Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => SSPX Resistance News => Topic started by: Stella on January 03, 2014, 05:37:00 AM
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I'd be interested in people's thoughts about Confession in this time of crisis in the Church and in the SSPX.
For what it's worth, for many months I had been going to confession only when there was a Resistance Mass. I am located near one of the Pseudo-priories (http://www.svas.net/classroom-pictures) that has Mass at least once a month, but a situation arose when I needed the graces of the Sacrament, and the next Mass had not yet been scheduled.
So I went to the SSPX for confession, and it was the right thing to do. It doesn't matter how I "felt" about the priest or the advice he gave. I needed the encounter with the Precious Blood which flows so efficaciously in this Sacrament, whether I feel it or not.
My concern is for people who are going to confession only when there is a Resistance Mass. It's just so easy for habits of sin to develop and flourish without our awareness.
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If one is in mortal sin, he ought to go to a priest that he knows he can trust. Fr. Pfeiffer says the same.
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I'd be interested in people's thoughts about Confession in this time of crisis in the Church and in the SSPX.
For what it's worth, for many months I had been going to confession only when there was a Resistance Mass. I am located near one of the Pseudo-priories (http://www.svas.net/classroom-pictures) that has Mass at least once a month, but a situation arose when I needed the graces of the Sacrament, and the next Mass had not yet been scheduled.
So I went to the SSPX for confession, and it was the right thing to do. It doesn't matter how I "felt" about the priest or the advice he gave. I needed the encounter with the Precious Blood which flows so efficaciously in this Sacrament, whether I feel it or not.
My concern is for people who are going to confession only when there is a Resistance Mass. It's just so easy for habits of sin to develop and flourish without our awareness.
Of course and without a second thought you must seek a valid priest for the sacraments, and let no one vex your soul and steal your interior peace by advising you otherwise.
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:dancing-banana:I see no problem with going to an SSPX priest. I DO see a problem with remaining in mortal sin. After all, the priest brings Christ to us, therefore his personal stance regarding SSPX issues is of no importance. The same, IMO, can be said of Mass. Do we fall into the snare of using our feelings as our guide? God forbid! Yes, one may "like" and "agree" with the Resistance priests, but the fact remains that SSPX priests are validly ordained. To rely upon oneself for having made a perfect act of contrition and refusing to avail oneself of the Sacrament when it is readily available would seem to add pride and presumption to the state of mortal sin. It is only when no priest is available that God accepts our puny efforts.
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:dancing-banana:I see no problem with going to an SSPX priest. I DO see a problem with remaining in mortal sin. After all, the priest brings Christ to us, therefore his personal stance regarding SSPX issues is of no importance. The same, IMO, can be said of Mass. Do we fall into the snare of using our feelings as our guide? God forbid! Yes, one may "like" and "agree" with the Resistance priests, but the fact remains that SSPX priests are validly ordained. To rely upon oneself for having made a perfect act of contrition and refusing to avail oneself of the Sacrament when it is readily available would seem to add pride and presumption to the state of mortal sin. It is only when no priest is available that God accepts our puny efforts.
Well said Frances. Good Catholic folks need to stop listening to bad advice which endangers their spiritual life and salvation.
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Won't God provide perfect contrition for those who won't go to the SSPX?
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FWIW, I've never heard anyone so much as suggest that one should put off confession until they can get to a Resistance priest.
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FWIW, I've never heard anyone so much as suggest that one should put off confession until they can get to a Resistance priest.
I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
If we're supposed to trust that God will provide graces to persevere when we refuse one available sacrament, why should we not trust that He will provide the graces from another available sacrament?
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FWIW, I've never heard anyone so much as suggest that one should put off confession until they can get to a Resistance priest.
I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
If we're supposed to trust that God will provide graces to persevere when we refuse one available sacrament, why should we not trust that He will provide the graces from another available sacrament?
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I am will answer. But I think part of it is because confession of mortal sins is so utterly necessary for salvation. I've always understood that, if one is on their deathbed, one can confess to any valid priest. e.g. even an "Orthodox" schismatic*; (similar to how anyone can baptize, whether heretic or infidel, because Baptism is so necessary. ) Whereas, obviously one is not supposed to go to Masses of the "Orthodox". (I think part of it is because of showing communion with them? - as I said, hopefully someone else can explain it better) The Church knows that it is very difficult for most people to truly have perfect contrition, and you don't want to risk your salvation on that. Relying on perfect contrition is only when confession is absolutely not available.
I think Fr. Pfeiffer made the distinction in a sermon in the past year, but sorry I can't point you to it.
