The Church’s Mystical Passion: What It Is (and Isn’t)

Video discussion on Kokx News…

The Church’s Mystical Passion: What It Is (and Isn’t)

More and more people are adopting the idea that the profound changes to the Roman Catholic religion that have occurred since roughly the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) can only be explained by positing that the Catholic Church has been sharing mystically in the Passion of her Divine Founder.

The Church being the Mystical Body of Christ, it is rather fitting that she should resemble her Invisible Head in all things, not excluding a period of intense suffering, persecution, and (at least apparent) ‘death’ before He returns to judge the living and the dead.… READ MORE

A Refutation of Bp. Athanasius Schneider’s Defense of the Society of Saint Pius X

Bad theology has consequences…

A Refutation of Bp. Athanasius Schneider’s Defense of the SSPX

Novus Ordo auxiliary bishop Athanasius Schneider in 2022
(image: Copyright 2022, KNA GmbH, www.kna.de, All Rights Reserved)

This post was updated after it was first published to correct an error in a translation from the original German.

In a recent interview given to the German Certamen association, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary of the diocese of Maria Santissima in Astana, Kazakhstan, answers questions regarding his position on the tensions between ‘Pope’ Leo XIV and the Lefebvrist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX or FSSPX).

The SSPX has announced episcopal consecrations for July 1, which will merit their bishops a decree of excommunication from Rome because they are acting independently and without the canonically required ‘papal mandate’ from Leo XIV.… READ MORE

Leo XIV: ‘This Is Not the Time For Opposition Between One Church and Another’!

Unless it’s the SSPX, maybe?

Leo XIV: ‘This Is Not the Time For Opposition Between One Church and Another’!

Robert Prevost, aka ‘Pope’ Leo XIV, on March 8, 2026
(image: Copyright 2026, PubliKath GmbH, www.kna.de, All Rights Reserved)

In his Angelus address of this past Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026, Robert Francis Prevost (‘Pope Leo XIV’) reflected on Christ’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4).

After telling his listeners that the Lord Jesus wants them to “recognize God’s surprises!” and that “Jesus was so spiritually nourished by God’s desire to reach people on the deepest levels that he even forgot to eat…” (italics added), the ‘Pope’ from Chicago informed the public:

This is not the time for opposition between one church and another, between “us” and “them”: those who worship God seek to be men and women of peace, who worship him in Spirit and in truth (cf.

… READ MORE

A Challenge to Lefebvrism: Some Inconvenient Questions for the Society of St. Pius X

Some things need to be asked…

A Challenge to Lefebvrism:
Some Inconvenient Questions for the Society of St. Pius X

Long-time readers of this blog know that we have critiqued and exposed the errors of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), founded by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre, many times. Here are some examples:

In view of the schism controversy surrounding the upcoming SSPX episcopal consecrations, it will be appropriate to reissue, in somewhat modified and updated form, a challenge to the clergy and/or lay adherents of the SSPX that was first published years ago.… READ MORE

NOT HAPPENING: SSPX Rejects Vatican Order to Cancel Episcopal Consecrations

Formal response to ‘Cardinal’ Fernandez…

NOT HAPPENING:
SSPX Rejects Vatican Order to Cancel Episcopal Consecrations

The Lefebvrist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has given its formal response to the Vatican’s conditions for theological dialogue, outlined on Feb. 12, 2026, by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Destruction of the Faith and Vatican expert on kissing, ‘Cardinal’ Victor Manuel Fernandez.

SSPX Superior General Fr. Davide Pagliarani sent his formal response to Fernandez on Feb. 18, and it was made public today along with three appended documents and a press release:

… READ MORE

Podcast: The Society of Saint Pius X versus the Vatican (TRADCAST EXPRESS 222)

A review of the big drama so far…

Podcast: The Society of Saint Pius X versus the Vatican
(TRADCAST EXPRESS 222)

Our latest podcast episode, TRADCAST EXPRESS 222, has been published. Its main topic is the controversy between the Vatican and the Lefebvrist Society of St. Pius X or SSPX (internationally known as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X or FSSPX) with regard to its announced intention to consecrate bishops without the required mandate from the person they recognize as the Pope of the Catholic Church, Robert Prevost (Leo XIV).

In particular, this TRADCAST EXPRESS episode considers:

  • The SSPX announcement on Feb.
… READ MORE

Vatican Proposal to SSPX: Call Off the Bishops’ Consecrations and We’ll Talk!

Fr. Pagliarani meets with ‘Cardinal’ Fernandez…

Vatican Proposal to SSPX:
Call Off the Bishops’ Consecrations and We’ll Talk!

In the words of the American baseball player Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

This morning, the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), Father Davide Pagliarani, together with the two remaining bishops of the Society, Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay, had a formal meeting with the Vatican’s Prefect of the so-called Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, ‘His Eminence’ Victor Manuel Fernandez.

The meeting had been announced last week after the SSPX Superior announced the Society would consecrate more bishops on July 1, regardless of whether Robert Prevost (‘Pope Leo XIV’) grants them a mandate to do so or not:

… READ MORE

Is It 1988 All Over Again? Watching a New SSPX Drama Unfold

Get your popcorn ready…

Is It 1988 All Over Again?
Watching a New SSPX Drama Unfold

Left to right: Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Tucho Fernández, Bob Prevost, cool giraffe eating popcorn

After the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), Fr. Davide Pagliarani, publicly made known on Feb. 2, 2026, that new bishops would be consecrated on July 1, although the Vatican had refused the requisite permission (mandate), the anticipated drama began to unfold.

