Neocatechumenal Way Liturgy

[HagiaSophia]

From John Allen’s column of 12/23/05

A new letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship demands that the Neocatechumenal Way, a program for catechetical formation launched in 1960s Spain by Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez, adjust its liturgical practice to the general norms of the church.
The letter, whose contents were reported Thursday, Dec. 22, by Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli, is seen as a step towards full recognition of the movement by the Vatican.

As anyone who has attended a Neocatechumenate Mass knows, there are several idiosyncratic features. Typically Mass is celebrated Saturday night, not Sunday, and just for the Neocatechumenate community rather than the entire parish. The “Sign of Peace” comes before the presentation of gifts, sometimes parts of the Eucharistic prayers are omitted, often lay people deliver remarks that resemble a homily, and communion is usually administered while seated.

The new Vatican letter demands that at least once a month, members of the Neocatechumenate celebrate Mass on Sunday during the normal parish liturgy; that all the prescribed prayers be followed; that a priest or deacon deliver the homily; and that communion be administered while standing or genuflecting, all in accord with general liturgical norms.

Some minor concessions are offered. Laypeople may still deliver reflections at the Mass (called “resonances”), as long as it’s not confused with the homily. The congregation also gives the Neocatechumenate two years to bring its practice on communion in line with the norms.

nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/

 

[mosher]

The Neocatecumenate is a very interesting group. Since it began there have been many concerns with them and there have been many actions like this taken in the past to help keep them in the bounds of orthodox worship. It is just the care of Mother Church for her Children. Historically the group has always bended to the will of the Church.

 

[Gilbert]

Liturgy: Benedict XVI Brings the Neocatechumenals Back to the Right Way
The confidential document in which the pope cracks down on abuses in how the Neocatechumenal Way celebrates the Mass

by Sandro Magister
chiesa.espressonline.it/index.jsp?eng=y

Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum

Prot. 2520/03/L

From Vatican City, December 1, 2005

To the esteemed Mr. Kiko Argüello, Ms. Carmen Hernandez, and Rev. Father Mario Pezzi,

Following the conversations with this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist in the communities of the Neocatechumenal Way, in keeping with the guidelines issued in the meeting with you on November 11 of this year, I am to inform you of the Holy Father’s decisions.

In the celebration of the Holy Mass, the Neocatechumenal Way shall accept and follow the liturgical books approved by the Church, without omitting or adding anything. Furthermore, in regard to some elements the guidelines and clarifications are emphasized as follows:

1. Sunday is the “Dies Domini” as the Servant of God Pope John Paul II wished to illustrate in the Apostolic Letter on the Lord’s Day. Therefore the Neocatechumenal Way must enter into dialogue with the diocesan bishop in order to make it clear that the community of the Neocatechumenal Way is incorporated into the parish even in the context of the liturgical celebrations. At least one Sunday per month, the communities of the Neocatechumenal Way must participate in the Holy Mass of the parish community.

Moderator Note: Please limit quotes from linked articles to a maximum of three paragraphs.

 

[Catholic29]

Now if he only extends this document to include Life Teen.

 

[Walking_Home]

It seems that Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez have other plans for the Church. This is what they tell their followers:

note: color emphasiz is mine:

www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000E9F

What the pope thinks about the Neocatechumenal way? Why is not accepted in many churches?

—Eduardo Carrillo Muqoz…, November 03,1998

Answers

Eduardo,

The pope not only thinks, but also knows for sure, that the Neocatechumenate way is the only way that can transform the church as it was during the time of the apostles. This is the very reason why the statues of the Way have been approved. The Neocatechumenate way has not been classified or categorized as a movement. The Way is known as the only Christian Initiation.

The reason why it is not accepted in many Churches is because of the lack of interest on part of the Bishops.

The Bishops are more interested in comfortable luxury life. If the Bishop accepts the Way in his diocese, the Bishop himself would become full time busy serving the faithful. This is what the Bishops don’t want. Again they have their own traditional way of dealing with things. The maximum that they would support is the Charismatic movement. They don’t seem to have zeal for their own flock.

They are interested whether a Catholic comes for a Sunday mass Eucharist. They expect the faithful to approach them. They don’t think of visiting those faithful who have left the Church or who don’t come to Church. And when life is simple and things are going well why waste energy on things that will only spoil ones happiness.

But this is not the case with all the Bishops around the world. Some Bishops who are interested in starting the Way, have very few priest/ resources or people are more interested in some thing else. Some Bishops are really interested in changing the life of their faithful. They are the real figure of Jesus Christ.

Like where I live, the Bishop of my diocese is a staunch supporter of the Charismatic movement. We are not allowed to start new communities in other parishes. Even after the approval of the Neocatechumenate statues the Bishop is not serious.

