Is it a sin to go hear Mass at an SSPX chapel?

[Resurrexi]

Ok, here's a senario:

Because I would like to see what SSPX Masses are like, I go to an SSPX chapel for Mass on Sunday, having already attended an indult Mass and fufilled my Sunday Obligation. During Mass at the chapel, I act just as I would at an indult Mass: I would say "et cum spritu tuo" and the like several times; I would stand, sit, and kneel just as everyone else; I would adore the Host at the Mass; and I would possibly join in singing some of the hymns and/or chants. I would not, though, recieve the Host at the SSPX Mass.

Would I commit a sin in doing this. If so, would it be a mortal sin? I've never heard an SSPX Mass, but would like to out of curiosity, if you are wondering why I am asking.

I am asing because I dont really want the opinion of someone who, like many of the posters on FIsheaters, loves the SSPX or attends their Masses.

Thanks,
Tyler

Edited March 31, 2006 by StThomasMore

[Era Might]

I could not recommend it.

Would you attend, say, the Mass of a breakaway community of married Priests, since it would be valid?

[Resurrexi]

I dont care if you would reccomend it or not. I want to know if it would be sinful.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

no.

[Era Might]

That depends on many factors (scandal, personal intent, occasion of sin, etc).

For this reason, I could not recommend it.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

It would be prudent not to put yourself in the occasion of sin. Do not abandon prudence (what is best?) for minimalism (what can I get away with?).

[jasJis]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Mar 31 2006, 03:47 PM']It would be prudent not to put yourself in the occasion of sin.  Do not abandon prudence (what is best?) for minimalism (what can I get away with?).
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That's probably a good idea when donating money to the Eastern Orthodox Church as well. What's the least amount that's best?

[Theoketos]

Maybe with a strong tendancy towards yes.

[Ora et Labora]

I think it depends on why you want to go partly.

[brendan1104]

Tyler-

The Vatican says they fulfill obligations/you can support them financially. \

I don't think that they would want to lead you into sin..

and it's Catholic worship, so it's not a sin.

So- no, it's not a sin to actively participate in their Liturgies.

[Cam42]

[quote name='StThomasMore' date='Mar 31 2006, 05:10 PM']Ok, here's a senario:

Because I would like to see what SSPX Masses are like, I go to an SSPX chapel for Mass on Sunday, having already attended an indult Mass and fufilled my Sunday Obligation. During Mass at the chapel, I act just as I would at an indult Mass: I would say "et cum spritu tuo" and the like several times; I would stand, sit, and kneel just as everyone else; I would adore the Host at the Mass; and I would possibly join in singing some of the hymns and/or chants. I would not, though, recieve the Host at the SSPX Mass.

Would I commit a sin in doing this. If so, would it be a mortal sin? I've never heard an SSPX Mass, but would like to out of curiosity, if you are wondering why I am asking.

I am asing because I dont really want the opinion of someone who, like many of the posters on FIsheaters, loves the SSPX or attends their Masses.

Thanks,
Tyler
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It depends on your intent. Do you intend to do anything more than what you are stating? As a practice, it cannot be recommended, that is from the Vatican, but if it is for the reasons that you list and nothing more, I would not say it is sinful in and of itself.

Although there is no real need to go, it is no different than going to an indult Mass, except that one has jurisdiction and one does not. One is said by a priest who is not suspended/excommunicated and the other is. One is in full communion with Rome and one is not.

I cannot recommend that you go. There is no real advantage and there is no real need. Therefore, follow Msgr. Perl's advice and do not go.

[Resurrexi]

Era Might is a Msgr.?

I would have another reason to go. All the ladies would be veiled and everyone would be in dress clothes and the sermon would be about hell, rather that the normal sermon at the indult which is about impurity.

[Cam42]

[quote name='StThomasMore' date='Mar 31 2006, 10:51 PM']Era Might is a Msgr.?

I would have another reason to go. All the ladies would be veiled and everyone would be in dress clothes and the sermon would be about hell, rather that the normal sermon at the indult which is about impurity.
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That is not a sufficent reason to go. Sorry.............and no Era is not a Monsignor.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

You can probably watch a video of one of their masses online. In fact, I think I've seen them.

[brendan1104]

[quote name='thedude' date='Mar 31 2006, 11:10 PM']You can probably watch a video of one of their masses online.  In fact, I think I've seen them.
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SSPX?

i think in korea or something...

[Guest JeffCR07]

As Cam said, [i]if[/i] there is no other factor involved in your going outside of pure curiosity, then it seems (to me at least) that it would not be sinful.

For a similar example, I might go to a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy in order to edify myself and learn about what it looks like in practice as opposed to on paper. Even if I were to sing or respond along with the rest of the congregation (though for me that would feel disingenuous), and reverence the Holy Eucharist as we should, my refusal to receive communion would be a clear and sufficient sign of the fact that I am not in communion with these people and do not share all of their beliefs.

Now if the above is permissible - and it is - then [i]prima facie[/i] so is attending an SSPX Mass in like manner. While it is important to point out the (very) significant differences between a schismatic group like the SSPX and the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, we must also keep in mind that the SSPX is much closer to Her Fullness than most other groups.

All of this being said, the practical questions brought up by both Cam and Era are entirely correct: going multiple times is less than advisable and, moreover, if one is familiar with the Tridentine Liturgy, then their is no meaningful edification gained by attending an SSPX Mass, as it is identical in form. Thus, I would be [i]extremely[/i] skeptical of someone who attends the Indult Mass who is going to an SSPX Mass for the sake of "learning" or "curiosity."

Your Brother In Christ,

Jeff

[brendan1104]

[url="http://sspxseminary.org/flashintro.html"]Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary[/url]

So tempting...

but so dangerous...

Edited April 1, 2006 by brendan1104

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Better:
[url="http://www.fssp.com/main/olgs.html"]http://www.fssp.com/main/olgs.html[/url]

[Era Might]

[quote]While the priests of the Society of St. Pius X are validly ordained, they are also suspended a divinis, that is they are forbidden by the Church from celebrating the Mass and the sacraments because of their illicit (or illegal) ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood without proper incardination (cf. canon 265). In the strict sense there are no "lay members" of the Society of St. Pius X, only those who frequent their Masses and receive the sacraments from them.

While it is true that participation in the Mass at the chapels of the Society of St. Pius X does not of itself constitute "formal adherence to the schism", such adherence can come about over a period of time as one slowly imbibes a schismatic mentality which separates itself from the teaching of the Supreme Pontiff and the entire Catholic Church classically exemplified in A Rome and Econe Handbook which states in response to question 14 that:

"The SSPX defends the traditional catechisms and therefore the Old Mass,and so attacks the Novus Ordo, the Second Vatican Council and the New Catechism, all of which more or less undermine our unchangeable Catholic faith."

It is precisely because of this schismatic mentality that this Pontifical Commission has consistently discouraged the faithful from attending Masses celebrated under the aegis of the Society of St. Pius X.

--Monsignor Camille Perl, Secretary of the "Ecclesia Dei" commission[/quote]

[Era Might]

[quote name='Cam42' date='Mar 31 2006, 10:57 PM']and no Era is not a Monsignor.
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I'm not?