Maintaining Religious Patrimony

Archbishop Lefebvre founded the Society of St. Pius X to keep intact, in the souls of the faithful, the deposit of Faith and adherence to Sacred Tradition through the Mass and the sacraments as administered prior to the Second Vatican Council. The co-operation of the Society in this work of the Church, though small in itself, is clearly seen in the maintaining of her religious patrimony.

It is for that reason the Society has always sought, as far as possible within its means, to purchase real churches and chapels as soon as they become available. So in Belgium we acquired the magnificent St. Joseph’s Church, in the heart of the diplomatic quarter of Brussels.

Besides buildings, the Society, like other religious congregations, tries to preserve works of art associated with Catholic worship; silver works, liturgical furniture, etc. So we try to acquire, insofar as we can and within our means, chalices, ciboria, bells and missals—products of a truly Catholic artistic genius in the service of the glory of God.

Taste for Beautiful Things

God is Being itself. God is Truth, but also Beauty. In order to be properly disposed for union with God, the soul must open itself to what is truly beautiful, and that is important not just for the priest but for the faithful as well.

The restoration of the Faith depends also upon the taste for beautiful things so as to experience beauty and perfection inherent in the Sacred Liturgy.

The recent acquisitions since the purchase of St. Joseph’s, such as that of Our Lady of Compassion in Paris and the former convent of the Sisters of the Presentation in Saint Cesaire, Quebec, have no other purpose than to draw souls to God. Beauty is an aid to prayer, and we pray to be in wonderment of God.