The SSPX is a priestly society formed in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in Fribourg, Switzerland whose purpose is to train and support priests so they may effectively spread the Catholic Faith throughout the world. They were setup as a missionary order by their founder to draw souls closer to Christ primarily through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass but also through its preaching, schools, seminaries and spiritual retreat centers.

Read more on the SSPX Website

SSPX priests are validly ordained Roman Catholic priests who recognize the authority of the Pope and his bishops and who have been granted faculties directly from Rome, and in some cases also from local Bishops. However, there is much confusion about this issue due to priests and bishops being poorly informed.

In the Church at large, most often the status of the SSPX is described as “irregular,” or one in which her priests are de facto “suspended.” Below, we go over what this means.

Despite existing differences, Rome has made clear over and over that the society’s priests and sacraments are valid and that there has never been a state of formal schism. Cardinal Hoyos, representing Pope JPII via the Ecclesia Dei commission said there “Was not a formal schism,” and that “they are within the confines of the Church.” He also said, “We are not dealing with a case of heresy….The problem is just that there is a lack of a full, a more perfect—and as it was said during the meeting with Bishop Fellay—a more full communion, because communion exists.”

To sum up the above, it affirms:

No schism
SSPX is within the Church
Communion with Rome exists – this is described as a “partial communion”

A state of suspension or not does not change the above reality. Statements by Pope Benedict that the SSPX “does not exercise legitimate authority” have been used widely in particular in NH to stir up confusion. This statement in reality merely affirms the status quo. In the same document in which Pope Benedict claims this he actually rolls up governance of the SSPX into the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – the same body that governs the rest of the Church. Therefore, he is actually affirming even more clearly that the SSPX is IN the Church, despite disagreements. Any claim based off this quote by Pope Benedict that the SSPX is outside the Church is a grave twisting of the truth.

It must be understood firstly that the question of canonical status is wholly separate from the question of validity. There is no question that the sacraments of SSPX priests & bishops, under any normal circumstances, are completely valid & Catholic. Canonical status is a question of authority and legal standing. The sacraments of a bishop without a Diocese are valid, even if he has no canonical authority over a diocese. The sacraments of a suspended priest are also valid, even if he has been stripped of his canonical authority over any parish or people. The sacraments of the Orthodox churches are also valid, but they are not in communion with Rome. However, the SSPX never renounced Rome or Papal authority like the Eastern churches. They merely insisted on believing and doing things the way they have always been done by the Church as affirmed by the Popes & ecumenical councils themselves before the 1970s.

Language used by authorities to describe the situation of the SSPX can seem confusing and even contradictory, for example the SSPX is often mislabeled as being “outside” the Church while simultaneously being in “partial communion.” – words that are mutually exclusive. One cannot be an outsider & in communion at the same time. Additionally, either one is in communion with Rome or not. If there is partial communion, then there is communion. Never before in history did the idea of a “partial communion” exist.

Another example: having “no canonical authority”, while having priestly faculties given direct from Rome to perform some sacraments like confession at any time. Pope Francis himself gave lasting permission for the SSPX to hear confessions. Firstly, the Pope cannot grant faculties to someone “outside” the Church. So again, clearly the SSPX is within the Church. Secondly, are those faculties then removed when performing other sacraments? It is generally understood that a priest either has faculties or not. It cannot be both at the same time or be changing on/off constantly. Partial faculties are a novel concept invented in the last 50 years specifically for SSPX. Arguably, partial faculties actually imply full faculties. One cannot be partially entered into marriage. And one would not take a general practitioner doctor from a hospital and empower them only to see patients about joint aches but never about headaches. They are either licensed to practice medicine or not. Giving them permission to see patients in any capacity insinuates that they are able to treat those patients. Similarly, the traditional legal way of viewing a priest is either they are a priest with faculties or not.

This confusing language points to a reality where there is no actual ground to stand on against SSPX positions, and that an irregular canonical status for the society persists perhaps because of a general confusion by Bishops about the realities actually involved, and the political machinations of a few.

For more on the canonical status of the SSPX, please read from the many resources listed here.

