SSPX Founding Documents

JMJ

This is a long look back that was brought on by contemplating going to the 50th Anniversary of the SSPX in Lourdes!

P^3

SSPX's founding documents

Below are the English translations of the 3 founding documents for the Society of St. Pius X, of which the originals can be viewed here (in French and Latin).
The first is from the local ordinary of the diocese where Archbishop Lefebvre first opened a house of studies in Fribourg, Switzerland (where the seminarians were attending the still-conservative diocesan University of Fribourg).
The second is the Fribourg's bishop's approval of the SSPX's Statutes composed by Archbishop Lefebvre, and thus permission to erect the Priestly Society of St. Pius X as a pious union of priests in the diocese, originally for an experimental period as is customary with newly-established religious congregations.
The third is the canonical approval from the Holy See (the Congregation of the Clergy) for the erection of the Society of St. Pius X. This permanently established the pious union of priests founded by Archbishop Lefebvre as an official religious congregation of the Roman Catholic Church.
That the experimental period had not even been concluded before this important step was achieved, demonstrates the great Providence of God that Archbishop Lefebvre always relied upon to ensure the survival of Tradition—particularly in hindsight of its forthcoming persecution in just a few short years' time.
To get a better perspective of the historical context of these important events, see:

First written authorization given to Archbishop Lefebvre to open a seminary (August 18, 1970)

see an image of the document>
By these presents, We, Francois Charriere, Bishop Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, confirm the authorization which We gave to His Excellency Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, in an audience on June 6, 1969; to open at Fribourg an international house for candidates for the priesthood who will study at the University.
We implore for these future priests and on those who oversee their formation the blessings of Almighty God.
At our bishop’s residence in Fribourg, August 18, 1970
[signed] + Francois Charriere, Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg

Decree of erection for the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (November 1, 1970)

see an image of the document>
Given the encouragements expressed by the Second Vatican Council, in the decree Optatum Totius, concerning international seminaries and the distribution of the clergy;
Given the urgent necessity for the formation of zealous and generous priests conforming to the directives of the cited decree;
Confirming that the Statutes of the Priestly Society correspond to its goals:
We, Francois Charriere, Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, in the Holy Name of God invoked and all canonical prescriptions observed, decree what follows:

The “International Priestly Society of Saint Pius X” is erected in our diocese as a “Pia unio.”
The seat of the Society is fixed as the Maison St. Pie X (St. Pius X House), 50, rue de la Vignettaz in our episcopal city of Fribourg.
We approve and confirm the Statutes, here joined, of the Society for a period of six years ad experimentum, which will be able to be renewed for a similar period by tacit approval; after which, the Society can be erected definitively in our diocese by the competent Roman congregation.

We implore divine blessings on this Priestly Society that it may attain its principal goal which the formation of holy priests.
Given at Fribourg, at our episcopal residence.
November 1, 1970, on the Feast of All Saints,
[signed] + Francois Charriere,
Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg

Letter of praise and official approval for the SSPX by the Holy See (February 18, 1971)

see an image of the document>
Sacred Congregation for the Clergy
February 18, 1971
Prot. N. 133515/I.
Exc. me Domine [Excellentissime Domine],
With great joy I received your letter, in which your Excellency informs me of your news and especially of the Statutes of the Priestly Society.
As Your Excellency explains, this Association, which by your action, received on 1 November 1970, the approbation of His Excellency Francois Charriere, Bishop of Fribourg, has already exceeded the frontiers of Switzerland, and several Ordinaries in different parts of the world praise and approve it. All of this and especially the wisdom of the norms which direct and govern this Association give much reason to hope for its success.
As for the Sacred Congregation, the Priestly Society will certainly be able to conform to the end proposed by the Council [for the formation of seminarians], for the distribution of the clergy in the world.
I am respectfully, Your Excellency,
Yours in the Lord.
addictissimus in Domino,
J Card. Wright, Praef.
Exc.mo ac Rev.mo Domino
D.no Marcello LEFEBVRE
Archiepiscopo tit.de Synnada in Phrygia
Via Casalmonferrato, n. 33
ROMAE

Rome,the SSPX and this time of Crisis - Updated

+ JMJ Obviously there's lots of events right now. First we have the April 1st - I almost thought it was April Fools - meeting between Pope Francis and Bishop Fellay. Nothing really news worthy as this is a natural progression as Rome appears to be considering fulfilling Archbishop Lefebvre's wish to 'accept us as we are'. Second we have the April 8th publication of what will be a verbose exhortation of the Synod of the Family. I'm willing to bet that the Pope will give with one hand (unilateral regularization of SSPX) and take with the other (ambiguous document that opens the flood gates of sin further). Much to pray for. P^3

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Rorate-Caeli URGENT: Pope tells Italian Bishops he plans to abolish the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum

+ JMJ Now THIS is probably the most important news item in the last two years - yes I place this above the pandemic. I'm only surprised by how long it took for this to surface during this pontificate. I hope and pray that it is false or that if it comes to pass that somehow some good will arise out of the ashes of Summorum Pontificum. P^3 Courtesy of Rorate-Caeli URGENT: Pope tells Italian Bishops he plans to abolish the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum (Updated) Update (May 26): Rorate's additional sources in Rome have confirmed this Wednesday that Francis has indeed a text on Summorum Pontificum lined up, which has been developed for months, but what is not known at this point is if the text is just about a more limited take on the Summorum application questionnaire (first revealed by us in the spring of 2020) or about an overhaul of Summorum Pontificum in general: drafts could be dealing with both matters. It is also not impossible for a text to come ou...

If Pope Francis is bad - what about Pope St. John Paul II et al?

+ JMJ So here we are on the apparent cusp of yet another post conciliar Papal canonization. This time we have Pope's John-Paul I and Paul VI canonizations to 'look forward' to. This follows, obviously, on the heels of Pope St. John Paul II's canonization? So the first question that I usually encounter is: How is it possible, keeping in mind the doctrine on infallibility of canonizations (note doctrine not dogma), that Pope St. John Paul II is a Saint? First, what does it mean??? According to the doctrine of dogmatic facts - it is the universal opinion of Theologians that canonizations are infallible. It means that they enjoy the beatific vision. ... that's it. That is the doctrine and it is at the level of universal opinion of theologians. It is called a 'dogmatic fact'. That they made mistakes is obvious. That the miracles seem to not be very miraculous is also a bit of an issue. Here's something to consider: The rush that surrou...

The Vatican and SSPX – An Organizational Culture Perspective

Introduction The recent and continuing interactions between the Vatican and the SSPX have been a great opportunity for prayer and reflection. The basis for the disagreement is theological and not liturgical. As noted by Dr. Lamont (2012), the SSPX theological position on the four key controversial aspects of the Second Vatican Council are base on prior theological work that resulted from relevant magisterial pronouncements. So it is difficult to understand the apparent rejection of the theological position of the SSPX.

Tradicat

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