*obviously assuming he's the only one available. If you have access to a good Catholic priest, obviously you confess to him.
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I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
Listen to Fr. Pfeiffer's explanation here:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2013/08/24/the-sspx-is-in-the-same-theological-boat-as-the-fssp/
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With the FSSP you have doubt about the validity of the priests, with SSPX you do not. Their theological positions are not a factor if they do not preach or impart error or heterodoxy at Mass.
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I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
Listen to Fr. Pfeiffer's explanation here:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2013/08/24/the-sspx-is-in-the-same-theological-boat-as-the-fssp/
Did Fr. Pfeiffer mention confession in this sermon? If so, at what point in the recording?
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It's so difficult to even get into confession here. The line is so long, and the SSPX priest here doesn't even get through half the line.
Sometimes I'll try to get in right after 6:30AM Mass on Sunday. I'll even be in line before the Mass is entirely over, and that's the only way I'll be able to get in. (And that's if I sit in the very back pew where people line up for confessions.)
If I try to get in line at 7:40AM (the next Mass would be at 8:30AM) it's already a lost cause. There's already a seemingly endless line that goes on for 3-4 (sometimes 5) pews.
I'm not criticizing the priest for "being too slow" or whatever. I just miss Father Bolduc's ability to get through 3 lines of confession before Mass, and offering confession even after Mass for those who couldn't make it. :sad:
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I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
Listen to Fr. Pfeiffer's explanation here:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2013/08/24/the-sspx-is-in-the-same-theological-boat-as-the-fssp/
Did Fr. Pfeiffer mention confession in this sermon? If so, at what point in the recording?
Listen to the whole thing; it is only 8 minutes.
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With the FSSP you have doubt about the validity of the priests, with SSPX you do not. Their theological positions are not a factor if they do not preach or impart error or heterodoxy at Mass.
Then are you okay with going to a Mass of an FSSP priest who left the SSPX after ordination who does not impart error or heterodoxy at Mass?
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I went to confession 35 times last year.
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I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
Listen to Fr. Pfeiffer's explanation here:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2013/08/24/the-sspx-is-in-the-same-theological-boat-as-the-fssp/
Did Fr. Pfeiffer mention confession in this sermon? If so, at what point in the recording?
Listen to the whole thing; it is only 8 minutes.
I did, but if he mentioned the distinction between confession and Mass per Mith's question, I missed it. I didn't hear him mention confession.
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I haven't either, I'm just trying to understand the difference between refusing to attend mass as a rule by a priest who is NOT excommunicated, an heretic or a schismatic and going to confession to them.
Listen to Fr. Pfeiffer's explanation here:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2013/08/24/the-sspx-is-in-the-same-theological-boat-as-the-fssp/
Did Fr. Pfeiffer mention confession in this sermon? If so, at what point in the recording?
Listen to the whole thing; it is only 8 minutes.
I did, but if he mentioned the distinction between confession and Mass per Mith's question, I missed it. I didn't hear him mention confession.
I apologize. You are correct. Check out this link instead:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2014/01/03/priests-and-faithful-ought-not-to-support-the-neo-sspx-fr-joseph-pfeiffer/
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Interesting replies here. I haven't actually heard of anyone trying to tell someone that they shouldn't go to confession to an SSPX priest, but I have reason to suspect that that is the position of some who attend Resistance Masses. It's a good point to have clarified regardless.
Another point is that mortal sin is not the only reason why someone should go to confession. Souls are very delicate, and someone committing venial sins or even suffering strong temptations can be greatly helped by a good confession.
Temptations of course are not sins, but simply the act of bringing them into the Light can be quite beneficial, in addition to any advice the priest might give. I have personal experience on this one.
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Fr. Pfeiffer has mentioned in the past that we can go to confession to any valid priest because confession is not a public sacrament, whereas the Mass is.
As a warning though, I have encountered liberalism in the confessional of our local SSPX chapel. The priest has said that we shouldn't bother to confess our venial sins, that this and that are not sins, and he encourages the use of NFP! Beware! (Maybe he's just an extreme case.)
I am especially cautious when sending my children to the SSPX confessionals (especially at our chapel)...they might be told that it's not a sin to steal from the cookie jar anymore!
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EM,
Then are you okay with going to a Mass of an FSSP priest who left the SSPX after ordination who does not impart error or heterodoxy at Mass?
Did I say that? With an FSSP there is always the issue of Mass taking place in a church which has been profaned by the Great sacrilege. By necessity and if the conditions previously mentioned are fulfilled and if there is no grave inconvenience you are obliged to fulfill your duty at Mass. One may assist at a sede Mass as well under the same conditions.
