Author Topic: SSPX Chapels (Read 18372 times)

Änσnymσus · « **on:** October 14, 2014, 04:36:15 AM »

I recently attempted to attend Mass at the SSPX Chapel in Manhattan with my young son. We arrived between 5 and 10 minutes before the start of the Mass. The chapel was pretty much full. We tried to be as quiet and discreet as possible when entering, but the chapel is located in a building that looks to have once been an old house, so the wooden floorboards creaked and we drew a bit of attention to ourselves. Most of the parishoners took no notice of us but those who did met our eyes with scowls and looks of mistrust and disdain. There were no pews, but rather couches, folding chairs and dining room / sitting room type chairs. Nearly all of the chairs were occupied, but there appeared to be room on some of the couches. However, no one moved down to make room for us. Finally, I noticed one free chair near the back, next to a table on which various SSPX books and pamphlets were laid out for sale. I told my son to go sit there (as the layout of the chapel does not really allow for standing - there is literally no room at the back so one would have to stand in the vestibule area, which is really outside the chapel proper). Anyway, when my son sat down, the scowling gentleman seated behind the table (the bookseller, I assume?) snapped his fingers at me to get my attention saying "Hey. Hey. He can't sit there. He can't sit there." So I simply said "All right," and ordered my son to return to my side. At this point, I thought to myself "Well, no one has to knock me over the head - I've got the message." The message being "Get lost, stranger." So my son and I departed without comment.

I'm not sure what we did to warrant this reaction - we were both well dressed as we always are for Mass. We were as quiet as it was humanly possible to be. Perhaps I was being prideful or overly sensitive for leaving, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that that was a pretty unwelcoming atmosphere. I've heard before that some SSPX-ers can be cliquish if not outright cultish, and I must say - much to my disappointment - that my recent experience at that chapel has done nothing to dispel that particular stereotype.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2014, 05:29:21 AM »

Are you sure it was an SSPX chapel?

ggreg · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2014, 05:35:56 AM »

I go to the SSPX exclusively now and have found it better than it has been for 20 years , here in the UK.

It depends a lot on the priest who runs the chapel and his district superior. If they are cliquish and cultish then the chapel takes on that persona. The dynamic is simply this. Some mentally balanced people leave because the priest does nothing or supports the nutters, the nutters' bloc increases and those remaining are scared into silence.

Mentally balanced people can wander from SSPX to CMRI to FSSP chapels like Cain from Kung Fu, but nutters are pot-committed so far more sticky and difficult to dislodge. The greatest success of the resistance (from my perspective) was to remove a hell of a lot of such people from the SSPX. I'm considering making a donation this Christmas to thank them for it.

You also need to consider that there are transvestites, practicing sodomites, trolls, crypto-joos (I just like the word), and all kinds of other weirdos turning up from time to time at the SSPX, who sometimes cause trouble, so new faces are, understandably, suspect for a time. That is not entirely unreasonable given how much our trust has been shat upon over the last 40 years.

Imagine turning up in the trenches in World War I with shiny boots, clean clothes and a cheery smile and asking where your bunk was and what was cooking for dinner. I doubt the men in the trenchs were all smiles.

Persist a little with it and they'll probably warm to you.

Manhattan is not exactly known for it's mid-west friendliness.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2014, 05:38:05 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Are you sure it was an SSPX chapel?

Yes.

St. Christopher's Mission
Soldier's, Sailor's, Airmen's & Marine's Club
283 Lexington Avenue (2nd floor)
New York, NY 10016
212-697-8561 (Coordinator's)
203-431-0201 (Ridgefield, CT priory)

Sunday 1:30pm

ggreg · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2014, 05:41:21 AM »

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@40.7480124,-73.9785444,3a,88.4y,120.57h,103.48t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sPQ4cJYB2XZ3c5YNwT8jTdg!2e0

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2014, 05:44:16 AM »

You act as if someone should put out the red carpet for you. Swallow your pride already and forget the scowls and looks of mistrust and disdain. Did you go there to assist at the Holy Sacrifice or to be accepted by the congregation?

You *are* a stranger there and in this day and age, many people *are* naturally skeptical of strangers. Shoot, kids don't even play out in the back yard anymore for fear of strangers. Is this news to you?

