Novus Ordo New Mass Foundation of a New Religion, by Theologian and Canon Lawyer
Summary:
This is a candid testimony and theological critique by Father Gregory Hesse - a traditionally-formed priest who studied in Rome and was ordained in St. Peter’s Basilica in 1981. Initially accepting the post-Vatican II reforms, he later came to reject them after deeper study of Church tradition and theology. He holds advanced degrees in theology and canon law but acknowledges the formation he received was heavily influenced by modernist theologians like Rahner, Schillebeeckx, and de Lubac.
Father Gregory Hesse systematically exposes the doctrinal rupture between the Church of Vatican II and the pre-conciliar Church, focusing on:
The immutability of dogma and tradition
The invalidity and heretical nature of the Novus Ordo Mass
The non-binding nature of Vatican II
The errors of ecumenism and religious liberty
The role of the Holy Spirit and papal authority
The importance of the Traditional Latin Mass as the lex orandi, lex credendi
Key Quotes:
On Tradition and Doctrine:
“The truth cannot change. If anybody tells you the truth changes according to the times, he has ceased to be Catholic.”
“Tradition is complete. It was completed with the death of the last Apostle.”
“New aspects of doctrine? That’s heresy. The Holy Spirit was not promised to reveal anything new.”
On Vatican II:
“Vatican II goes directly against defined teachings… It’s null and void.”
“The present Pope says those who cannot accept Vatican II struggle with new doctrines. But new doctrines are not Catholic.”
On the Novus Ordo Mass:
“The Novus Ordo Missae is the smoke of Satan. It is something intrinsically evil.”
“The new Mass is the foundation of a new faith.”
“If the law of what must be prayed is changed, then the faith is changed.”
On the Pope and Infallibility:
“If a pope was to pronounce formal heresy, he would cease to be pope.”
“The pope cannot bind his successors in matters of discipline — but he is bound in matters of doctrine and faith.”
On Ecumenism and Religious Liberty:
“The Russian Orthodox are not our sister Church. They are heretics and schismatics.”
“Vatican II says man has the right to choose his religion — this was condemned by Pope Pius IX in the Syllabus of Errors.”
Major Takeaways:
Dogma and Tradition Cannot Change:
Any claim that doctrine evolves is fundamentally non-Catholic.
Vatican I (Pastor Aeternus) affirms that the Holy Spirit assists the pope not to reveal new doctrine but to guard and explain the deposit of faith.
Vatican II is Theologically Defective:
It explicitly contradicts previous magisterial teachings (e.g., on ecumenism and religious liberty).
The council claimed no dogmatic authority and thus its documents are non-binding.
The New Mass is a Break from Catholic Tradition:
The Novus Ordo undermines Catholic belief in the sacrificial nature of the Mass.
Quo Primum (1570) by St. Pius V binds all future popes to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Papal Heresy and Sedevacantism:
If a pope formally teaches heresy, he ceases to be pope.
Many post-Vatican II popes have taught errors materially or formally.
Faithful Catholics Must Cling to Pre-Vatican II Teaching:
Catholic truth is timeless and unchanging.
The faithful must reject the errors of the post-conciliar Church, even if the majority of clergy and laity have embraced them.
Pre-Vatican II Sedevacantist Analysis:
1. Authentic Catholic Doctrine Reaffirmed:
The speaker rightly upholds the unchangeability of truth.
Vatican I and the Council of Trent are cited to prove that popes cannot innovate in doctrine.
2. Vatican II Condemned as Heretical:
Vatican II’s teachings on religious liberty (Dignitatis Humanae) and ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) were already condemned.
Its non-dogmatic status proves it is not protected by infallibility.
3. Legitimacy of the Novus Ordo Rejected:
The Novus Ordo is not simply deficient — it is intrinsically evil, offensive to God, and harmful to souls.
Its very form undermines belief in the Real Presence and the sacrificial nature of the Mass.
4. Quo Primum is Still in Force:
St. Pius V’s bull made the Traditional Latin Mass permanent and unchangeable.
No pope has the authority to suppress it or replace it with a Protestantized liturgy.
5. Sedevacantism is the Logical Conclusion:
If post-conciliar “popes” have deviated from the faith, they cannot hold the papal office.
As St. Robert Bellarmine taught: a heretical pope loses office automatically.
Final Thoughts:
This testimony is a clear and powerful defense of traditional Catholic truth against the errors of the post-Vatican II pseudo-church. It is a wake-up call for Catholics who are still caught in the illusion that the modernist Church is the same Church of Christ.
As sedevacantists rightly observe: A Church that contradicts itself cannot be the true Church. The true Church of Christ is indefectible — it cannot lead souls into error. Therefore, the Church of Vatican II, with its new Mass, new doctrines, and new spirit, is not the Catholic Church founded by Our Lord.
