The Mexican diocese of Tabasco clarified that the San Pío X (FSSPX) priestly fraternity, which promotes the celebration of a Tridentine Mass in the local cathedral, “is not in full communion with the Catholic Church.”
In a statement Signed by Fr. Oswaldo Rivas Burciaga, in charge of the diocesan liturgical pastoral, it was indicated that the diocese is aware of a “Collection request of signatures for the ‘traditional mass’ in the Cathedral of Villahermosa and promotion of missions of the San Pio X priestly fraternity ”in the state of Tabasco.
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However, the diocese recalled that the FSSPX “is not in full communion with the Catholic Church” and urged the faithful to go to their parishes, “where the sacraments are administered valid and lawfully in full communion with the Church and in obedience with the Pope and the diocesan bishop.”
Fr. Rivas stressed that this warning responds to the duty of the Church to “guard the legitimate administration of the sacraments instituted by Christ and confident to it” and “timely warn the faithful about any person or association that acts against the will of God, contained in the Holy Scripture, in the tradition and magisterium of the Church.”
He also explained that the “sacraments” celebrated by the FSSPX ministers “are illicit” since their priests “are not under ecclesiastical authority. They do not give obedience to the Pope. They do not belong to any dioceses or congregation. In addition, they do not have ministerial licenses issued by any diocese.”
The priest added that those who adhere to “this schismatic movement can receive the penalty established for those who incur schism. By illicitly celebrating the sacraments damage the unity of the Catholic Church.”
About the traditional mass or tridentine mass in Latin
The “traditional Mass” or Tridentine Mass in Latin is the way in which the FSSPX priests celebrate. It is called traditional Mass because it is the Mass that was traditionally held until before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which was carried out for centuries and in which many saints participated. It is called Tridentina Mass, because it is encoded after the Council of Trent in the 16th century.
The Tabasco statement indicates that both the San Pío V missal and the posterior Roman misal are part of the same liturgical heritage and that “if the interior content of this tradition is analyzed, it is also seen with how much success the new missal complete the previous one.”
Finally, he cited the motu proprio Tradition of guards of Pope Francis, which almost completely limits the celebration of this Mass, specifying among other things that correspond exclusively to the Diocesan Bishop authorize the use of the 1962 Roman missal, following the indications of the Holy See.
The Diocese of Tabasco concluded that in its territory “the sacraments have been administered in full communion with the Catholic Church following the current liturgical books.”
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.