And you showed them all didn't you? You left for no reason whatsoever except you completely forgot why you even were there and your pride was hurt. Well that did a lot of good - not!

You did not say if you are fresh from the conciliar church or if you have ever even been to the True Mass or how long you've been battling to keep the true faith.

Perhaps after attending the abomination mass for so long, God wasn't going to just let you participate at the True Mass without first giving you a teensy weensy itsy bitsy puny little test - which you failed miserably on account of your stinking pride.

It is wrong and I am not advocating scowls and etc., never have - but if / when it happens, remember why you are there in the first place and humble yourself - and those scowls will mean absolutely nothing.

Also, there are many different ways you could have handled the whole situation.

First off, you *should* have arrived earlier than 5 minutes before Mass - could you cut it any closer? Getting there an hour before Mass would have afforded you not only the opportunity to assure a seat, it also would have allowed you time to actually speak to one of the congregation and let them help "show you the ropes" so to speak of that particular chapel. So next time, get there a lot earlier than 5 - 10 whole minutes.

As a stranger, you could have actually introduced yourself to one of the congregation - bet you never thought of that one. Nah, why would you want to do that when you expect to be automatically accepted and made room for in a chapel that was already "pretty much full"?

We have a man who is supposed to be pope preaching acceptance of sodomites and you leave the only remedy we have because you didn't like the way you were treated by some people there - well too bad for you. Militants like you are a dime a dozen - God doesn't need another spineless worm.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #6 on:** October 14, 2014, 06:30:51 AM »

You are welcome to come to our chapel in Philadelphia area.
St Jude's Roman Catholic Chapel SSPX, Eddystone, Pa.
We have 8am (low) Mass and 10am (high) Mass. Rosary and confession hour before Mass.
Also, there are Catechism classes and other activities for children and older ones.

P.S. we arrived at Mass 5 minutes late this past Sunday. Yes better 5 minutes early then 5 minutes late. Most of the time we arrive early for confession and Rosary. It is venial sin to be late.

And yes we should put out the "red carpet" for strangers seeking the true faith because it is Catholic and apostolic.
The 4 marks of the Church is one, holy, Catholic , apostolic.

OHCA · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2014, 06:37:15 AM »

Quote from: Guest

You act as if someone should put out the red carpet for you. Swallow your pride already and forget the scowls and looks of mistrust and disdain. Did you go there to assist at the Holy Sacrifice or to be accepted by the congregation?

You *are* a stranger there and in this day and age, many people *are* naturally skeptical of strangers. Shoot, kids don't even play out in the back yard anymore for fear of strangers. Is this news to you?

And you showed them all didn't you? You left for no reason whatsoever except you completely forgot why you even were there and your pride was hurt. Well that did a lot of good - not!

You did not say if you are fresh from the conciliar church or if you have ever even been to the True Mass or how long you've been battling to keep the true faith.

Perhaps after attending the abomination mass for so long, God wasn't going to just let you participate at the True Mass without first giving you a teensy weensy itsy bitsy puny little test - which you failed miserably on account of your stinking pride.

It is wrong and I am not advocating scowls and etc., never have - but if / when it happens, remember why you are there in the first place and humble yourself - and those scowls will mean absolutely nothing.

Also, there are many different ways you could have handled the whole situation.

First off, you *should* have arrived earlier than 5 minutes before Mass - could you cut it any closer? Getting there an hour before Mass would have afforded you not only the opportunity to assure a seat, it also would have allowed you time to actually speak to one of the congregation and let them help "show you the ropes" so to speak of that particular chapel. So next time, get there a lot earlier than 5 - 10 whole minutes.

As a stranger, you could have actually introduced yourself to one of the congregation - bet you never thought of that one. Nah, why would you want to do that when you expect to be automatically accepted and made room for in a chapel that was already "pretty much full"?

We have a man who is supposed to be pope preaching acceptance of sodomites and you leave the only remedy we have because you didn't like the way you were treated by some people there - well too bad for you. Militants like you are a dime a dozen - God doesn't need another spineless worm.

