Anthony Cekada
Encyclopedia
Anthony Cekada is a Traditionalist Catholic
priest
and author.
Born in 1951, Cekada studied at St. Francis Roman Catholic Seminary College in Milwaukee, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Theology in 1973; he studied organ and musical composition at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
. In 1975, after two years as a Cistercian monk, he entered St. Pius X Seminary
in Ecône
, Switzerland
, joined the Society of St. Pius X
, completed his studies, and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
in 1977.
Following his sacerdotal ordination, Cekada taught seminarians at St. Joseph's House of Studies, Armada, Michigan
, and St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Ridgefield, Connecticut
.
From 1979 to 1989 he resided in Oyster Bay Cove, New York
, where he did pastoral and administrative work, and edited the traditionalist publication The Roman Catholic. In 1983 Cekada, along with eight other priests, broke with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) over various theological issues and several years later formed the Society of St. Pius V
(SSPV), headed by then Fr. Clarence Kelly
. In 1989 Cekada left the SSPV and he moved to West Chester
, where he assists with pastoral work at St. Gertrude the Great Traditional Roman Catholic Church. Cekada is a well-known and convinced sedevacantist, believing the popes of the Second Vatican Council to have been illegitimate pontiffs.
He has since devoted a considerable amount of time to research and writing. TAN Books published two of his works criticizing the post-Vatican II liturgical reform. One was a commentary and new translation for The Ottaviani Intervention
, a key document in the history of the traditional movement. The other, The Problems with the Prayers of the Modern Mass, discusses the systematic omission of certain doctrines (hell, the soul, miracles, the true Church, etc.) from the 1969 Missal of Paul VI
; it has sold nearly 15,000 copies at last count, and has been published in French, Italian, German and Dutch.
Cekada has written two introductory booklets for newcomers to the Traditional Mass which were published by St. Gertrude the Great Church: Welcome to the Traditional Latin Mass and Traditionalists, Infallibility and the Pope.
Cekada's bibliography includes apologetic, analytical and controversial articles on a great variety of topics: the errors of Vatican II and the post-Conciliar popes, canon law, seminary formation, the Feeney case, the Mass of Paul VI, the pre-Vatican II liturgical changes, the validity of post Vatican II sacramental rites, questions in moral and pastoral theology, and the case for sedevacantism, the Schiavo case, the Society of St. Pius X, intramural traditionalist disputes, and rubrical matters.
In 2010 Cekada completed Work of Human Hands: A Theological Critique of the Mass of Paul VI, a 468-page work published by Philothea Press. It is a systematic study of the post-Vatican II rite of Mass which maintains that the new rite "a) destroys Catholic doctrine in the minds of the faithful, and in particular, Catholic doctrine concerning the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the priesthood, and the Real Presence; and b) permits or prescribes grave irreverence."
Once a month during the academic year Cekada travels to Brooksville, Florida where he teaches Canon Law, Liturgy, and Scripture at Most Holy Trinity Seminary.
Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions and presentations of Catholic teachings which prevailed in the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and author.
Born in 1951, Cekada studied at St. Francis Roman Catholic Seminary College in Milwaukee, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Theology in 1973; he studied organ and musical composition at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music is an independent music school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The conservatory teaches many types of music, including classical, jazz, rock, folk, and blues...
. In 1975, after two years as a Cistercian monk, he entered St. Pius X Seminary
Society of St. Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X is an international Traditionalist Catholic organisation, founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre...
in Ecône
Ecône
Écône is an area in the municipality of Riddes, district of Martigny, in the canton of Valais, in Switzerland. It is the location of The International Seminary of Saint Pius X.-External links:*...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, joined the Society of St. Pius X
Society of St. Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X is an international Traditionalist Catholic organisation, founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre...
, completed his studies, and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre
Marcel Lefebvre
Marcel François Marie Joseph Lefebvre was a French Roman Catholic archbishop. Following a career as an Apostolic Delegate for West Africa and Superior General of the Holy Ghost Fathers, he took the lead in opposing the changes within the Church associated with the Second Vatican Council.In 1970,...
in 1977.
