SSPX: The Defence

by Kennedy Hall, Enrique Aguilar (Illustrator)

In The Defence, Kennedy Hall offers the most comprehensive and complete defence of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) that has been published to date. Leaving no stone unturned, Hall addresses any and all objections that have been levelled against the SSPX, including recent attacks from various critics of the Society. Readers with little knowledge of the SSPX and readers with extensive knowledge will undoubtedly find this book to be useful as a "one-stop-shop" for all things SSPX.

Perhaps you have the SSPX in schism?Was the SSPX ever really in schism?What about the Excommunications?Who was Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre?Was he a renegade? A hero?Can you attend the SSPX for Mass?Does the SSPX reject Vatican II?What does it mean to say 'there is a Crisis in the Church?'"All of these questions and more are answered in Hall's book.

Whatever your opinion about the Society of Saint Pius X, this book will challenge you and you will surely see the SSPX and Marcel Lefebvre in a new light.

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2023

Reviews

[Kami S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently re-reading this to my husband. I actually read it a few months ago..I was one of the proof readers! All I can say is that I'm so honored to have been a very small part of this great work! Mr Hall does a tremendously good job of compiling all the different documents and proofs etc, that one could need to defend the SSPX, in one place in an easy to read and understand format.

[Christian Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book to almost have a 'go to' for defence for the sspx. Unfortunately the book was not set up in that style, but felt like a transcript of a lecture. Rambling chapters and informal language throughout gave the impression that most of this was the author's own opinions.

There were parts of the book which were very interesting, and I certainly learned a lot, but it could have been a much smaller book for the information it contained.
I go to the sspx and I was hoping for this to be a better read, but conclusions of chapters were often interwoven with the authors personal feelings which made me doubt the veracity of the claims he was making.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit I would not have read this book if Pope Francis had not promulgated his latest moto propio, Traditionis Custodes (a suppression of the Traditional Latin Mass). As a backlash I think that many traditional Catholics, including myself, are taking a closer look at the SSPX.

[R. P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It helped me to understand the point of view of SSPX, but for me was a bit rambling like another review suggests and could have tightened up chapters to make his point known and kept the personal feelings out and internet language like “low IQ” out. That being said, I would still buy and encourage others to buy as it holds lots of good information

[Chris Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Kennedy Hall book I’ve read. I enjoy his simplistic writing style. I bought this book when I was considering attending the SSPX Latin Mass. All I can say is that this book is like that scene in the Princess Bride. The scene where the Dreaded Pirate Robert’s and Vizzini sit down to a game of wits. Vizzini goes into a long diatribe about how he can’t pick the cup in front of him and that he also cannot pick the cup in front of Pirate Robert’s. This is in essence what you will face when deciding to attend the SSPX. This book makes great points and ultimately it won’t give you a definitive yes or no answer (although Kennedy Hall may disagree). In the end it is a great resource and for me I now attend the SSPX because the Novus Ordo is lost in my opinion. But I encourage you to read it and make up your own mind. I highly recommend this book. Well done Kennedy Hall!!!

[Rebecca Tabish · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book to end the year on. Kennedy Hall, breaks it all down and explains in detail the definition of schism, how the SSPX was founded, who Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was and the kind of person he was and the three main reasons for going ahead with the consecrations. Thank goodness that God gave the church Archbishop Lefebvre. He had the courage and insight to preserve The Mass of the Ages. I think whether you attend FSSP, The Institute of Christ the King or the Institute of the Good Shepherd we should ALL be grateful for Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's stance on Tradition. When you look at the SSPX compared to some of the other traditional orders and the novus disordo, they are FLOURISHING!

Archbishop Lefebvre,
Ora pro nobis!

🙏

[David Pike · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book does one thing well, it does put forward a very good case to believe that the SSPX is not in schism.
However, much of the rest of the book is filled with very poor argumentation, random sidebars, and hateful rhetoric aimed at the Roman Catholic hierarchy. The last appendix titled “The Novus Ordo: The Liturgy of 1517” was almost so bad it made me Protestant again.
Overall, good read if you wish to learn the facts on the status of the SSPX in relation to Rome, everything else in the book is pretty rough.

[Zach de Walsingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stuff in here, but he could have used an editor, there are some odd stylistic choices (like a complete line between every paragraph). Further, the footnotes are incomplete, and don't always reference which edition of a book they cite, which is important for books in translation or when an author has revised his views.

[ANSELMO GONZALEZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente consideración sobre la injusticia cometida con M.Lefevre

Es una justa apología sobre la FSSPX y su fundador. Ojalá sirva para aclarar las mentes de los que todavía equivocadamente hablan de cisma y herejía en relación a esta santa fraternidad.

[Emiliano A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clarifier book, the easiest way to understand the state of necessity of our time in the Church.

[Walter Plymale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The SSPX saga is a the definition of inside baseball for most Catholics. Most people have never heard of the SSPX, and those who have feel very passionate about it. Kennedy Hall’s “SSPX: The Defence” stands as the authoritative pro-SSPX resource. He is thorough and precise. Most people will not jump up out of their chair and head straight to St. Mary’s, Kansas (the SSPX capital of America), but you will understand how important this issue is.