But courage, I have known some worthy Bishops who have started the Way in their parishes. The moment the statues were approved the Bishop called all the priests for a live-in together and ordered “Boys within a month I want to see all the faithful in these communities”. And the priests are carrying the order of the Bishop faithfully.
Such Bishops are very few. The Vatican estimates that it will take around 275 to 300 years to change the entire Catholic Church into the Neocatechumenal Way.

I pray that it happens soon.

God Bless The Pope and the Catholic Church.

Peace Xavier

PS: I am from the WAY, just finished my second scrutiny few months ago and waiting for the next stage of “prayers”.

-Xavier…, March 20,2003

 

[mgy100]

Ok, I am going to rant, although it isn’t my place anymore.
So these people can have mass the way they want to.
Everyone else can seemingly change your mass the way they want to. But when a few people ask to have at least a little bit of latin, chant, and incense, or at least the mass said according to the actual formula, they get labeled in many different words.
If people can have a neocathechumenal mass, or whatever, why can’t people have a decent mass like the ones we had when I was younger. Mass that had decent music, good homilies (by the priest) and no agenda other than celebrating mass.

I actually went to midnight mass with my family this year. Surprisingly (for the first time in years) the Bishop celebrated a mass by the books (skipped the confiteor, but I am sure that is ok by the books). It was the first mass in 12 years of living here that I actually saw celebrated by the Bishop that didn’t have any innovations or agendas. I was mighly impressed.

 

[oat_soda]

this is welcome news. the way’s liturgy is very problematic in terms of what normally constitutes a liturgical abuse. first, they overstress the meal aspect of the mass almost to the exclusion of the fundamental sacraficial aspect. further, they do not let outsiders in on the liturgy. for instance, you couldn’t bring your friend normally who hasn’t went though the catechesis program.

while there are many fine aspects to the way and definite fruit, they are also overly secrective and their liturgy is based on the erroneous 60’s radical idea that the mass should be celebrated in its earliest pure form -whatever that is, stripped of historical sacrifical acreations in a home on a table and not on an altar in the sanctuary. they also do not permit gregorian chant which SC clearly stated is to have pride of place in the liturgy.

i’m very pleased with this development. B16 rules!

 

[Walking_Home]

Please take note of how the “Way” describes the Bishops.

The Bishops who are not enthuziastic about the Way:

"are more interested in comfortable luxury life"
"don't want to serve the faithful"
"don't have a zeal for their own flock"
"don't want to waste energy on things that will only spoil ones
  happiness"
"is not serious"

The Bishops that encourage the Way:

“are really interested in changing the life of their faithful”
“They are the real figure of Jesus Christ”
“are worthy”

And again they believe “The WAY is known as the only Christian Initiation.”

---

The majority of the abuses occuring in our churches are not due to “modernists”, “liberals”, or “progressives”. It is the Neocatechumenals trying to do away with our traditions since they consider their form of worship as the only “authentic worship”.

 

[Walking_Home]

Something else for everyone to note.

As to why the Neocatechumenals believe it will take between 275 to 300 yrs to convert the Church:

To them the Church isn’t just the Latin and Eastern rites, but also all other christian denominations. They not only want to change the Catholic Church, but also the Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, Babtists, etc.

 

[Jayson]

I really can’t wait to see more and more stories like this!

Bless you Pope Benedict & Cardinal Arinze!

“The Vatican has told communities of the Neocatechumenal Way to join their entire parish at least once a month for Mass and to phase out their practice of receiving Communion seated around a table.”

“In the celebration of the holy Mass, the Neocatechumenal Way will accept and follow the liturgical books approved by the church without omitting or adding anything,”

"Because the celebration of Sunday Mass is so important in the life of a parish, the letter said, the Neocatechumenal communities in each parish must join the rest of the parish at least once a month for Sunday Mass. "

"The statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way, approved by Pope John Paul II in 2002, allow the communities to celebrate their own regular weekly Mass on Saturday evenings.

For more than 30 years, members of the Neocatechumenal Way have prepared their liturgies by baking their own loaves of unleavened bread, and they have received the consecrated bread and wine while seated around a table.

However, the letter said, the practice should not continue. "

“The Neocatechumenal Way will be given a transition period of not more than two years to pass from the common method of receiving holy Communion in its communities – seated, using a decorated table placed at the center of the church instead of the dedicated altar in the sanctuary – to the manner normal to the entire church for receiving holy Communion,” the letter said.

“This means that the Neocatechumenal Way must move toward the manner foreseen in the liturgical books for the distribution of the body and blood of Christ,” it said.

catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=18130

Liturgical smackdown!

 

[WanderAimlessly]

We need to see more and more of this. I am waiting to see what their response will be. We do not need Liturgical reform, we need Litugical enforcement.

There is a new sheriff in town and his name is Pope Benedict.

