Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => SSPX Resistance News => Topic started by: coeurvoil on June 17, 2025, 10:25:32 AM
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Below is a translated excerpt from Fr. Chautard’s article, “ Le combat pour la messe “ (The Combat for the Mass) which can be found in the November 2010 issue of Le Chardonnet (the monthly bulletin of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet parish in Paris). Fr. Chautard is presently the rector of the SSPX University in Paris (L’Institut Universitaire Saint-Pie X).
Fr. Chautard’s explanation clearly shows why one should not attend SSPX Masses.
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Translated by: Unbrandable @ Cor-Mariae
Fr. Chautard:
“…But some do not hesitate to go to traditional Masses celebrated by priests (belonging to institutes) officially recognizing the full catholicity and legitimacy of the Council, of religious freedom, of the new Code of Canon Law, etc.
These faithful, and sometimes these priests, do not themselves adhere to the official directives of the said institutes. This scenario, unprecedented before 1984, more widespread in 1988, was further multiplied by the publication of the Motu Proprio Summarum Pontificuм in 2007.
It was then realized – or at least remembered – that fidelity to the Mass of all Time did not automatically entail fidelity to the doctrine of all Time and that allegiance to the traditional Mass did not prevent allegiance to the Council and what comes from it. The combat for the Mass, formerly inseparable from the combat for the Faith, was no more, de facto.
A Change of Emphasis
From this day, the combat of the Society for the Mass was further refined to put the spiritual, moral and normally inseparable link between the combat for the Faith and the combat for the Mass, between the assistance at the Mass of all Time and the confession of the Faith of all Time. Without a doubt, we can argue about the congenital inconsistency between an anti-ecuмenical, traditional Mass and modern errors like ecuмenism. It is not only about that.
For breaking the link between assistance at Mass and communion in the same faith with the minister of this Mass and his hierarchy rests upon a profound misunderstanding of the nature of the Eucharistic cult.
In fact, assisting – in an active manner and not purely passive by civility– at the Mass of a priest (like at any other sacrament) amounts to professing the same faith of this priest and the authority he is under.
Christian antiquity had a clear awareness of this reality. Individualism had not yet penetrated the sanctuary and Christian piety. Every baptized person knew that assisting at Mass meant publicly manifesting his communion in the faith with the celebrant. Whatever the individual reasons, they knew that participation at Mass is always a public confession of adhesion to the faith of the celebrant who presides over the Sacrifice and therefore to the sacramental and liturgical confession of the Faith. That is why they refused to assist at the Mass of a heretical priest. It would have publicly signified their communion in the same faith.
Consequently, to say that assistance at a Mass does not entail of itself any adhesion to the doctrinal orientation of the minister or of his institute constitutes in itself a liturgical error and proof of an individualism foreign to Catholic faith and piety.
That is why the combat led by the Society for the Mass [translator’s note: and now led by the true Catholic Resistance], far from being finished, has taken henceforth a direction that is more doctrinal still, manifesting more the narrow link between the virtue of faith and the virtue of religion, between doctrine and liturgy, between the Lex Credendi and the Lex orandi.
Such is the course to follow in order to keep an authentic fidelity, complete, to the teaching of Jesus Christ and so as not to separate in our Christian life what must stay united: faith in Jesus Christ and the irremediable attachment to the inestimable treasure that He left us: His Sacrifice.”
laportelatine.org/district/prieure/stnicol/Chardonnet/Chardonnet262.pdf (http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&subId=6872759&u=http%3A//laportelatine.org/district/prieure/stnicol/Chardonnet/Chardonnet262.pdf)
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I disagree that this demonstrates that one should not attend SSPX Masses. That is a gross exaggeration and distortion of the truth.
Bishop Williamson also did not adopt this extreme red light position, and I think many have fallen by the way in adopting it.
SSPX Priests are Catholic, and attending their Masses is in no way contrary to the profession of the Faith.
They do not accept Vatican II, Religious Liberty, or the New Mass: it is a very different situation from the "Indult" communities, even if the SSPX seems to be heading in that direction.