The news spread like wildfire, and the SSPX’s official web sites crashed, apparently overwhelmed by the volume of people trying to access them to see the news for themselves.… READ MORE

Video Discussion: On the Upcoming SSPX Episcopal Consecrations

Sedevacantist reality check for Lefebvrism…

Video Discussion:
On the Upcoming SSPX Episcopal Consecrations

The big story this week has been the episcopal consecrations announced by the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) for July 1, 2026, which will take place with or without the required approval of ‘Pope’ Leo XIV:

Yesterday, on Feb. 3, 2026, Kevin Davis of the Catholic Family Podcast hosted a live-streamed discussion about the SSPX’s decision to ordain more bishops. Among the invited guests were the former SSPX priest and now sedevacantist bishop, the Most Rev.… READ MORE

Society of St. Pius X Announces New EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS for July 1, 2026

Not authorized by their ‘Pope’, of course…

Society of St. Pius X Announces
NEW EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS
for July 1, 2026

Breaking news out of tiny Menzingen, Switzerland, on this beautiful feast of Our Lady’s Purification: The Superior General of the Fraternal Society of St. Pius X (FSSPX/SSPX) has announced that new bishops will be consecrated (ordained) for the Society on July 1, 2026:

A number of the main official web sites the SSPX maintains were inaccessible this morning, probably due to being overwhelmed by the traffic.… READ MORE

Bad Theology, Invalid Episcopacy: Fr. Anthony Ward Consecrated by Novus Ordo Bishop, Dismisses Vatican Excommunication

Theology has consequences…

Bad Theology, Invalid Episcopacy: Fr. Anthony Ward Consecrated by Novus Ordo Bishop, Dismisses Vatican Excommunication

Fr. Anthony Ward (b. 1948) was ordained a priest for the Society of St. Pius X (FSSPX) by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre on Apr. 14, 1973. Four years later, he left the Society and established the Servants of the Holy Family (Servi Sanctae Familiae) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

On Nov. 16, 2025, Fr. Ward announced that he had secretly been consecrated a bishop in the traditional Roman rite by ‘Archbishop’ Telesphore George Mpundu (b. 1947), retired ordinary of Lusaka, Zambia. The ceremony took place on Mar.… READ MORE

Pope Pius XII Against Modern Errors on the Church

Papal address of June 24, 1939…

Pope Pius XII Against Modern Errors on the Church

Image credit: © KEYSTONE Pictures USA via Alamy

One of the main services Novus Ordo Watch tries to render to the public is the making available of, or raising awareness concerning, Catholic magisterial texts that are not widely known or have not before been published online in English. There is a wealth of pre-Vatican II papal teaching ‘on the books’ that, unfortunately, is largely unknown even to traditional Catholics; thus we are trying to do our part to help remedy this situation. Thankfully, with recent advances in technology, discovering, translating, and spreading it has become easier and easier.… READ MORE

‘Eternal Rome’: Pope Pius XII Against Recognize-and-Resist

On the true and false meaning of a concept…

‘Eternal Rome’:
Pope Pius XII Against Recognize-and-Resist

In a Novus Ordo Watch tweet of Oct. 23, 2025, reacting to this article headline by The Remnant, we stated: “Just a quick reminder to The Remnant that there is no such thing as ‘Eternal Rome’. That term was invented by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre to accommodate his position of recognizing Modernists as true Catholic Popes while resisting their heretical magisterium.”

It turns out that is not entirely correct. A reader made us aware that in 1949 the phrase “Eternal Rome” was actually used by Pope Pius XII (r.… READ MORE

What Has Happened to the Catholic Church? An Updated Guide for Confused Catholics

New 2025 edition now available…

What Has Happened to the Catholic Church?
An Updated Guide for Confused Catholics

Novus Ordo Watch is not receiving any kind of compensation for promoting this book (with the exception of one free copy).

Many people who sincerely desire to be good and loyal Roman Catholics are seriously troubled and confused today. Although the Second Vatican Council occurred more than 60 years ago, it has left a lasting impact. Vatican II, as the council is called for short, took place from 1962-65 and radically changed Catholic liturgy, the sacraments, and essential beliefs that have come down to us from Christ and the Apostles.… READ MORE

The Unsolvable Pendulum Problem of the Society of St. Pius X

Forever torn between two mutually exclusive ideas…

The Unsolvable Pendulum Problem of the Society of St. Pius X

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX or FSSPX), founded by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre in 1970, is once again in the news, this time on account of its Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome last week (see a few official photos here).

Some SSPXers are celebrating, whereas others are expressing concern. The reason for the inconsistent reactions to the same development is that some see it as Rome accepting the SSPX as Catholic and recognizing the rights of ‘Tradition’ (a Lefebvrist euphemism for what is simply the Catholic Faith); whereas others see it as a dangerous luring of the Lefebvrist leadership into the ecumenical zoo presided over by Modernist Rome.… READ MORE