Discover why the SSPX was founded by Archbishop Lefebvre and the spirit that animates his priestly society.
Image above: Archbishop Lefebvre offers Mass in the historic chapel of Our Lady of the Fields of the Canons of St. Bernard, now part of the Econe seminary complex.
A summary of why Archbishop Lefebvre founded the Society of St. Pius X is wonderfully given in these opening paragraphs of his praiseworthy Statutes that he wrote for his "pious union" of priests:
The Society is essentially apostolic, because such is the Sacrifice of the Mass and because the members will have, in general, to exercise an exterior ministry. They will live in the conviction that the whole effectiveness of their apostolate flows from the Sacrifice of Our Lord, which they offer daily.
The Society is placed specially under the patronage of the priesthood of Jesus, For Our Lord's whole existence was and remains priestly, and the Sacrifice of the Cross was the reason for His Incarnation. Thus will the Society's members, for whom Mihi vivere Christus est is a reality, live in a way entirely directed towards the Sacrifice of the Mass and our Lord's Sacred Passion."
Archbishop Lefebvre further developed this important theme in his 1975 sermon during the September pilgrimage to the national Marian shrine of Mariazell in Austria: The true Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which have just made available on the website.
In connection with this sermon, we would like to remind our readers that the 2015 Liturgical Calendar from Angelus Press is still available which:
presents inspiring photographs and works of art depicting the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Each month features a beautiful quote of Archbishop Lefebvre helping us understand better and reflect more deeply on the august nature of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, 'the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven.'"
In fact, as Bishop Tissier de Mallerais explained during the 2014 Angelus Press Conference, it was the Mass summarized entire life of Archbishop Lefebvre. This is why in regards to the post-conciliar liturgical crisis Archbishop Lefebvre stated:
Our objective today must be to restore to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass its due and rightful place, the place it has held in the Church's history and doctrine." [Get the book, The Mass of All Time]
Thus in the restoration of the traditional Mass will also come a growth of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, while the sacrificial nature of marriage and family life will be encouraged and strengthened.