We are in a crisis. The Church even wants us to receive the sacraments from non-Catholic ministers in danger of death. Many are in danger of death if they cut themselves off from the sacraments because of this ill-conceived notion that you can't go to a Mass or receive sacraments from a priest unless he understands every aspect of the crisis as you do. It is dangerous and in my opinion not Catholic.
Of course we agree that the Resistance is right. Fortunate are those who have a Resistance priest to give them the Mass and the sacraments. But don't condemn the rest of the world to a spiritual desert.
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I disagree that this demonstrates that one should not attend SSPX Masses. That is a gross exaggeration and distortion of the truth.
Bishop Williamson also did not adopt this extreme red light position, and I think many have fallen by the way in adopting it.
SSPX Priests are Catholic, and attending their Masses is in no way contrary to the profession of the Faith.
They do not accept Vatican II, Religious Liberty, or the New Mass: it is a very different situation from the "Indult" communities, even if the SSPX seems to be heading in that direction.
We are in a crisis. The Church even wants us to receive the sacraments from non-Catholic ministers in danger of death. Many are in danger of death if they cut themselves off from the sacraments because of this ill-conceived notion that you can't go to a Mass or receive sacraments from a priest unless he understands every aspect of the crisis as you do. It is dangerous and in my opinion not Catholic.
Of course we agree that the Resistance is right. Fortunate are those who have a Resistance priest to give them the Mass and the sacraments. But don't condemn the rest of the world to a spiritual desert.
The Faith is the condition for grace; the sacraments do not sanctify in union with error.
The SSPX is under a practical agreement. They accept Rome’s jurisdiction. They accept Vatican II “in light of Tradition.” They declared the New Mass legitimately promulgated in 2012—and never retracted it.
That’s apostasy in practice.
> “Even if they give us everything—we refuse if they don’t convert.”
— Archbishop Lefebvre
This isn’t a question of sacraments. It’s a question of truth. You cannot drink from a poisoned well and call it grace.
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If at this point 13 years on, you are still going to the SSPX for Mass, you really need your head checked for sanity.
Nobody who goes to the SSPX ends up staying with the resistance. They end up like frogs in boiling water, becoming liberal over time.
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I disagree that this demonstrates that one should not attend SSPX Masses. That is a gross exaggeration and distortion of the truth.
Bishop Williamson also did not adopt this extreme red light position, and I think many have fallen by the way in adopting it.
SSPX Priests are Catholic, and attending their Masses is in no way contrary to the profession of the Faith.
They do not accept Vatican II, Religious Liberty, or the New Mass: it is a very different situation from the "Indult" communities, even if the SSPX seems to be heading in that direction.
We are in a crisis. The Church even wants us to receive the sacraments from non-Catholic ministers in danger of death. Many are in danger of death if they cut themselves off from the sacraments because of this ill-conceived notion that you can't go to a Mass or receive sacraments from a priest unless he understands every aspect of the crisis as you do. It is dangerous and in my opinion not Catholic.
Of course we agree that the Resistance is right. Fortunate are those who have a Resistance priest to give them the Mass and the sacraments. But don't condemn the rest of the world to a spiritual desert.
Well said!
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The Faith is the condition for grace; the sacraments do not sanctify in union with error.
The SSPX is under a practical agreement. They accept Rome’s jurisdiction. They accept Vatican II “in light of Tradition.” They declared the New Mass legitimately promulgated in 2012—and never retracted it.
That’s apostasy in practice.
> “Even if they give us everything—we refuse if they don’t convert.”
— Archbishop Lefebvre
This isn’t a question of sacraments. It’s a question of truth. You cannot drink from a poisoned well and call it grace.
Yes, the SSPX has gone the wrong direction since after the death of +ABL, what else is new? Every one of the various trad groups out there are wrong-headed about at least one thing or another. That's the way it is in this crisis.
The SSPX has thus far ordained for the world valid priests, so the sacraments are certainly valid - your opening sentence is ambiguous at best, as regards those who go to the SSPX, it applies only to those who receive them unworthily.
