TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Descriptive Summary

Historical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Administrative Information

Related Material

Index Terms

Bibliography

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Frank Lomica Personal Papers, 1984-1987

Series 2: Society Statues and Seminary Rules, 1972-1980

Series 3: AV and Photographs, 1983-1986

Series 4: Society Publications and Publicity Material, 1963-1997

Series 5: Michael Davies writings, 1976-1985

Series 6: Devotions and Prayer Cards, 1977-1984

Series 7: Clippings, writings, letters, 1977-1987

Series 8: Non-SSPX writings, 1954-1993

Society of St. Pius X

An inventory of Society of St. Pius X collection at The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives

Mailing Address: The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064

Telephone: 202-319-5065

Email: archives@mail.lib.cua.edu

URL: http://libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/index.html

Historical Note

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), is an apostolic Catholic organization founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, 1905-1991. From its main seminary headquartered in Econe, Switzerland, the Society has grown to hundreds of priests and seminarians in over 30 countries including the United States. The SSPX, a secular (non-vowed) religious congregation, also has members who are brothers, sisters, oblates, and Third Order members, and it supports under its umbrella vowed religious orders including Carmelites, Franciscans, Dominicans and Benedictines. Lefebvre was an African missionary and a retired superior general of the Holy Ghost Fathers.

The SSPX came into being in 1970 after the Second Vatican Council. Lefebvre is quoted as saying he and Archbishop Antonio de Castro Mayer "…fought together to prevent the errors of Liberalism, which are a cancer in the doctrine of the Church, spreading themselves in the texts of the Council. Together we fought and we have found each other publicly maintaining the defense of Tradition"(1). To carry on his work after his death, Lefebvre consecrated four bishops outside of the Church's explicit permission, resulting in much of the controversy surrounding the Society.

Michael Davies, 1936-2004, retired British schoolteacher, seems to have never officially joined the SSPX, but wrote numerous books and pamphlets that supported many of its positions. However, his support waned and he became the president of Una Voce, whose mission is to support only the celebration of the Tridentine/Gregorian Rite Mass within the Church, in union with the Holy See. Frank Lomica was a member of the SSPX in the 1980s. The SSPX publication "Cor Unum" lists him as a seminarian in 1986.

(1) Lefebvre, 1988. The Sermon of His Excellency Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre on the Occasion of Ordinations to the Holy Priesthood. Angelus 11:7, p. 22.

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Scope and Contents

Series 1: Frank Lomica Personal Papers, includes a piece of paper with a map to an unknown location with "Bishop Tokarczwk of Poland" and the Angelus handwritten on the back, 1984. Class directory of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Ridgefield, CT 1984-85 listing Mr. Lomica in his second year. A writing tablet which is probably Mr. Lomica's handwriting because the writing seems to match that in the donation cover letter from Mr. Lomica; notes from seminary conferences, 1986-87.

Series 2: Rule of the Seminaries of the Society, 1972, statues of Society of St. Pius X, 1976, Ordonnances concernant les Pouvoirs et facultes dont jouissent les membres de la Fraternite Sacerdotale Saint Pie X, 1980, Daily schedule, n.d.

Series 3: AV and Photographs, includes four audio-visual works and 21 photos. "The Tridentine Mass, third Sunday After Easter" with Fr. Frederick Nelson, by Keep the Faith Inc., a non-SSPX publisher. "A Sign of Hope" by St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Ridgefield, CT, n.d., "Ordinations at Ridgefield", 1986, "Econe, Priests for Tomorrow", 45 min., 1986. An assortment of photographs 3" x 5", 4" x 6", 8" x 10" about half black and white, and some photocopies. Includes depiction of SSPX seminarians and brothers, 1984; taking the Cossack; Fr. Lomica; Lefebvre at ordination to diaconate and subdiaconate in New York, 1983, signed photo of Lefebvre. Building and grounds of a seminary, 1986. . There are also color 8" x 10" photographs of Lefebvre, 1983-85, n.d.