Following his sacerdotal ordination, Cekada taught seminarians at St. Joseph's House of Studies, Armada, Michigan
Armada, Michigan
Armada is a village in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,573 at the 2000 census. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 1,657. The village is located within Armada Township....
, and St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
.
From 1979 to 1989 he resided in Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Oyster Bay Cove, New York
The Village of Oyster Bay Cove is a village located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 2,197 at the 2010 census...
, where he did pastoral and administrative work, and edited the traditionalist publication The Roman Catholic. In 1983 Cekada, along with eight other priests, broke with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) over various theological issues and several years later formed the Society of St. Pius V
Society of St. Pius V
The Society of St. Pius V , abreviated SSPV, is a Traditionalist Catholic society of ordained priests formed in 1983 and based in Oyster Bay Cove, New York. The priests of SSPV broke away from the Society of St...
(SSPV), headed by then Fr. Clarence Kelly
Clarence Kelly
Bishop Clarence Kelly is a Traditionalist Catholic bishop. He was ordained a priest on April 13, 1973 at Ecône, Switzerland by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for the Roman Catholic Society of St. Pius X....
. In 1989 Cekada left the SSPV and he moved to West Chester
West Chester
West Chester may refer to some places in the United States:*West Chester, Iowa*West Chester, Pennsylvania** West Chester University of Pennsylvania***West Chester University Poetry Conference*West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio...
, where he assists with pastoral work at St. Gertrude the Great Traditional Roman Catholic Church. Cekada is a well-known and convinced sedevacantist, believing the popes of the Second Vatican Council to have been illegitimate pontiffs.
He has since devoted a considerable amount of time to research and writing. TAN Books published two of his works criticizing the post-Vatican II liturgical reform. One was a commentary and new translation for The Ottaviani Intervention
The Ottaviani Intervention
The Ottaviani Intervention or Short Critical Study on the New Order of Mass was a study of 5 June 1969 written by twelve Roman Catholic theologians, who worked under the direction of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Cardinals Alfredo Ottaviani and Antonio Bacci sent it to Pope Paul VI with a covering...
, a key document in the history of the traditional movement. The other, The Problems with the Prayers of the Modern Mass, discusses the systematic omission of certain doctrines (hell, the soul, miracles, the true Church, etc.) from the 1969 Missal of Paul VI
Mass of Paul VI
The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Catholic Mass of the Roman Rite promulgated by Paul VI in 1969, after the Second Vatican Council...
; it has sold nearly 15,000 copies at last count, and has been published in French, Italian, German and Dutch.
Cekada has written two introductory booklets for newcomers to the Traditional Mass which were published by St. Gertrude the Great Church: Welcome to the Traditional Latin Mass and Traditionalists, Infallibility and the Pope.
Cekada's bibliography includes apologetic, analytical and controversial articles on a great variety of topics: the errors of Vatican II and the post-Conciliar popes, canon law, seminary formation, the Feeney case, the Mass of Paul VI, the pre-Vatican II liturgical changes, the validity of post Vatican II sacramental rites, questions in moral and pastoral theology, and the case for sedevacantism, the Schiavo case, the Society of St. Pius X, intramural traditionalist disputes, and rubrical matters.
In 2010 Cekada completed Work of Human Hands: A Theological Critique of the Mass of Paul VI, a 468-page work published by Philothea Press. It is a systematic study of the post-Vatican II rite of Mass which maintains that the new rite "a) destroys Catholic doctrine in the minds of the faithful, and in particular, Catholic doctrine concerning the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the priesthood, and the Real Presence; and b) permits or prescribes grave irreverence."
Once a month during the academic year Cekada travels to Brooksville, Florida where he teaches Canon Law, Liturgy, and Scripture at Most Holy Trinity Seminary.