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QUESTION 1
WHAT IS THE SOCIETY OF ST. PIUS X?

SSPX: 40 Years of Fidelity DVD now available!

SSPX: 40 Years of Fidelity DVD now available!
For over 40 years, the SSPX has stood firmly for the purity of the Faith and the glory of Catholic tradition. In honor of the 40th anniversary of its founding, Angelus Press produced this beautiful documentary of this great work of God.

Experience the humble beginnings of the Society, the turbulent years that followed, and the triumphant achievements that solidified the worldwide presence of the SSPX that we know today. This beautiful DVD will be a treasure in your home for years to come. Just $14.95 for a limited time only!
>   1-5-2012

 

Watch some excerpts of the DVD

 

   

SUMMARY

The Society of St. Pius X is an international priestly society of common life without vows, whose purpose is the priesthood and that which pertains to it.

The SSPX was patterned by its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, after the religious societies of foreign missions.

 USA DISTRICT STATISTICS

85 priests

9 deacons

14 brothers

80 seminarians

24 sisters

850 Third Order members

98 chapels

18 priories

3 houses
of formation

3 retreat houses

25 schools
& 1 college

1 publishing house: Angelus Press

The spirit of the SSPX is essentially apostolic, because such is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and because the members of the Society will have in general to exercise an exterior ministry.

A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY

1969

A “retired” archbishop, His Excellency Marcel Lefebvre, agrees to help a handful of young seminarians who are disconcerted by the direction being taken in post-Vatican II seminaries in their priestly formation. He does this, not only by undertaking their training, but also by founding a Society aiming at fostering a priestly life according to the wise norms and customs of the Church of previous days.

1988 Ordinations at Saint Pius X International Seminary in Econe, Switzerland

1988 Ordinations at the International Seminary of St. Pius X in Econe

NOVEMBER 1, 1970

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is officially recognized by the local ordinary of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg, Bishop Charriere. It is therefore truly a new little branch pushed forth by the Church.

FEBRUARY 18, 1971

Cardinal Wright, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, issues a decree praising the wisdom of the Society’s statutes.

JUNE 10, 1971

Archbishop Lefebvre announces, together with the staff of the International Seminary of St. Pius X at Econe (Switzerland), the refusal to adopt the Novus Ordo Missae (cf. QUESTION 5).

1971 - 1974

Following on Cardinal Wright’s letter are other sure signs of Rome’s full acceptance of the SSPX:

  1. Allowing its houses to be erected canonically in one Italian and two Swiss dioceses.

  2. Allowing three outside priests to join the Society and to be incardinated directly into it.

During the same years the French Episcopal Conference was maneuvering to have the Society and its seminary suppressed (cf. QUESTION 3).

NOVEMBER 1, 1980

By its 10th anniversary, the SSPX has 40 houses on two continents.

NOVEMBER 1, 1995

By its 25th anniversary, the SSPX numbers four bishops, over 360 priests, 50 brothers, 120 sisters and 53 oblate sisters, all living in 140 houses in 27 countries. Together they seek the goal of the priesthood: the glorification of God, the continuation of Our Lord’s redemptive work, the salvation of souls. They accomplish this by fidelity to Christ’s testament, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (cf. APPENDIX III).

 MORE ARTICLES RELATED TO THIS TOPIC
Is recognizing the SSPX questioning the Council?
"The rift between the Holy See and the SSPX arises because the Society rejects these particular elements of Vatican II [religious liberty, ecumenism, collegiality], not because of an intention on the part of the Holy See to defend Vatican II as a whole"… 4-19-2012

Interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay after his meeting with Cardinal William Levada

The meeting was conducted with great courtesy and with equally great candor, because for the sake of honesty the SSPX refuses to evade the problems that remain... 9-14-2011
Holy See Press Release: Meeting between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the SSPX
9-14-2011

GET THE FULL PICTURE...
about the SSPX with this select group of informative conferences and articles

 
 

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