With the Year of Mercy fast approaching, allow me to make a suggestion. Use the sacrament of Confession liberally, and when you do, make sure it is with a priest of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX).
In fact, let me be so bold as to suggest that you should only confess to an SSPX priest during the coming year. Given how eager faithful and orthodox Catholics are to show that they are 100% behind Pope Francis, what better way to demonstrate fidelity to the Pontiff than to embrace mercy from the only priestly society he singled out for it? Imagine. Instead of having to do a sit-down, face-to-face “confession” with a priest who will interrupt to say, “Oh that’s not a sin . . .” you can unburden your soul to a classically formed cleric willing to walk you through your struggles and apply an appropriate penance. And since you went through the trouble of going to a Society chapel to receive absolution, why not stay for Mass? Granted, there will be no guitars or extraordinary ministers present, but there will be the Holy Sacrifice; the Mystery of our Redemption; and Jesus Christ—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—on the altar, waiting to be received by those who approach with faith, reverence, and fear.
Pope Francis has offered a great gift to all the faithful. He has unburdened the consciences of a billion souls concerning the trivial question of the validity/invalidity of absolutions granted by SSPX priests. The question is, “Will you embrace the pathway to mercy the Pope has provided?” Perhaps the Sovereign Pontiff himself will take time in the next year to make a visit to Menzingen or Econe to be shriven. And maybe, just maybe, social media won’t explode with reminders that the Society is “schismatic.” What a mercy that would be.