A latae sententiae excommunication of certain SSPX bishops, who had been consecrated without the Pope’s permission, was proclaimed in 1988 and rescinded in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. This excommunication never applied to SSPX priests or faithful. Moreover, a latae sententiae (de facto) excommunication is automatic and different from a declared excommunication by a Pope or Bishop’s rightful command. For such an excommunication to be valid, the grave matter causing it to automatically incur must be real. This is similar as to when an abortion is performed: the abortion must have really happened, among other things, for persons to be subject to the grave penalty of excommunication for participating in this mortal sin.

The matter for which the excommunication was supposedly incurred regarded the consecration of bishops without the Pope’s explicit permission. While this is a complex matter with a long history and many personal details unique to Archbishop Lefebvre’s life and situation – it is worth pointing out a few facts:

Canon law did not prescribe a de facto excommunication for this action until 1983. Never before in the history of the Church had this been the law of the Church. (Canon 1387)
The ability to consecrate is intrinsic to being a bishop, just as the ability to say Mass is intrinsic to being a priest. No additional persons are necessary for it to be valid.
Rome had already given tacit approval to move forward with the creation of a new SSPX bishop, but had delayed approving a specific date & candidate of their liking. The date had been rescheduled multiple times. Meanwhile, the Archbishop was dying of cancer.
For nearly all of Church history, bishops were consecrated without the explicit & specific permission of the Pope, as such long distance communication was impossible
Even modern Canon law, post 1983, makes exemptions for the punishments of canon law when there is “grave inconvenience,” “fear” or “necessity” – or even that someone “thought” that those circumstances existed, even if they didn’t. See Canon 1323.

It was argued that there was indeed a situation of grave necessity when these consecrations were first performed. It should be obvious to any serious observer that the Church is in a crisis and has been for some time now. The sexual abuse crimes show this. The nosedive in church attendance shows this. The near complete lack of belief in our Lord’s presence in the Eucharist shows this. The blatant heresies – regarding abortion, the divinity of Christ, moral relativism, and sexuality in particular – spouted from pulpits all across the world show this. The conversion testimonies of people like Bella Dodd, who planted thousands of evil people in seminaries on purpose show it. Lefebvre saw it when seminarians begged him to come out of retirement to form the SSPX because their seminaries were teaching them that Christ was not divine & that miracles were mere symbols.

It’s also worth noting that there are similar examples of ordinations being done against the orders of the reigning Pontiff due to grave necessity. These include among others:

Cardinal Wojtyla himself (Pope John Paul II) secretly consecrating priests in Soviet occupied Poland against the express command of Pope Paul VI. The Pope was seeking to appease Soviet authorities by notifying them of priestly appointments beforehand. Wojtyla judged that the necessity of carrying on the Catholic faith in the atheistic Soviet empire outweighed this command.
Saint Athanasius, who lived during the time of the Arian heresy, consecrated priests within the jurisdiction of other bishops and against their wishes. He was even excommunicated by the Pope – this excommunication was later recanted. Today he is acclaimed as a saint by all Catholics.

The Mass is the holiest and most important sacrament of the Church, where God is actually made truly & wholly present in the Eucharist.

In light of this reality, we invite everyone to wear modest, respectful clothing that reflects the dignity of the One in whose image we are created. Casual attire, such as shorts, t-shirts, and sleeveless shirts are examples of inappropriate clothing. Following apostolic custom, we also ask women to wear a veil inside the church and we similarly ask men not to wear hats inside the church. Extra veils for you to borrow are usually available in a basket just inside the front door of the church on the right side.

Additionally, we ask that you silence your cell phones & do your best to keep silence when in the church. Children are welcome and we understand that little ones sometimes make noise. There is a cry room on the side of the church for mothers and their youngest children where the mass is live streamed on a TV so you don’t miss out on anything!

If you are new, we’d love to hear from you after mass in the hall Please introduce yourself to the priest once he makes his way back there. Since the mass is later in the day we usually have a potluck dinner following the mass in the parish hall. Please come and enjoy the food!

The reception of Holy Communion is reserved for practicing Catholics in a state of grace.

Specifically, to receive Holy Communion: One must be a baptized and practicing Catholic, having made a good confession since the last committed mortal sin, if any, in order to be in a state of grace. One must not be a public sinner (cohabitating with another, married outside the Church, etc.) One must observe at least one hour of Eucharistic fast (water and medicine do not break the fast). Finally, one should have a great desire to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You may humbly approach the Communion rail when the other parishioners do so. To receive Communion, close your eyes, open the mouth wide and extend your tongue horizontally. Do not say “Amen.” We do not receive communion by hand. Only the priest, whose hands have been consecrated for this express purpose, can touch Our Lord out of respect.

