Expert: Fr. Michael - 12/14/2009

Question
Father, when asked this question...

- "Is the Novus Ordo a valid mass?"

Father Malachi Martin replied...

- " The Novus Ordo rite can be celebrated in such a way as to configure a valid enactment of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary."

Exert... starharbor.com

Father, what does he mean???  

Answer
I don't know.  The Novus Ordo is clearly invalid according to the statements of Catholic popes and councils.  It doesn't matter how you do it.  You can peel an lemon or cut it into quarters.  It's still a lemon, still as sour.

Malachi Martin's provenance is uncertain.  He was certainly a full-fledged member of the New Order in the early years.  It was not until his late years that he seemed to be talking a more traditional line.  Like so many other Novus Ordo presbyters, he probably couldn't kick the Novus Ordo habit, at least not entirely.