EXCLUSIVE: New documentary to be released on SSPX

(LifeSiteNews) — A new documentary on the Society of Saint Pius X’s work around the world is set to be released soon.

The film, Traditio, was created by two young students from Switzerland and Germany in collaboration with the SSPX General House.

The two students approached the headquarters of the SSPX more than two years ago asking whether they could make a documentary. They received permission and traveled for two years throughout the world to visit many locations on five continents where the SSPX is active, including with seminaries and missions.

The film premiered on May 28 in Frick, Switzerland, which was attended by 170 guests. Fr. Davide Pagliarani, the Superior General of the priestly fraternity, delivered a short speech at the event in which he honored the two young men for their dedicated work and love for the SSPX and the faith, saying that he was “impressed” with it and that he was “proud” of them. Fr. Pagliarani also pointed out the importance of this presentation of the work of the Society in light of the upcoming episcopal consecrations in Econe, Switzerland.

One of the two students also told the audience that the publication of the documentary seems “providential” so close to the July 1 consecrations of new SSPX bishops, especially because they did not start the project in light of them.

The two students also explained that they did not want to enter with the film into “theological polemics or polemics of church politics.” Instead, they simply wanted to present the life and work of the priests of the SSPX.

The filmmakers who did their work as volunteers concluded that they were “deeply impressed” with the “dedication and willingness to sacrifice themselves” on the part of the priestly fraternity. “In spite of the human limitation,” one of the students expounded, “one could clearly see the work of grace at hand.”

The documentary is four hours long and has three parts. The first part deals with the priestly formation of the SSPX seminaries in Switzerland, Germany, France, Argentina, and the United States. The second part presents the missionary work of the SSPX in Asia, Africa, and elsewhere. The third and final part concentrates on liturgical celebrations.

The filmmakers told LifeSite that the “explicit aim of the series is to present the Society’s current worldwide apostolate and to highlight its deep attachment to the Pope and to the Church.”

Early next week, the SSPX General House in Switzerland will issue an official statement regarding the project and release a trailer of the film. LifeSite will then update the story.

LifeSite was able to watch parts of documentary that clearly has the quality of a world-level movie, strongly focusing on the human side of the apostolate of the Society of St. Pius X. The film is not meant to cover all aspects of the apostolate but show examples of the work of priests that touch so many lives throughout the world.

There is a scene of a newly ordained priest, Father Cyprian Kramer, who gives his clearly moved parents his first blessing as a priest; seminarians are being interviewed as to why they want to become priests and what the essence of the priesthood is. They share their own personal stories on how they chose this priestly vocation. Other scenes show how the SSPX priests in their apostolates work for the souls entrusted to their care, administer the sacraments, and care for the poor.

Father Jean de Lassus, rector of the SSPX seminary in Argentina, told the filmmakers how the seminary is located in a very poor neighborhood and that the seminary took it upon itself to give food and clothing to the poor three times a week. He explained that then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who later became Pope Francis, knew of their practical works of mercy and “was very impressed by the fact that the Society could have a seminary in a very poor area of Buenos Aires and that the Society did not have a desire for elitism but rather opened the heart of the Church to those in need … without making a selection.”

In part one of the documentary, viewers will also be able to get a glimpse of the two priests who are to be consecrated bishops in July, Father Michael Goldade and Father Pascal Schreiber.

Father Goldade, who is personally known to LifeSite, is being interviewed as the rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Dillwyn, Virginia. The seminary stresses the importance of humility, according to Goldade.

“It is very easy for egoism to enter in and to taint everything that the priest does, even the good things, and so it is so important that they learn self-sacrifice, that they learn to forget about self,” he explained in the documentary. The priest “is going to be a father of souls, and he is going to be a brother to his fellow priests.” In his remarks, his modest, calm, and humble ways shine clearly through, next to his wisdom, humanity and warmth. Father Goldade appears here as a good choice for a future bishop.

Father Pagliarani also explained in the film the rule that the SSPX priests have to live in community so as to support each other in their priesthood.  “Every member of the Society is called to live with other members,” he said. “Common life protects the priest, creates a priestly family in which each member finds his own place.”

In another section of the documentary, the Superior General described in moving ways his feelings when he celebrated his first Mass as a young priest and how he suddenly, just before consecrating the host, was struck with a holy fear at the greatness of what was to happen. Here, too, one easily can sense the humility and deep goodness and charity of Father Pagliarani.

In a sense, the documentary will give Catholics throughout the world an opportunity to get to know the faces of priests and seminarians and to hear their thoughts. It is a nearly personal encounter with the SSPX.

As one Catholic commented in light of this documentary, “I would have a hard time believing that Rome could go ahead with the excommunications of the new bishops in July after watching this documentary.”