Our Lady of Victories

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX)(Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Pii X)The Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was a French Roman Catholic bishop, born in November 29, 1905 in Tourcoing, Nord, France. His parents were Gabrielle Wattin and René Lefebvre. His father was a member of the French resistance during the Nazi Germany era and was imprisoned in a concentration camp in Sonnenburg, Poland. Lefebvre spent most of his time in Africa as missionary serving as superior general of the Holy Ghost Fathers (1962-68). In 1968 he retired due to the revisions being done to his congregation. He considered these revisions un-Catholic and Modernist. During the days of his retirement he was approached by several French seminarians and was told that they “were being persecuted for their adherence to traditional doctrines.” This “persecution” made him realize that something had to be done.

Significantly aware of the problems plaguing the church, Lefebvre asked François Charrière, Bishop of Lausanne for a request to set up a religious society. In November 1, 1970, Marcel Lefebvre established the Society of Saint Pius X with a “pia unio” status. (“Pia unio status was the first stage through which a Catholic organization passed prior to gaining official recognition as a religious institute or society of apostolic life.”) The newly formed group settled in the seminary at Ecône, France, and in 1971 the first 24 seminarian candidates entered, followed by a further 32 in October 1972.

Foundation of the “New Old”

 Lefebvre desired the up heaving

of the society early on. He wanted it to pass from its present probational stage to an official society of apostolic life. But many were unfavored to his society, mostly due to its adherence to the traditional doctrines. He “contacted three different Vatican departments in order to secure the recognition for his society. He succeeded only in obtaining a letter of encouragement from Cardinal John Joseph Wright, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, but there was no approval from the Vatican congregation”.

In the passing of time, tirades were made by churchmen and outsiders who kept shooting at the society’s traditional leanings. But nothing was more controversial than the “1988 consecration”. Lefebvre was 82, and wanted to ordain four (4) SSPX priests into bishops. He was thinking greatly for the future of his society and what may happen if non-SSPX priests got involved in the ordination. He deemed them “not properly reliable and orthodox”. Vatican, Pope John Paul II in particular warned him to cancel his plans. He wrote to him "it would be seen as nothing other than a schismatic act, the theological and canonical consequences of which are known to you". Lefebvre, believing that he had higher purpose went on with the ordination on June 30, 1988. He was condemned by the Vatican the day after and incurred automatic excommunication. This also resulted to the division of the SSPX members who were not in favor of the Archbishop’s actions. They later formed a separate society, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

The Tension Grows

In 1992, the society came with the same mission of instilling the traditional doctrines & teachings. The main church was built in Betty Go-Belmonte in Quezon City. It was named Our Lady of Victories. Its architectural inspiration was taken from the Spanish Colonial Baroque. It is a style more commonly seen in some of the buildings (ex. Intramuros) left by the Spaniards during their stay in the Philippines.

SSPX in the Philippines

According to the priests the church took its name from the miraculous Battle of La Naval. It happened in 1646 when five Dutch invaders armed to the teeth, missioned on bearing down Manila for pillage and conquest. The Spanish fleet on the other hand defended with only two measly commercial galleons—“The Rosary” & “The Incarnation”. The ship’s crew fated to be sunk by the bigger fleet prayed to La Naval, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Their prayer was answered and by a miracle the Dutch sally forth to retreat.

Our Lady of Victories Church in Quezon City

Its Current Organizations

Legion of MaryApostles of MaryHoly Name

SocietyLights of Our

LadyCristeros – taken

from the Mexican Revolution Cristero War