“For several years I have occasionally attended Sunday Mass at an SSPX chapel. I have never regarded myself as anything other than a faithful Catholic in communion with the Holy Father, but the recent decree concerning the Society has made me wonder whether I should continue. Am I permitted to attend SSPX Masses? Do they still fulfil my Sunday obligation, and has anything changed for ordinary Catholics since the recent episcopal consecrations?”
The short answer is that Catholics should not attend Masses celebrated by priests of the Society of St Pius X. The recent actions of the Society have only reinforced that point. At the same time, merely attending an SSPX Mass from time to time does not, of itself, place someone in schism or incur the penalty of excommunication. The reasons for this require a little explanation.
The Society of St Pius X is in a very difficult position which has a long and arduous history. With the illicit episcopal consecrations in 1988, all its priests and bishops were subsequently excommunicated. Pope Benedict XVI lifted these excommunications in 2009, and in 2016 Pope Francis granted faculties for priests of the SSPX to validly and licitly absolve sins in the Sacrament of Confession. A year later, Pope Francis gave bishops the possibility of granting SSPX priests the faculty to assist at marriages and celebrate nuptial Masses.
Earlier this year, the Superior General of the SSPX announced that there would be new episcopal consecrations on July 1, contrary to canon law (canon 1387). In response, the Holy Father wrote to the Superior General of the SSPX imploring him not to proceed. He concluded: “I pray for you, because to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity.” The Holy Father’s pastoral solicitude for the faithful, and the gravity of what was planned, were both clearly underlined.
After the consecrations took place, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) issued a decree declaring the bishops excommunicated for their acts and for schism (canon 1364). Some questions have, however, been raised about what the accompanying DDF explanatory note means for members of the lay faithful.
First, neither the decree nor the explanatory note excommunicates lay faithful who attend Masses celebrated by SSPX priests. The decree states that those who "adhere to the schism" incur excommunication, while the explanatory note (n. 2) explains that this means those who “formally adhere” to the SSPX, pursuant to the provisions of a 1996 explanatory note.
That earlier note states:
“In the case of other faithful, however, it is obvious that occasional participation in liturgical acts or activities of the Lefebvrian [SSPX] movement is not sufficient for one to speak of formal adherence to the movement, done without adopting the attitude of doctrinal and disciplinary disunity of that movement.” (n. 7)
This means that occasional attendance at Masses celebrated by SSPX priests does not, of itself, necessarily mean that a member of the lay faithful has formally adhered to the SSPX and is therefore schismatic and excommunicated. The note makes clear that each case must be judged on its own merits.
The same note (n. 5) explains that “formal adherence” involves both an internal and an external element. Internally, it means placing one’s own judgement above obedience to the Pope, usually regarding positions contrary to the Magisterium of the Church. Externally, it will usually be demonstrated by exclusive participation in liturgies conducted by SSPX priests. Anyone who believes that he may have formally adhered to the SSPX should speak to his parish priest or contact the chancery or tribunal of his diocese.
A simple comparison may help. Attending a talk in a parish hall does not make someone a member of the group hosting it. But if he attends all of the group’s events, supports it materially and actively promotes its aims, it may be reasonable to conclude that he has formally adhered to it.
You say that you occasionally attend SSPX Masses and ask whether you may continue to do so. It is clear that the Holy See is directing Catholics not to attend celebrations or activities organised by the SSPX. This is for your own spiritual good, and for the good of others, because communion with and obedience to the Holy Father are necessary and life-giving aspects of Catholic life.
At the same time, there are several letters from the Holy See over the past four decades stating that attendance at Sunday Mass celebrated by an SSPX priest fulfils the Sunday obligation (canon 1247), provided that this is not done within the context of schism, as described above.
Secondly, the DDF explanatory note states that absolutions and marriages performed by SSPX priests are “invalid” (n. 3), following the statement made in Pope Leo’s letter of June 29.
The question of marriages is relatively straightforward, since bishops were previously permitted to grant the necessary faculty to SSPX priests, and it is difficult to envisage that continuing under the present circumstances.
The position regarding the faculty to absolve validly in the Sacrament of Confession is less clear. That faculty was granted by Pope Francis himself in 2016 (Misericordia et misera, n. 12), and excommunication does not, of itself, render the sacraments invalid. Rather, it prohibits the excommunicated minister from administering, celebrating or receiving the sacraments (canon 1331 §1).
One hopes that this point will be clarified in the coming weeks and months. For now, however, it is clear – to repeat the essential point – that the Holy See is directing Catholics not to receive the sacraments from SSPX priests.
We should pray for the unity of the Church, for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, now gloriously reigning, and for the members and adherents of the SSPX. Following Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is not always easy. Sometimes the trials come from outside the Church; at other times they arise within it.
In the first year of his pontificate, Pope St Pius X published his first encyclical, in which he quoted the great Doctor of the Church, St John Chrysostom. I shall leave the final words to them:
“The Church is thy hope, the Church is thy salvation, the Church is thy refuge.” (E Supremi, 1903)