They still have a lot more very good valid, orthodox priests than any other group out there, and they preach the Catholic faith. Use them whenever you can for what you need, but don't paint with a brush so broad as to condemn them all.
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Your post is not correct. Canon 2261 of the old canon law allows the reception of sacraments of heretics if they are still uncondemned by church authority for any just cause. It even states, that you are allowed to receive the sacrements if they are otherwise non available.
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I disagree that this demonstrates that one should not attend SSPX Masses. That is a gross exaggeration and distortion of the truth.
Bishop Williamson also did not adopt this extreme red light position, and I think many have fallen by the way in adopting it.
SSPX Priests are Catholic, and attending their Masses is in no way contrary to the profession of the Faith.
They do not accept Vatican II, Religious Liberty, or the New Mass: it is a very different situation from the "Indult" communities, even if the SSPX seems to be heading in that direction.
We are in a crisis. The Church even wants us to receive the sacraments from non-Catholic ministers in danger of death. Many are in danger of death if they cut themselves off from the sacraments because of this ill-conceived notion that you can't go to a Mass or receive sacraments from a priest unless he understands every aspect of the crisis as you do. It is dangerous and in my opinion not Catholic.
Of course we agree that the Resistance is right. Fortunate are those who have a Resistance priest to give them the Mass and the sacraments. But don't condemn the rest of the world to a spiritual desert.
Posts like this give the SSPX priests and faithful the encouragement to stay where they are. This post should be red lighted.
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PS: You should not go to the Indult Mass, because they dont have certainly valid sacraments. We cant approach sacraments that are dubiously valid. As for the other issue: your salvation is more important than faith-politics of some organisiations. If you dont have another mass option and there is only the sspx then it is a matter of prudence if you will assist or not. You should as best as you can remove yourself out of this situation in the near future.
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If at this point 13 years on, you are still going to the SSPX for Mass, you really need your head checked for sanity.
Nobody who goes to the SSPX ends up staying with the resistance. They end up like frogs in boiling water, becoming liberal over time.
No. Not true. That is a generalisation not backed by statistical data. There are those of us who do attend Mass with the SSPX who will resist until the SSPX reverts to its pre-Fallay status or we are ejected from the SSPX chapels.
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No. Not true. That is a generalisation not backed by statistical data. There are those of us who do attend Mass with the SSPX who will resist until the SSPX reverts to its pre-Fallay status or we are ejected from the SSPX chapels.
You can’t resist what you continue to assist.
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Fr. Chautard:
...In fact, assisting – in an active manner and not purely passive by civility– at the Mass of a priest (like at any other sacrament) amounts to professing the same faith of this priest and the authority he is under...
Exactly what authority is anyone throughout Traddieland under?
Among those who recognize the V2 and post-V2 White Gammarellians, whose apostolate is/has been approved, or has any canonical legitimacy?
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You can’t resist what you continue to assist.
Although you are new here, it seems clear that you think you can both assist the post-V2 White Gammarellians -- via recognizing their authority, professing to be in union with them, etc. -- yet steadfastly and habitually resist everything they do or say.
Is this an accurate assessment?
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You can’t resist what you continue to assist.
Sounds like a new take on Johnnie Cochran - 'if it doesn't fit, you must acquit'.
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Posts like this give the SSPX priests and faithful the encouragement to stay where they are. This post should be red lighted.
amen
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Your post is not correct. Canon 2261 of the old canon law allows the reception of sacraments of heretics if they are still uncondemned by church authority for any just cause. It even states, that you are allowed to receive the sacrements if they are otherwise non available.
There's a lot to unpack there and you know it.
Issues of validity for one.
Then there is the question of whether it is possible to get an alternative.
Then also what type of sacrament.
Plus finally there is a question of prudence. Many people are getting sacraments regularly from the SSPX. Is that truly a "just cause". Doubt it.
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You can’t resist what you continue to assist.
:laugh1::laugh1::laugh1:
Exactly
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There's a lot to unpack there and you know it.
Issues of validity for one.
Then there is the question of whether it is possible to get an alternative.
Then also what type of sacrament.