You might notice some parishioners who refrain from receiving Holy Communion, as there is no obligation to receive it daily or weekly, and there are many reasons people would choose to refrain, such as if they have not made a devout preparation, or if they need to go to confession and did not have an opportunity to do so. However, we should “Live in a manner to be able to receive Communion every day!” (St. Augustine).

After Mass has concluded, instead of leaving immediately, take some time to make a good prayer of thanksgiving to Our Lord for the gift of Himself in the Most Blessed Sacrament. You will notice other parishioners doing so as well.

Yes, SSPX priests are valid Roman Catholic Priests. However, SSPX chapels are different from diocesan parishes which are presided over by the local Catholic Bishop. The society has its own valid Catholic bishops but is an international organization – similar to how a monastic order might operate separate from a diocese. SSPX priests still recognize Church authority and at every mass pray for the Pope as well as the local Bishop of the diocese where mass is being said.

Some diocesan bishops take exception to the presence of SSPX chapels. This is often due to the society’s persistence in maintaining the traditional mass and its insistence that clarification is needed regarding a number of problematic teachings that have emerged since the 2nd Vatican Council. For more regarding the major concerns SSPX has, please visit the SSPX website here.

The Mass is celebrated facing toward the altar, the tabernacle, and the Cross, but not toward the congregation. The focus of all of our worship in the Holy Mass is toward God and Him alone. In all liturgical rites of the Church, including the Roman Rite, both the priest and the congregation have always faced the same direction, toward the East (ad orientem), toward the Lord who comes in glory. Together, the people face the same direction as the priest, who acts as a mediator between them and God.

The prayers & even the scripture readings of the liturgy are offered up in mass as a worship of God, not primarily as a communication to the laity. It’s not entertainment & it’s not about us – it’s about God. Only in honoring God first & foremost can we receive fully the grace he wants to pour out on us.

The Catholic Faith, which is so beautifully expressed in the Holy Mass, was spread by the Apostles and by the early Christian missionaries throughout the Roman Empire. The common language of the Western Roman Empire was Latin, and this became the liturgical language of our rite, the Roman Rite. It has been the consistent teaching of many popes that Latin has special qualities as a language of worship. The use of this ancient language is a safeguard against errors and heresies; it is not subject to constant changes but remains the same for all time. Latin is a symbol of the visible universality and unity of the Church that through the centuries has preserved the bond of unity with our common center, Rome. Latin, as the language of the Church, unites Catholics from all nations and all centuries.

Although not specifically required, typically the priest will read the scripture readings for the day in English from the ambo before giving their homily. This helps for anyone who was not able to follow along in English with their missal beforehand.

Yes, Rome gave permission multiple times over. As expressed in the questions above, the situation surrounding the state of the society can seem confusing. Responses to this question vary depending on who answered and when. This reality points to the unfair lenses with which SSPX is often regarded. However, there is considerable impetus for Rome giving permission over and over again.

Concerned Catholics wrote to the Vatican on numerous occasions to seek permission to attend a reverent mass celebrated in the traditional Roman rite, and we have on record some of the responses below. These responses are from Msgr. Perl, who wrote on behalf of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) – this is the organization charged by the Pope with dealing with the SSPX and similar societies after the initial attempts to suppress the traditional mass.

In a 1996 letter he responded:

“In the strict sense you may fulfill your Sunday obligation by attending a Mass celebrated by a priest of the Society of Saint Pius X…If your intention is simply to participate in a Mass according to the 1962 Missal for the sake of devotion, this would not be a sin….”

Again, in a 1999 letter he wrote:

“The situation of the faithful attending chapels of the Society of St. Pius X is more complicated. They may attend Mass there primarily because of an attraction to the earlier form of the Roman Rite in which case they incur no penalty.”

