What if you found out that the Novus Ordo form of the Mass was not what the Bishops who attended the second Vatican Council approved for use? Would that be shocking to you? It was to me. Yes, that is not just a speculation, but reality. The vast majority of the clergy at the Council in 1969 objected the first time that they saw what the Novus Ordo would look like (one even claimed it would drive men out of the Church because it was too feminine!). Here are just a few quotes to make this point clear: Cardinal Frings : This [Mass] is not what we Council Fathers decided, this is against the decisions of the Council. I cannot understand how the Holy Father could give his consent to such a thing. Cardinal Stickler : “You can understand my astonishment when, on taking note of the final edition of the new Missale Romanum (i.e. the Novus Ordo), I found that its contents in many respects did not correspond to the texts of the Council with which I was well acquainted, much was altered, expanded, and even directly contrary to the decrees of the Council.” Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (yes, later Pope Benedict XVI): “I can say with certainty from my knowledge of the Council debate and from rereading the speeches of the Council Fathers delivered at that time that this [new Mass] was not intended [by them].” I could write about this for many pages and pages. I do not believe that my comments can add much to these holy fathers who were present at the Council and who gave their opinion of what came from it. Suffice it to say that if the Church approved the Novus Ordo Mass then it is valid. It does not appear that the Council Fathers themselves actually ever approved it, but Pope Paul VI did, and so it is valid. That does not mean, however, that it is good for the faith of God's people. The sad summary we have of the current situation is that appears that Novus Ordo is not what the Bishops intended, but someone made it happen; and this was done contrary to the stated wishes of the Council Fathers (one even said he wanted to declare fraud and withdraw his vote). We have many things for the Church to work on in this crazy day and age that we live in. Let us be cautious about what men will do to fix it, but hopeful that God is working to sort this out, and to do so for His glory.