One should not tailor his spiritual life around the antics of Bishop Fellay or the fraternal warfare between the SSPX and the resistance.
There are much bigger things in the Church for which we might be concerned.
Folks need to get back to being just Catholics and not partisans. Heaven and your final end is the only matter of importance.
And for the parents and guardians of the children, so much more so.
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Fr. Pfeiffer has mentioned in the past that we can go to confession to any valid priest because confession is not a public sacrament, whereas the Mass is.
The individual confession is not public; this is true. However, all sacraments are official acts of the Church.
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EM,
Then are you okay with going to a Mass of an FSSP priest who left the SSPX after ordination who does not impart error or heterodoxy at Mass?
Did I say that? With an FSSP there is always the issue of Mass taking place in a church which has been profaned by the Great sacrilege. By necessity and if the conditions previously mentioned are fulfilled and if there is no grave inconvenience you are obliged to fulfill your duty at Mass. One may assist at a sede Mass as well under the same conditions.
One should not tailor his spiritual life around the antics of Bishop Fellay or the fraternal warfare between the SSPX and the resistance.
There are much bigger things in the Church for which we might be concerned.
Folks need to get back to being just Catholics and not partisans. Heaven and your final end is the only matter of importance.
And for the parents and guardians of the children, so much more so.
The argument put forth by the former SSPX has to do with the FSSP's official principles. The same argument can now be directed towards the neo-SSPX because their official principles have changed, whether de jure (6 Conditions) or de facto (April 15, 2012 Doctrinal Declaration).
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EM,
Then are you okay with going to a Mass of an FSSP priest who left the SSPX after ordination who does not impart error or heterodoxy at Mass?
Did I say that? With an FSSP there is always the issue of Mass taking place in a church which has been profaned by the Great sacrilege. By necessity and if the conditions previously mentioned are fulfilled and if there is no grave inconvenience you are obliged to fulfill your duty at Mass. One may assist at a sede Mass as well under the same conditions.
One should not tailor his spiritual life around the antics of Bishop Fellay or the fraternal warfare between the SSPX and the resistance.
There are much bigger things in the Church for which we might be concerned.
Folks need to get back to being just Catholics and not partisans. Heaven and your final end is the only matter of importance.
And for the parents and guardians of the children, so much more so.
The argument put forth by the former SSPX has to do with the FSSP's official principles. The same argument can now be directed towards the neo-SSPX because their official principles have changed, whether de jure (6 Conditions) or de facto (April 15, 2012 Doctrinal Declaration).
Regardless of what justifications are given it is an objective fact that these partisan endeavours are contributing to the ghettoization of Traditionalists into closed enclaves which are unable to contribute to the restoration of the Church and causing great spiritual confusion among ordinary souls such as the original poster here, having been bullied into the position of wondering if they must wait for a resistance priest to confess a mortal sin, placing their soul in eternal peril over squabbles among the SPX factions.
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EM,
Then are you okay with going to a Mass of an FSSP priest who left the SSPX after ordination who does not impart error or heterodoxy at Mass?
Did I say that? With an FSSP there is always the issue of Mass taking place in a church which has been profaned by the Great sacrilege. By necessity and if the conditions previously mentioned are fulfilled and if there is no grave inconvenience you are obliged to fulfill your duty at Mass. One may assist at a sede Mass as well under the same conditions.
One should not tailor his spiritual life around the antics of Bishop Fellay or the fraternal warfare between the SSPX and the resistance.
There are much bigger things in the Church for which we might be concerned.
Folks need to get back to being just Catholics and not partisans. Heaven and your final end is the only matter of importance.
And for the parents and guardians of the children, so much more so.
The argument put forth by the former SSPX has to do with the FSSP's official principles. The same argument can now be directed towards the neo-SSPX because their official principles have changed, whether de jure (6 Conditions) or de facto (April 15, 2012 Doctrinal Declaration).
Regardless of what justifications are given it is an objective fact that these partisan endeavours are contributing to the ghettoization of Traditionalists into closed enclaves which are unable to contribute to the restoration of the Church and causing great spiritual confusion among ordinary souls such as the original poster here, having been bullied into the position of wondering if they must wait for a resistance priest to confess a mortal sin, placing their soul in eternal peril over squabbles among the SPX factions.
Listen here to what Fr. Pfeiffer says about going to confession:
http://www.ecclesiamilitans.com/2014/01/03/priests-and-faithful-ought-not-to-support-the-neo-sspx-fr-joseph-pfeiffer/