With the Novus Ordo the Validity All Depends on the Priest's Intention

Fr. Joseph Gill has an important article at Crisis Magazine about the Novus Ordo, The Novus Ordo and the Interior Life. Don't miss it! 

In order for the Mass to be valid one important requirement is for the priest to intend to do what the Church intends. Think about that for a minute and then reflect on the many bishops and priests who turn the Mass into a sideshow. Did the priest who blessed the congregation with a guitar intend to do what the Church intends? Did the priests who dressed like Barney the purple dinosaur or Dracula intend to do what the Church intends? Did the bishops of the St. Gallen Mafia intend to do what the Church intends when they conspired together to put Francis on Peter's chair? 

I've been to at least one Novus Ordo Mass that I was sure was invalid. My husband and I did not go to Communion. In retrospect we should have left. At another Sunday Mass in Detroit, the priest omitted the Creed. When I spoke to him after Mass with a big smile commenting on his enthusiasm, I added, "But you're not allowed to omit the Creed." He leaned over and said, "You're full of it, sweetheart!" Then he walked away and gave me the middle finger salute over his shoulder. Speaking the truth to a Pharisee is never appreciated.

Fr. Gill begins his article with this:

We’ve all been to our fair share of banal, cringe, or even disrespectful Novus Ordo Masses. As a priest who celebrates the Novus Ordo, I can see how easy it is in the New Rite to fall into those traps. It is evermore necessary, then, for a priest who celebrates the Novus Ordo to cultivate a rich interior life of union with Christ because this is the only antidote to the myriad of temptations to trivialize the liturgy.

This temptation does not exist in the TLM. By the very structure of the liturgy, it is nearly impossible to celebrate it irreverently. Of course, every priest should live in intimacy with God, but even a priest who doesn’t pray much can still celebrate the TLM in an objectively reverent way. The Latin Mass is structured in such a way as to eliminate the temptation for a priest to insert his personality, his ego, and his weaknesses into the liturgy.

One point father makes is that the priest facing the people offers a "particular temptation," one I've frequently seen, i.e., the showman priest:

...the manner of celebrating most Novus Ordo Masses versus populum provides a particular temptation to see oneself as the precise center of worship, rather than our Eucharistic Lord. There have certainly been times when celebrating Mass that the thought from the Evil One has struck me, “What did the people think about [how I said the Eucharistic prayer, how I preached, whether I appeared warm and friendly enough, etc.]?"

The Mass is certainly the greatest sacrifice on earth, but no "show," and the priest who makes it one commits a grave error if not a mortal sin. I once watched a video of a priest who, at the beginning of a nuptual Mass, sang a popular song as the bride entered the Church on the arm of her father. Talk about a "cringe-worthy" moment! Even from a human perspective this priest took the attention off the bride and placed it squarely on himself. Can one doubt he acts in the same way toward our Savior making himself the center of attention rather than Jesus Christ?

Fr. Gill stresses obedience and humility. Many of us have experienced liturgical violations at the Novus Ordo, perhaps without even realizing they violate the rubrics:

With so many options in the Novus Ordo, it can be easy to forget that many things are not given to us as choices. For example, “Good Morning” is not a choice in the liturgy. Nor is it necessary, or even allowed, to give an introduction to the Creed. A priest must have the obedient humility to stay within the bounds of what is actually allowed in the Novus Ordo and not go beyond those limits. He should have a burning desire to disappear beneath the vestments, that Christ alone may be revealed.

I once had a spiritual director who was very conscious of this. When he said Mass his personality almost entirely disappeared. When I commented on the way he prayed the Mass and that particular thing, he replied that he wanted to disappear and let Christ be seen. What incredible humility and insight! He had a tremendous sense of humor and could easily have been a stand up comic in the lectern. But his goal was, "And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me." [Galatians 2:20] Needless to say, he gave wise and astute direction.

Read Fr. Gill's article. It's a testament and guide for making a deficient liturgy as reverent as possible and for the priest to act like a priest not a clown. No priest who followed his advice could use the Asperges as a joke smirking while soaking his favorites or slap handing children as he processed down the aisle at the end of Mass. 

We need to pray for our priests. They aren't just hosts at the banquet or presiders or the first among equals. They minister the sacrifice and stand in the gap to offer atonement for our sins. WE NEED THEM! If we don't pray for our priests, for many and holy priests, we are derelict in our duty. Let us pray for them daily, offer sacrifices, make holy hours, etc. We need to encourage and thank our good priests and pray especially hard for "unfaithful and tepid" priests. 

Did you pray for priest yesterday? Will you pray for them today? Let us be unfailing in our faithfulness to pray for our priests. Here are some prayers for priests. Let us be faithful intercessors for them.

O Jesus, Priest, Prophet, and King, have mercy on Your priests.

Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, pray for our priests.

St. Joseph, Guardian of the Church, intercede for our priests.

All you guardian angels of priests, pray for them.