Maria,
I was first exposed to the LC by the guiding hand of my mother. I met Father Kermit, a very well-rounded, holy, and in many ways typical LC, who inspired me a great deal. Since then I have enjoyed many opportunities to be exposed to their spirituality, their formation practices, and the boys, brothers, and priests from all stages of progression toward their vocation.
Never have I ever met an LC whom I found to be poorly rounded. They bring to the order their particular talents, and are in no way forced to stay. In fact, one thing that the “recruiter” (the priest who’s job it is to talk to those who are interested in joining) will say to someone who is interested (as I was at a few points in my life) is that the schools are primarily a place of discernment, and, if you feel that God is calling you elsewhere you will be encouraged to leave (or finish your year of studies then leave) to persue that call. Also, they will tell you that if they feel that you are either not sutable for the priesthood, your charism is more suitable for another order or diocesan work, they will suggest leaving to persue the appropriate route to find your place to maximize your ability and reap the benefits of your particular charism.
The life of an LC is not easy. They do have a rigorous schedule. Discipline is very important to their formation process… a process which takes 12 years if I’m not mistaken. I can see how someone who does not share the LC charism could misunderstand the reasons for the LC being the way that it is, but in no way is a scary picture of the LC as a controlling, overly strict, or discompassionate assessment of the order warranted.
As to the usefulness of the opinions of x-LCs in determining the quality/character of the order, I’d say it is negligible. Instead, I would look to the experiences of those who are in no way bias against them. Would you ask an x-Catholic for an opinion on the validity of the Catholic Faith and expect an answer that would be useful in understanding the character of the Catholic Church?
I plan on going to the annual spring retreat that the LC put on in Connecticut next Easter. I have found it to be one of my most moving and beneficial experiences in my faith life.
Do I believe that there may be some reason for people to be put-off by the Legionaries? Yes, I suppose that there may be. However, I do not believe that it is a problem with the LC… rather, I believe that those people have experienced a true difference between their own charism and that of the charism of the LC. How they react to this difference reflects more their character than that of the LC.
The Church is dynamic. Different orders fulfill different roles in the task of evangelization. The LC role is very unique, and without experiencing the joy of complete self-giving that the LC brothers and priests exhibit it would be hard for anyone to understand it.
As to the relationship between the pope and the LC, perhaps this will help:
The pope thanked the Legionaries and Regnum Christi members for the loyalty they have shown to the church and to the pontiff. Their style of apostolate, he said, rightly reflects the need to proclaim Gospel truths fearlessly, “with intellectual depth and with courage.”
In a letter posted on the Legionaries’ Web site, the pope congratulated Fr Maciel for 60 years of “intense, generous and fruitful priestly ministry.” The pope said he wanted to join in the “canticle of praise and thanksgiving” for the great things the priest has accomplished and said Father Maciel has always been concerned with the “integral promotion of the person.” (
CathNews)
The best way to find out about the LC is to spend time with them. No amount of talking, or reading, (and most definitely
not) or visiting anti-LC websites, will ever give you a good picture of who and what they are.
God bless,
Agricola
I have been involved with Regnum Christ for over 16 years. I would like to inform you of some facts. A regnum Christi encounter or meeting is taken from the sunday gospel, not from Fr. Maciel’s writings. The women must meet, this is not a true fact. I know of teams that may meet every other week, sometimes once a month. But regardless to grow spiritually it is important to always study the gospels. Father Maciel very well may become a saint someday. :tsktsk: Only God knows that and the level of your charity and judgement on these people really baffle me. Maybe Regnum Christi is not for you but there is alot of good in it! If this was not so our Holy Father would not think so highly of this order. Perhaps when someone says the Holy Father may be a saint someday you have the same reaction. Some people do live there lives for Christ and yes Father Maciel is one of them.
I will repeat by their fruits you will know them… Look at the fruit it is far from rotten and it is in abundance.:clapping:
I’m not saying these orders are not orthodox but their way of recruiting new members and forming their semanarians is strange. The LC is the only order (maybe OD) that takes young boys who they think have a vocation and train them up untill high school to be priest. All other orders require you to at least be of college age and some want you to have a few years of college already. They want mature men. Whereas the LC forms the young boys in a very selective, closed way so when they become men they don’t have a rounded outlook on life.
