The Vatican and SSPX

With the SSPX announced episcopal consecrations due to take place in Écône tomorrow morning the standoff between the Holy See and the Society continues with statements such as the twenty eight page Profession of Faith from the Society last week, but no meetings - so far as we know - and seemingly no dialogue, unless it is one of the deaf, for all the popularity of that idea in the contemporary world.

There is a lot of comment and speculation on the internet about the situation, much heat but little light.

Readers, if they have not already searched this material,  will have found a lot of it verbose from US based commentators and opinion formers. You might agree with them but not with the style or delivery. 

However they may find some of the following of interest.

Ready to Harvest has a balanced account of the issue over the Latin liturgy, with some telling quotations from Pope Paul VI in the lead up to the introduction of the new Missal in 1969. The views he expresses suggest someone not happy with what he was doing, but having been told it would bring great benefits. Well, we now know how how successful it has been….

The video can be seen at What's the Big Deal with the Latin Mass?

 

An article from the National Catholic Register looks at the institutional significance of a rupture between the Church and the Society and draws especial attention to Pope Benedict XVI’s heroic attempts to resolve the issues. This can be read at This Is the Real Divide Between Rome and the SSPX

Similar themes are explored in an article from OnePeterFive which seeks a balanced discussion of the issues, not the outright hostility it rightly condemns. This can be seen at Clarifying Our Position on the SSPX

Veritatis Vox has a valuable interview with Bishop Athenasius Schneider about the issue in which the bishop sets out a clear understanding of the positions of both sides, as well as drawing out his established stance on the validity and legitimacy of the Traditional Latin Mass. Bishop Schneider’s calm, considered, prayerful manner should be an object lesson and guide to those engaged in this issue. 

The interview can be seen at The Core Question: Vatican II and the SSPX w/ Bishop Schneider

Life Site News has a report about Cardinal Müller’s intervention at the recent Consistory in which he said there was a need for a new Ecclesia Dei commission to draw people back into full communion. This can be read at Cardinal Müller calls for Vatican response to SSPX, new commission for those seeking ‘full communion’

There has been quite a bit about ‘partial communion’ and whether such a status exists, or can exist, within the Church

I also came upon a video from @MISUNDERSTOOP

in the form of a personal testimony by an American woman who came as an uninstructed Catholic to SSPX and, having become a member, can now look back on twenty eight years of week by week worship and clearly shows a real sense of belonging. It can be seen at My Experience with the SSPX

Today the always forceful Return To Tradition website has a commentary by its presenter Anthony Stine on the Pope’s letter dated yesterday to the head of SSPX. This video is robust in its argument and worth watching. It can be seen at BREAKING: VATICAN RESPONDS TO SSPX IN FINAL APPEAL TO BLOCK CONSECRATIONS

My own view, as I have stated in other posts is that I regret the failure to talk between the Vatican and SSPX. The failure must in that regard lie more with the Holy See, especially at a time when the Church in Germany seems to have gone haywire, and other European bishops are threatening to break canon law in respect of ordinations, or disciplining clergy of a traditionalist mindset. Yet there is no talk of sanctions against them.

I think a great opportunity was lost when SSPX did not accept the reconciliation moves made by Pope Benedict XVI. The reason seems to have been mistrust of the Vatican. With hindsight the woeful papacy of Pope Francis with Traditiones Custodes may well have proved them right.

Barring any last minute changes we must assume that the consecrations will go ahead, and then we must see how the Vatican  responds. To draw an analogy from a forthcoming anniversary will the first North American Pope end up playing the role of Lord North?

Since I wrote the article above the website Rorate Cæli has published, as a friend has now shared with me, a very dignified response from the Superior General of SSPX, Fr Pagliarani, in the form of a letter to the Pope. It can be read at SSPX Superior General Responds to Pope's Appeal

Let us pray, at this eleventh hour, for an amicable resolution of this seeming impasse.

Images:Wikipedia