legionaries of christ

[AlexV]

Notice the comment of a RC member: the pope has “infinitely more knowledge and love of Christ” than the rest of us.

That’s a problematic statement. "Infinitely’ is a rather interesting adverb. It’s also not an accurate reflection of Catholic teaching on the papacy. It also helps illustrate my point about the dangers of the cult of the pope.

As a side note: before John Paul II, holy cards of reigning popes were exceedingly rare/nonexistent. Cards praying for beatification after death, fine. But cards of reigning pontiffs? Very scarce/nonexistent. Now, a disturbing modern trend. In one LC school my friend had a child in, they were given pope holy cards…none other. If you’re going to give a class of children holy cards (great idea), but only 1…I’d say a pope one isn’t first on the list.

In my case, my dealings with LC/RC members, I can report plenty of indicators that would cause me to urge caution for those thinking of getting involved with these groups.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

In some ways, they have a tendency - especially among their lay branch Regnum Christi - toward a certain type of neo-Gnosticism: our way, in effect, or the highway.

Neo-Gnosticism? Gnosticism has nothing to do with “our way or the highway”. It has to do with unknown mysteries that are only revealed though the cult at certain points within it.

Any ways, all religious orders and third order groups are this way. Its called a Charism. One would not make it though the Benedictines trying to live the Charism of the Franscians.

 

[Formosus]

Neo-Gnosticism? Gnosticism has nothing to do with “our way or the highway”. It has to do with unknown mysteries that are only revealed though the cult at certain points within it.

Any ways, all religious orders and third order groups are this way. Its called a Charism. One would not make it though the Benedictines trying to live the Charism of the Franscians.

Off topic but

I imagine it would be an interesting religious order if one was to combine the two spiritualities

 

[setter]

Also, there is good reason to suspect that the sexual abuse of minors their founder has been accused of is true. That is why HH Benedict XVI asked him to remove himself from public ministry and resign from the leadership of the LC (to which he willingly complied).

I thought that the reason for the willing resignation from public capacity of the founder was to spare the LC order the agony and disgrace of a drawn out investigation/trial of these latest round of allegations. If true, this sounds more self-sacrificial and in accord with the intergrity of it’s founder.

 

[Brendan]

In some of their schools, students are made to feel pressured to participate in RC events,

And why is that a problem? One of the main points to providing a Catholic education to non Catholics is so that they accept the teaching of the Catholic Faith.

and there is a definite difference in treatment between those whose parents are RC and those who aren’t…

Yep, in the first case, the parents are not in need of conversion, in the second case, they are.

So there SHOULD be a difference in treatment.

 

[AlexV]

By RC I meant Regnum Christi, not Roman Catholic.

 

[Sir_Catholic]

Most of what I have heard about the Legionaries of Christ indicates that they are a orthodox religous order.

One red flag is that their seminary program is a whopping 12 years long. That probably has caused burnout for some of the seminarians because of the many years of studying before being ordained.

 

[joe5046]

Well, I visited them, and long story short, I think I will enter their candidicy program in summer, and, God willing, the novicitiate in the fall.

 

[joe5046]

I still have a lot of discernment and prayer to do, but I think I will enter the candidicy program this summer, and God willing, enter formation next fall.

Thank you for all your prayers, and please continue to pray for me and my vocation

 

[joe5046]

I still have a lot of discernment and prayer to do, but I think I will enter the candidicy program this summer, and God willing, enter formation next fall.

Thank you for all your prayers, and please continue to pray for me and my vocation

 

[Formosus]

Most of what I have heard about the Legionaries of Christ indicates that they are a orthodox religous order.

One red flag is that their seminary program is a whopping 12 years long. That probably has caused burnout for some of the seminarians because of the many years of studying before being ordained.

Looks like the Jesuits are a red flag also since they take 11 years in the maryland province atleast.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Looks like the Jesuits are a red flag also since they take 11 years in the maryland province atleast.

Carmelites in the US provinces (O.Carm. that is) take a minimum of 8 years.

 

[KCT]

I still have a lot of discernment and prayer to do, but I think I will enter the candidicy program this summer, and God willing, enter formation next fall.

Thank you for all your prayers, and please continue to pray for me and my vocation

God bless you for your generosity. —KCT

 

[joe5046]

anyways, I just told my parents, so it wont be long now before I leave home

 

[whosebob]

anyways, I just told my parents, so it wont be long now before I leave home

JMJ + OBT​

Telling one’s parents can be a rough experience, both before, during and afterwards. I will keep you in my prayers.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

IC XC NIKA

 

[AdvanceAlways]

I hate to bring up an old thread but Joe, any updates?

 

[kangnamdragon]

My experience with them was positive but they were not too interested in me as I think they felt I was too old.

How old is too old for them?

 

[AdvanceAlways]

How old is too old for them?

The Legionaries prefer vocations from the 20-30 range due to their long formation program.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I don’t think you can ever find an unbiased source on anything. People either like something or do not. If they do not know about it then they will be unbiased but how can they give you any insight into it.

Find someone or some group you trust and see what they say about it.

My experience with them was positive but they were not too interested in me as I think they felt I was too old.

I agree with David they are generally favorable.

About 10 years ago they started to approach me about priesthood when I was a young man still in college. I made it clear that I was a Byzantine Catholic, and should I pursue a vocation it would be in the Eastern Church. The fellow responded to the effect of “changing rites” or that not bothering them. He was just one man, of course, and probably not well informed about the ECC, but I was a little turned off.

They were very strongly influenced by a lot of high minded Mexican/Latin American piety… which makes sense because they ARE from Mexico… but I think some of that sort of discipline (which is fine for them) can really turn people off who don’t understand it. (I am a stomach sleeper - have always slept on my stomach, probably always will. In LC novitiate, that is a no-no.)

I don’t think they do these things to be cult-like, but rather to have a strong formation. In a sense they are kind of like the Marine Corps - very regimented, and their training is meant to “break down to build up”. A lot of parallels could be find with the more primative monastic communities that observe a lot of mortification and penance.

Overall I think they are a decent and orthodox order. I just was left with the impression that their focus (and not wrongly) is so tightly geared towards a very distinctive vision of the Church and the priesthood that (as with any order or society) an aspirant would need to clearly discearn being called to share in that vision.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I hate to bring up an old thread but Joe, any updates?

Chances are, if he is with the Legion, he is not online regularly. Free time with the LC is very sparing, and regimented… notice he was online last 2/20…