Carmelite nuns affiliate with Society of St. Pius X after yearlong feud with local bishop

[Michie]

After a string of controversies and disagreements with their local Fort Worth bishop, a group of Carmelite nuns in Arlington, Texas, announced on Saturday that they are associating with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist group that is not in full communion with the Catholic Church and has a canonically irregular status.

After making a “unanimous decision,” the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas, said they have “completed the final steps necessary for our monastery to be associated with the Society of St. Pius X, who will henceforth assure our ongoing sacramental life and governance,” according to a Sept. 14 announcement on their website.

Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth offered to reinstate sacramental life at the monastery if the sisters agreed to disassociate themselves from Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a controversial figure whom the Catholic Churchexcommunicated this summer for schism following his refusal to submit to the pope or the communion of the Church.

Continued below.

Texas Carmelite nuns affiliate with Society of St. Pius X

After a string of controversies, a group of Carmelite nuns in Arlington, Texas, announced that they are associating with the Society of St. Pius X.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[RileyG]

They technically recognize the Holy Father and have valid sacraments then?

 

[Michie]

They technically recognize the Holy Father and have valid sacraments then?

It does not appear that way.

Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist group that is not in full communion with the Catholic Church and has a canonically irregular status.



“The Masses they [SSPX] celebrate are also valid, but it is considered morally illicit for the faithful to participate in these Masses unless they are physically or morally impeded from participating in a Mass celebrated by a Catholic priest in good standing,” read the 1995 letter by Perl.

A 1998 letter by Perl reiterates: “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.”

 

[boughtwithaprice]

The Pope and the magisterium sit in Peter’s seat, so do whatever they tell you, but do not do what they do. Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pope and magisterium, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Schism is rebellion not obedience to God. It is never the answer to heresy, although Satan and the evil spirits can trick our minds to think it is right and justified. Schism attempts to glorify man and not God, so it is just as evil as the heresy it purports to combat. God tells us what to do


13 If I shut up heaven, and there fall no rain, or if I give orders, and command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people [2 Paralipomenon (2 Chronicles) 7:12-13] 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. 15 My eyes also shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer of him that shall pray in this place.

16 For I have chosen, and have sanctified this place, that my name may be there for ever, and my eyes and my heart may remain there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and keep my justices and my judgments: 18 I will raise up the throne of thy kingdom, as I promised to David thy father, saying: There shall not fail thee a man of thy stock to be ruler in Israel.



The analogy is that the Church is the new Israel. God has put His name on her. We pray, fast, do penance and seek His face, he will hear and heal His Church for His name’s sake

He will not bless schism

 

[RileyG]

It does not appear that way.

Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist group that is not in full communion with the Catholic Church and has a canonically irregular status.



“The Masses they [SSPX] celebrate are also valid, but it is considered morally illicit for the faithful to participate in these Masses unless they are physically or morally impeded from participating in a Mass celebrated by a Catholic priest in good standing,” read the 1995 letter by Perl.

A 1998 letter by Perl reiterates: “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.”

Ah, I see. I know in my diocese one cannot be associated with them.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I can't find any information, but its possible that the nuns are associated with the Discalced Carmelites
and not officially part of that order.

FYI, I'm a Secular Order Discalced Carmelite, OCDS.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

I can't find any information, but its possible that the nuns are associated with the Discalced Carmelites
and not officially part of that order.

FYI, I'm a Secular Order Discalced Carmelite, OCDS.

Nothing wrong with third order
The current saint that I feel an affiliation is St Rose of Lima. She wanted to be a third order, but someone convinced her to be a nun and paid her dowry. She went to pray to the Blessed Mother before heading to the convent.
Long story short, Our Blessed Mother would not let her get up off her knees until she promised she would join a third order

 

[RileyG]

I can't find any information, but its possible that the nuns are associated with the Discalced Carmelites
and not officially part of that order.

FYI, I'm a Secular Order Discalced Carmelite, OCDS.

Can you elaborate?

 

[RileyG]

Nothing wrong with third order
The current saint that I feel an affiliation is St Rose of Lima. She wanted to be a third order, but someone convinced her to be a nun and paid her dowry. She went to pray to the Blessed Mother before heading to the convent.
Long story short, Our Blessed Mother would not let her get up off her knees until she promised she would join a third order

So these Carmelites are no longer Catholic ie I’m communion with the Church?

 

[boughtwithaprice]

So these Carmelites are no longer Catholic ie I’m communion with the Church?

If they rebel against the authority of the Bishop, they are in schism, correct. I would not follown them or care what happens to them other than to pray for their repentence.

They could be doing thing out of sincere ignorance. Only God know how culpable they are for their sin. Satan is a great liar and can make rebellion seem righteous. That is what he did and how he deceived the other angels.

We have to stay in humility to stay in holy obedience. We are in distressing times in the Church, but schism is never the answer no matter how appealing the act may appear

God has given the promise of the Holy Spirit and that the gates of hell would not prevail to one Church. To rebel against her is to rebel against God, else be completely ignorant of everything He has ever taught us

The answer to corrupt leadership is not schism. It is repentance, fasting and prayer. We have the word of God that tells us this

 

[RileyG]

If they rebel against the authority of the Bishop, they are in schism, correct. I would not follown them or care what happens to them other than to pray for their repentence.

They could be doing thing out of sincere ignorance. Only God know how culpable they are for their sin. Satan is a great liar and can make rebellion seem righteous. That is what he did and how he deceived the other angels.

We have to stay in humility to stay in holy obedience. We are in distressing times in the Church, but schism is never the answer no matter how appealing the act may appear

God has given the promise of the Holy Spirit and that the gates of hell would not prevail to one Church. To rebel against her is to rebel against God, else be completely ignorant of everything He has ever taught us

The answer to corrupt leadership is not schism. It is repentance, fasting and prayer. We have the word of God that tells us this

Amen. Well said. Hopefully they will come to their senses.