I'm not surprised that you didn't have the balls to put your name with this horseshit.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2014, 06:43:19 AM »

Quote from: Guest

You are welcome to come to our chapel in Philadelphia area.
St Jude's Roman Catholic Chapel SSPX, Eddystone, Pa.
We have 8am (low) Mass and 10am (high) Mass. Rosary and confession hour before Mass.
Also, there are Catechism classes and other activities for children and older ones.

P.S. we arrived at Mass 5 minutes late this past Sunday. Yes better 5 minutes early then 5 minutes late. Most of the time we arrive early for confession and Rosary. It is venial sin to be late.

And yes we should put out the "red carpet" for strangers seeking the true faith because it is Catholic and apostolic.
The 4 marks of the Church is one, holy, Catholic , apostolic.

I meant to give this post a thumbs up !! So sorry!
It is a lovely and charitable offer

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2014, 06:49:04 AM »

Quote from: Guest

You are welcome to come to our chapel in Philadelphia area.
St Jude's Roman Catholic Chapel SSPX, Eddystone, Pa.
We have 8am (low) Mass and 10am (high) Mass. Rosary and confession hour before Mass.
Also, there are Catechism classes and other activities for children and older ones.

P.S. we arrived at Mass 5 minutes late this past Sunday. Yes better 5 minutes early then 5 minutes late. Most of the time we arrive early for confession and Rosary. It is venial sin to be late.

And yes we should put out the "red carpet" for strangers seeking the true faith because it is Catholic and apostolic.
The 4 marks of the Church is one, holy, Catholic , apostolic.

Yes, you are all welcome to come to our chapel.

A.M.D.G. Barbara !Viva Cristo Rey!

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2014, 08:25:37 AM »

Well, I admit the possibility of my having been prideful and overly sensitive in my OP. But, no I didn't expect a red carpet... But actually being permitted to sit - at least permitting my child to sit - might have shown a bare modicuм of Christian charity.

Those who have been to this chapel will understand the layout and know that it's really not possible to stand there. If you're telling me you don't want me (or my son) sitting there, you're telling us in so many words to bugger off. So I did.

We attended a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy instead.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2014, 09:28:34 AM »

It's none of your business what time your fellow Catholic shows up at Mass. :geezer:

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2014, 09:33:31 AM »

The moral and behavioral tone of any particular chapel is usually determined by the priest. If he's weak, he will choose imbalanced laypeople to be in charge of various tasks, and they will in turn abuse whatever petty authority they believe they have if given half a chance.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #13 on:** October 14, 2014, 10:32:48 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Well, I admit the possibility of my having been prideful and overly sensitive in my OP. But, no I didn't expect a red carpet... But actually being permitted to sit - at least permitting my child to sit - might have shown a bare modicuм of Christian charity.

Those who have been to this chapel will understand the layout and know that it's really not possible to stand there. If you're telling me you don't want me (or my son) sitting there, you're telling us in so many words to bugger off. So I did.

We attended a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy instead.

This priory has many tiny chapels, the priests do not really keep a good watch. I attended the One north of Ridgefielf and though the former priest was very good, he was only there for a small amount of time each Sunday and did not have much sway over the general attitude of the chapel.

I've had a guy run over and take a kneeler from me while I was pregnant and I've seen multiple single people take up an entire pew so that my family could not sit together. People wouldn't talk to us, especially the women. The one time they did, it was because they wanted our children in the catechism class and they needed more kids.

I think it must be a northeastern thing and something to do with that priory because I've loved going to SSPX elsewhere.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #14 on:** October 14, 2014, 11:11:45 AM »

Quote from: Guest

Well, I admit the possibility of my having been prideful and overly sensitive in my OP. I didn't expect a red carpet... But actually being permitted to sit - at least permitting my child to sit - might have shown a bare modicuм of Christian charity.

Those who have been to this chapel will understand the layout and know that it's really not possible to stand there. If you're telling me you don't want me (or my son) sitting there, you're telling us in so many words to bugger off. So I did.

We attended a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy instead.

I also attend the Bizantine Catholic Chapel now. No longer support the SSPX and frankly I'm sick of traditional Catholics divisions and the constant arguments about the True Mass, false popes, sedevacantism, resistance, Vatican 2 and all that. I'm putting all that bitterness behind as it is no longer healthy and has become toxic.

Author Topic: SSPX Chapels (Read 18372 times)

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