He also further clarified in 1999:

On September 28, 1999 (under Protocol N. 539/99), Monsignor Perl of the Ecclesia Dei Commission replied as follows to an inquiry about whether one incurred the delict of schism by attending Mass each Sunday at an SSPX chapel in Arizona…Here an ambivalent view of the SSPX is plainly evident: its priests are deemed suspended— a penalty they could hardly incur if they were true and proper schismatics, since non-Catholics are not subject to Church disciplinary law. SSPX priests are deemed schismatic only if they ‘formally adhere’ to the schism, a term which has yet to be defined. Attendance at an SSPX chapel … is not encouraged, but neither is it forbidden. On the contrary, it is conceded that there is no penalty whatever for attending Mass at SSPX chapels if one does so ‘because of the reverence and devotion which they find there, because of their attraction to the traditional Latin Mass and not because they refuse submission to the Roman Pontiff.’ Monsignor Perl would hardly give such advice if the SSPX were a strictly schismatic association…. Yet Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos approaches these validly ordained priests and their bishops as Catholics, while Monsignor Perl says that Catholics may receive Communion at SSPX chapels without incurring any penalty… — advice that clearly concedes SSPX priests are doing no violence to the Sacrament….

He re-affirmed in 2003:

“Absolutely nobody incurs any punishment by attending the Masses of the Society. Of course one can fulfill one’s Sunday obligation by attending a Sunday Mass in a chapel or church of the Society. Whoever alleges otherwise, reveals that he merely fears concurrence.”

For more information, see this article.

“CANON VI.–If any one saith, that the canon of the mass contains errors, and is therefore to be abrogated; let him be anathema.”
“CANON IX.–If any one saith, that the rite of the Roman Church, according to which a part of the canon and the words of consecration are pronounced in a low tone, is to be condemned; or, that the mass ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue only; or, that water ought not to be mixed with the wine that is to be offered in the chalice, for that it is contrary to the institution of Christ; let him be anathema.”

General Council of Trent: Twenty-Second Session – Papal Encyclicals

The “Mass of Ages” is a term used to describe the Traditional Latin Mass in light of its ancient character and perpetual nature as the Church’s Roman rite.

Quo Primum – translated “In Perpetuity” or “Forever” – is a papal encyclical from 1570 AD. Source here.

“In virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used.” – Pope Saint Pius V

If papal encyclicals hold weight, then this one must too hold weight. Any encyclicals or commands that contradict the perennial teachings of the Church should be reconsidered as to see if they overstepped their right and proper authority.

One might ask – wasn’t Pope Saint Pius V just enforcing changes to liturgy after the Council of Trent, and doesn’t the modern Church have a right to do the same after Vatican II? Yes, the Church authorities & the Pope in particular have a right to govern & administrate the Church – but not to contradict or change perpetual teachings. These include the doctrines of the Church, and it may be argued Encyclicals such as Quo Primum.

Additionally, the Council of Trent’s changes codified and consolidated liturgical practices that already existed – it did not invent anything new. The Mozarabic, Sarum, or Lyons rites that preceded Trent have much more in common with the TLM. The New Mass represents a stark break from liturgical tradition with an express desire to invent something more appealing to the masses and to change the sacrifice of the mass to be perceived more as a shared communal meal.

Besides this, the council of Vatican II was intended to be pastoral, and the constitutional documents reflect this.

“Given the Council’s pastoral character, it avoided pronouncing, in an extraordinary manner, dogmas endowed with the note of infallibility.” – Pope Paul VI speaking of Vatican II

Unfortunately, certain people such as Archbishop Bugnini used the ambiguity of these pastoral documents to justify sweeping changes. These changes were codified after the council was concluded. Arguably, they would never have been approved by the actual council participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Holy Mass every Sunday

Our Lady of Fatima

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Society of St. Pius X?

What is the Main goal of the SSPX?

Why the Traditional Latin Mass?

What is the Canonical Status of the SSPX?

Wasn't the SSPX excommunicated?

I am new to the traditional mass. What should I expect? Should I be worried about what I'm wearing?

Can I receive Communion? Do I have to kneel for communion and receive communion on the tongue? Should I say 'Amen' after having received communion?

Is the SSPX Catholic?

Why do you face the altar? Why not the people?

Why not say the mass in English? Why Latin?

Rome gave permission to attend Sunday mass with the SSPX?

What are some of the things the Council of Trent says about the Latin Mass?

Was permission given to celebrate the TLM in perpetuity? What is Quo Primum? What is the Mass of Ages?

Holy Mass every Sunday

Our Lady of Fatima