I get a lot of questions about the Society of Saint Pius the Tenth (SSPX), from well-meaning Catholics. The bottom line about the SSPX is this:
- They are a fraternity of Catholic priests in communion with Pope Francis
- Their orders are valid.
- Their liturgies satisfy your Sunday obligation
- Their sacraments are valid.
Some lay faithful have the desire to dig more deeply into the matter and/or have been misled by enemies of Tradition on one or more of the aformentioned facts. For those who want to learn more about the details, I’m providing some very brief resources below.
Canon Law
Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann1244-1253_en.html
Excommunication of the SSPX Bishops Lifted
http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_letters/documents/hf_ben-xvi_apl_20090702_ecclesiae-unitatem.html
The Canonical Mission of the SSPX
Pope Francis personally granted the SSPX authority to ordain and discipline priests without needing permission of the local ordinary. He named Bishop Fellay named Canonical Minister of the First Instance, and then of the Second Instance also
https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=31663
https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2017/05/for-record-rome-has-given-sspx-right-to.html
Bishop Fellay given a canonical ministry with authority to discipline clerics.
https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/06/for-record-ecclesia-dei-secretary.html
Permission to Ordain Priests
Pope Francis has authorized the SSPX to continue legally and licitly ordaining Priests, even without requesting permission from local Bishops (which, in some cases, they do anyway, and they always respect the Bishops, the Shepherds of the Church).
https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=31663
Faculties for Marriages
Pope … Read the rest