Series 4: Includes SSPX magazines, newsletters, mailings, flyers, school catalogs, publishing catalogs, open letters, and books and pamphlets by Archbishop Lefebvre and Michael Davies. The Angelus magazine, almost complete run from 1978-88, tracing the history and philosophy of the Society, published in the USA, 1977-1991. Volume 11:7, July 1998 is a special edition commemorating the consecration of four bishops; volume 14:5 and 6 May-June 1991 commemorates Archbishop Lefebvre's death. Catholic: the Voice of Catholic Orthodoxy is a publication from Australia, 1986. Copies of Verbum, four page over-sized newsletter, published from St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Ridgefield, CT. 1983-88; traces the building of the Ridgefield seminary, vocations, children's summer camps, adult spiritual retreats, 1983-88. Verbum published from Winona, MN, along with "Friends and benefactors" letters. Volume 31, summer 1988 explains how four bishops were consecrated with Rome's "approval in principle" "but without its permission in practice". Friends and Benefactors" letters and other inserts offer in-depth philosophical arguments, social criticism, and political commentary. St. Mary's Academy and College benefactor letter, graduating senior address; the Christmas appeal magazines (35-70 pages) includes class photos, alumni updates, priest ordinations, faculty profiles, philosophy emphasizing classical western education and separate roles for men and women, and St. Mary's, Kansas community news. Cor Unum pamphlets in French; seminary lists, and updates on the Society's world-wide mission; a mix of English or French. Regina Coeli from the SSPX, US District. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Ridgefield, CT, "Friends and Benefactors" letters, mostly complete from 1984-1992; many contain extra letters, social teachings, philosophical constructs, flyers and financial appeals. Tracts on ecumenism. "The Archbishop's 'Deal' with the Vatican-The truth" open letter contains a handwritten note in the margins about a priest who will "most likely be got rid of" for offering a Latin Tridentine Mass. Lefebvre writings including "Lenten Letter to our Dear Faithful" written in Lefebvre's own hand. Contains an exchange of writings between Lefebvre, Bishop de Castro Mayer, Cardinal Ratzinger, and a letter to the Pope concerning Declaration on Religious Liberty, Canon Law and liturgical reform. Lefebvre books, pamphlets, speeches: "A Bishop Speaks, writings and addresses; "The Catholic Mass", "Luther's Mass", "The essentials of our Faith", 1979, Liberalism, 1980, "Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, collected works, volume 1", 1985, "Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, collected works, volume 2", n.d., "I Accuse the Council!", 1982, An Open Letter to Confused Catholics", by Lefebvre, 1987.

Series 5: Michael Davies writings include the books "Liturgical Revolution", autographed by Davies, limited edition "Apologia Pro Marcel Lefebvre", and one "Apologia Pro Marcel Lefebvre" autographed by Lefebvre. Pamphlets by Michael Davies: "The New Mass", 1977, "Archbishop Lefebvre and Religious Liberty", 1980, "Privilege of the Ordained", 1982, "The Liturgical Revolution", 1983, "The Roman Rite Destroyed", 1983, "The Barbarians Have Taken Over", 1985, "The Goldfish Bowl: The Church Since Vatican II", 1985, and several others. 1976-1985.

Series 6: Devotions and Prayer Cards, many commemorating SSPX priesthood ordinations, 1977-1984.

Series 7: Newspaper clippings, writings and letters, mostly reactions to the Catholic Church's RENEW program; news articles about nuns as spiritual directors, and a "half-way house" for ex-SSPX priests, 1977-1987.

Series 8: An assortment of books, pamphlets, magazines and letters of non-SSPX origin, many critical of current Church and social trends, 1954-1993.

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Arrangement

The Society of St. Pius X collection consists of 8 series:

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by former Society member Frank Lomica in December 2003.

Processing Information

Processing, data entry, EAD markup completed in November 2008 by Sandra Denise Ware.

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Related Material

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

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Bibliography

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Detailed Description of the Collection

CONTRIBUTORS: All ACUA Staff

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