Plus finally there is a question of prudence. Many people are getting sacraments regularly from the SSPX. Is that truly a "just cause". Doubt it.
It really is boiling the frog
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If at this point 13 years on, you are still going to the SSPX for Mass, you really need your head checked for sanity.
Nobody who goes to the SSPX ends up staying with the resistance. They end up like frogs in boiling water, becoming liberal over time.
I totally agree!! And Plenus Venter has seen it happen first hand!!!
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I totally agree!! And Plenus Venter has seen it happen first hand!!!
Well, it's a matter of knowing yourself, and knowing the issues.
Sadly, I have seen far more casualties from shunning the SSPX.
It is sad to see liberalism in the Resistance, families who were once daily Mass attendees sliding into worldliness, not having the supports they need to maintain the fervour of their children, etc.
It can be a difficult problem, and what is right for one family might not be right for another.
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Well, it's a matter of knowing yourself, and knowing the issues.
Sadly, I have seen far more casualties from shunning the SSPX.
It is sad to see liberalism in the Resistance, families who were once daily Mass attendees sliding into worldliness, not having the supports they need to maintain the fervour of their children, etc.
It can be a difficult problem, and what is right for one family might not be right for another.
Well, I believe that what you are describing is a lack of fighting spirit. But that will also mean liberalism if these families attend the SSPX...
My brothers, for lack of SSPX schools in those days, went to public schools. But my parents had a fighting spirit, albeit no support whatsoever. My brothers are very devout, one in a Third Order, the other in the Militia Immaculata. Fr Chazal explained it well one day, piety is not enough...
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Well, I believe that what you are describing is a lack of fighting spirit. But that will also mean liberalism if these families attend the SSPX...
My brothers, for lack of SSPX schools in those days, went to public schools. But my parents had a fighting spirit, albeit no support whatsoever. My brothers are very devout, one in a Third Order, the other in the Militia Immaculata. Fr Chazal explained it well one day, piety is not enough...
I forgot to mention: this was in the 70s, and they didn't even have Mass because my parents wouldn't go to Novus Ordo masses...
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I forgot to mention: this was in the 70s, and they didn't even have Mass because my parents wouldn't go to Novus Ordo masses...
So, how your parents keep the fighting spirit alive if you had no Mass, no sacraments, no priest, and the children attended public school? In what sort of area did you grow up? What was done for social life outside your family? How did your parents combat the lies and horrible examples from public school?
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So, how your parents keep the fighting spirit alive if you had no Mass, no sacraments, no priest, and the children attended public school? In what sort of area did you grow up? What was done for social life outside your family? How did your parents combat the lies and horrible examples from public school?
It's a good question :-) I often think of the Japanese people, who kept the Faith for 400 years without priests, it can be done.
In the case of my family, my brothers were born in the mid 60s. The never went to Mass because they had no idea Tradition was still around. I don't even think they said the daily Rosary as a family. However, when they found Tradition again in 1981, my brothers were 16 yo and 18 yo, they went to Mass regularly, became altar servers and learnt Latin from an old friend of the family.
Public schools were not as disastrous as they are nowadays though, I have to admit. My parents once tried a NO Catholic school and it was a disaster, they took them out after a trimester and never tried again!
How did my parents do it? An incredibly fighting spirit, political involvement, talk, talk, talk, and lots of good reading. My brother was reading a political-religious magazine, a very hard one, by 14 years old. There was hardly any small talk at the table, it was religion and politics. Involvement in political gatherings, a reactionary spirit, constantly fighting the world. We were not mundane, no dancing or parties.
My parents were involved in helping the Polish people when they were under Communist domination, convoys with food, clothes and medical supplies, combined with pilgrimages to our Lady of Czestochowa.
I guess it's a matter of the spirit you give your children. Saying the Rosary every day as a family is very good, but it is not enough. I have seen families saying the Rosary every day as a family, but the parents do not instil that fighting spirit to their children, and in the end, the children are a disaster, or at best extremely worldly. Father Chazal did talk about it once, but it was in chapel, I don't think it's a recorded sermon unfortunately...