The SSPX Discourse Needs to Change
The Final Letters
Reading the most recent back-and-forth between Pope Leo XIV and Fr. Pagliarani (the Superior General of the SSPX), I am struck by the complete inadequacy of the current discourse on the SSPX. His Holiness and Fr. Pagliarani are rapt with pastoral solicitude for the faithful, tender care for the Mystical Body of Christ, and genuine charity for one another. His Holiness has a paternal heart that genuinely cares for his children in the Society; Fr. Pagliarani has a filial heart that truly reverences His Holiness.
This much is evident from their own words, which genuinely express these dispositions. Far from dismissing the value of the Society, His Holiness compliments it with these words: “The Church recognizes the devotion to liturgical life, commitment to priestly formation, apostolic zeal, and desire for fidelity to Tradition that characterize many people and communities connected to your Fraternity.”
Far from casting thunderbolts of derision at Rome, Fr. Pagliarani speaks with confidence and love: “Thank you very much for the letter that Your Holiness so kindly addressed to me. I have been deeply touched by Your paternal solicitude…I am confident that Your paternal heart as universal Shepherd will be moved by this very particular situation. One day, all the difficulties between the Holy See and the Society will be resolved.”
This attitude of the fathers is not shared by the children. These matters are quite weighty and bear on profound and fundamental questions of ecclesiology—and this is clearly comprehended by His Holiness and Fr. Pagliarani. They do not speak as men who fail to understand the gravity of the moment; their clear-sightedness also allows them to see the cherished concerns of the other and to genuinely sympathize with these concerns in their conversations.
Yet what has the discourse about the SSPX become among us? Nothing of this sort. When did His Holiness deride the Society as lacking all pastoral value? Far from it—His Holiness quite clearly recognized the many good qualities of the Society. When did Fr. Pagliarani speak disrespectfully of His Holiness or his predecessors? Never. On the contrary, Fr. Pagliarani spoke with great confidence on the basis of the paternal charity evident in Pope Leo XIV.
So where are we to go from here? With these consecrations and the inevitable excommunications, the break will last another generation. Will these sad realities make the words of His Holiness and Fr. Pagliarani any less true, or their examples any less imitable? On the contrary, it will make their behavior all the more relevant.
May we all become worthy children in imitating fathers such as these.
Actions speak more than words. The Society will go on with the consecrations, having been warned that they constitute schism, and Don Davide refused the offer even to postpone them so that real doctrinal dialogue may ensue. I don't think that can be squared with true filial piety and Catholic obedience. And I don't think it's useful discourse which paints the two sides as if their were in equal footing, which they're not. One of them is the supreme authority of the Catholic Church.
Thank you for this, Mr Wagner.
As someone very who is completely on board with the Society, it is very tempting to want to find personal problems in one’s ideological opponents. It’s always good to remind ourselves that people don’t usually want bad things to happen for the evil’s sake, and even if we think someone is in the wrong, it doesn’t mean we have to think they have some sort of fundamentally evil character to them.
May God bless you.