If you want to go to a TLM every week (in my area) you will have to go to a SSPX chapel or travel to London to the Oratory or something.

When I am in the US I am lucky to have access to a variety of options within about a 20 mile radius: FSSP, diocesan TLM, SSPX and there’s even a Latin OF for people who are so inclined. The Masses are even at different times. But those options are not available everywhere.

For those that choose SSPX amongst a variety of options, it sometimes has to do with belonging to a parish that is 100% committed to the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments. Many FSSP Priests share a parish and the TLM is given low priority - sometimes all the traditional sacraments are not available either and the TLM community is often in a weird position in relationship to the OF community. They can be considered “radical” or often “outsiders” by those they share the parish with. The Priest saying the traditional Mass is often put in a strange position if he shares a parish - he is not allowed to insinuate that one option is better than the other or that the TLM is in any way superior to the OF or more likely to inspire piety or promote the faith lest it offend the local ordinary or other Priests at the parish. Sometimes the Priest has no interest in promoting the TLM because he also says the OF - so he just sees it as another “avenue of spirituality” for those who prefer it.

Bottom line is that there are a lot of reasons and each person may have a different one.

 

[ConvertaKat]

Location. The other one you mentioned is miles away while the SSPX is just 3 miles.
Same with the mainstream Catholic Churches that offer TLM; one is in a very bad area of town where “gringos” are not welcome and the other is a drive and a half. Not saying that I would not risk a bullet or take the drive, I would and I have.

But when the yearning to receive Christ in a reverent manner on my knees gets strong within me, I now know where to go that is closer.

Also, you may wish to bear this in mind…if it weren’t for everyone hollering about the SSPX I never in a million years would have checked them out simply because I had never heard of them! I am one of those people who needs to find out for myself if a church is good, bad or indifferent.

Another thing I like about SSPX…I KNOW that I will never, ever encounter some smiling moonbat in leotards prancing 'round the altar nor am I likely to see any sour faced liberal glaring at my “SUPPORT PROP 8” bumper sticker as they emerge from their car sporting OBAMA stickers as we park next to each other in the progressive Catholic church parking lot.