The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX)
(Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Pii X)
The Archbishop
Marcel Lefebvre was a French Roman Catholic
bishop, born in November 29, 1905 in
Tourcoing, Nord, France. His parents were
Gabrielle Wattin and René Lefebvre. His father
was a member of the French resistance during
the Nazi Germany era and was imprisoned in a
concentration camp in Sonnenburg, Poland.
Lefebvre spent most of his time in Africa as
missionary serving as superior general of the
Holy Ghost Fathers (1962-68). In 1968 he
retired due to the revisions being done to his
congregation. He considered these revisions un-
Catholic and Modernist. During the days of his
retirement he was approached by several
French seminarians and was told that they
“were being persecuted for their adherence to
traditional doctrines.” This “persecution” made
him realize that something had to be done.

 Significantly aware of the problems plaguing the
church, Lefebvre asked François Charrière, Bishop of
Lausanne for a request to set up a religious society. In
November 1, 1970, Marcel Lefebvre established the
Society of Saint Pius X with a “pia unio” status. (“Pia
unio status was the first stage through which a
Catholic organization passed prior to gaining official
recognition as a religious institute or society of
apostolic life.”) The newly formed group settled in the
seminary at Ecône, France, and in 1971 the first 24
seminarian candidates entered, followed by a further
32 in October 1972.


 Lefebvre desired the up heaving
of the society early on. He
wanted it to pass from its present
probational stage to an official
society of apostolic life. But
many were unfavored to his
society, mostly due to its
adherence to the traditional
doctrines. He “contacted three
different Vatican departments in
order to secure the recognition
for his society. He succeeded
only in obtaining a letter of
encouragement from Cardinal
John Joseph Wright, Prefect of
the Sacred Congregation for the
Clergy, but there was no
approval from the Vatican
congregation”.

 In the passing of time, tirades were made by churchmen
and outsiders who kept shooting at the society’s traditional
leanings. But nothing was more controversial than the
“1988 consecration”. Lefebvre was 82, and wanted to ordain
four (4) SSPX priests into bishops. He was thinking greatly
for the future of his society and what may happen if non-
SSPX priests got involved in the ordination. He deemed
them “not properly reliable and orthodox”. Vatican, Pope
John Paul II in particular warned him to cancel his plans.
He wrote to him "it would be seen as nothing other than a
schismatic act, the theological and canonical consequences
of which are known to you". Lefebvre, believing that he had
higher purpose went on with the ordination on June 30,
1988. He was condemned by the Vatican the day after and
incurred automatic excommunication. This also resulted to
the division of the SSPX members who were not in favor of
the Archbishop’s actions. They later formed a separate
society, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

 In 1992, the society came with the same mission of
instilling the traditional doctrines & teachings. The
main church was built in Betty Go-Belmonte in
Quezon City. It was named Our Lady of Victories. Its
architectural inspiration was taken from the Spanish
Colonial Baroque. It is a style more commonly seen in
some of the buildings (ex. Intramuros) left by the
Spaniards during their stay in the Philippines.

 According to the priests the church took its name
from the miraculous Battle of La Naval. It happened
in 1646 when five Dutch invaders armed to the
teeth, missioned on bearing down Manila for
pillage and conquest. The Spanish fleet on the other
hand defended with only two measly commercial
galleons—“The Rosary” & “The Incarnation”. The
ship’s crew fated to be sunk by the bigger fleet
prayed to La Naval, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
Their prayer was answered and by a miracle the
Dutch sally forth to retreat.

 Its Current
Organizations
 Legion of Mary
 Apostles of Mary
 Holy Name Society
 Lights of Our Lady
 Cristeros – taken
from the Mexican
Revolution Cristero
War