PF

 

[Jayson]

I should also mention that they are stressing the point that only priests are allowed to give homilies.

This is a great step forward and hopefully a sign of something that will accelerate as this pontificate moves forward.

 

[mosher]

mgy100:

Ok, I am going to rant, although it isn’t my place anymore.
So these people can have mass the way they want to.
Everyone else can seemingly change your mass the way they want to. But when a few people ask to have at least a little bit of latin, chant, and incense, or at least the mass said according to the actual formula, they get labeled in many different words.
If people can have a neocathechumenal mass, or whatever, why can’t people have a decent mass like the ones we had when I was younger. Mass that had decent music, good homilies (by the priest) and no agenda other than celebrating mass.

I actually went to midnight mass with my family this year. Surprisingly (for the first time in years) the Bishop celebrated a mass by the books (skipped the confiteor, but I am sure that is ok by the books). It was the first mass in 12 years of living here that I actually saw celebrated by the Bishop that didn’t have any innovations or agendas. I was mighly impressed.

Just to set your mind at ease the Confiteor & Kyrie are omitted at the Midnight Mass of Christmas and is replaced by the Proclomation.

But, in principle I agree with your post.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I have been following this with some interest, since when I first heard of it I knew nothing at all about it nor had ever heard of it…
I am posting this link into the Spirituality Forum as there may be some interest there. In all instances below I am quoting only a small portion of the actual article or interview.
The NeoCatechumenate Movement

“……………They celebrate the Eucharist with unleavened bread. Their Masses last at least two hours. They gather in communities and have created a grass-roots network for evangelization. To spread the Gospels, these itinerant catechists go into houses and through the streets. Hundreds of their families have left on mission to various parts of the world, and diocesan missionary priests are trained in their seminaries. They are the offspring of the Second Vatican Council and their retort to secularism has been forceful - and successful. Their “Way” is a return to the first Christian communities. More than 50% of their members have entered the movement from outside the Church. In spite of opposition from parish priests and bishops, John Paul II, as Paul VI and John Paul I before him, supports them vigorously. We are speaking of the Neocatechumenate movement - a reality which now includes more than 13,500 communities in 4,000 parishes and 650 dioceses in more than 90 countries……….” For full text go to link:

http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Inside/sep95/neocat1.html

Holy See Gives Guidelines to Neocatechumenate

For Celebration of Mass

“………….The document was issued after a process of dialogue between the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and the directors of the Neocatechumenal Way. Pope John Paul II approved the statutes of the Neocatechumenate with a decree in 2002.

The Neocatechumenate has been described as a way of Christian initiation for the rediscovery of baptism……….” For full text go to:

[www/zenit.org/english/](http://www/zenit.org/english/)

Neocatechumenate on the Holy See’s Guidelines
Interview With Giuseppe Gennarini

“……….To better understand the document, ZENIT interviewed Giuseppe Gennarini, a spokesman who is in charge of the Way in the United States.
Q: What is the significance of this letter for the Way?..” for full text go to:

http://www/zenit.org/english/

 

[thistle]

BarbaraTherese:

I have been following this with some interest, since when I first heard of it I knew nothing at all about it nor had ever heard of it…
I am posting this link into the Spirituality Forum as there may be some interest there. In all instances below I am quoting only a small portion of the actual article or interview.
The NeoCatechumenate Movement

Holy See Gives Guidelines to Neocatechumenate

For Celebration of Mass

Neocatechumenate on the Holy See’s Guidelines
Interview With Giuseppe Gennarini

http://www/zenit.org/english/

I can’t get the links to work.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

thistle:

I can’t get the links to work.

Hi Thistle…I dont know why the link wont work. Try it again:

zenit.org/english/

It works when I test it before Posting, but when I tried it from your Post I couldn’t get it to work either. If you cannot access Zenit (News from Rome) on the above link, then I suggest you type it into your browser and access it that way. There is no problem with the site as I can access it in my normal way.

Good luck! Barb
Happy New Year!

Edit…Just had another look at your Post and I can see the problem…there is an / between www and zenit…should be a full stop or period.

 

[thistle]

BarbaraTherese:

Hi Thistle…I dont know why the link wont work. Try it again:

zenit.org/english/

It works when I test it before Posting, but when I tried it from your Post I couldn’t get it to work either. If you cannot access Zenit (News from Rome) on the above link, then I suggest you type it into your browser and access it that way. There is no problem with the site as I can access it in my normal way.

Good luck! Barb
Happy New Year!

Edit…Just had another look at your Post and I can see the problem…there is an / between www and zenit…should be a full stop or period.

Thanks. It works now.
By the way until this thread I had never heard of this movement of Neocatechumenates so my question might seem naive to you but anyway does this group accept all the teachings of the Catholic Church and submit to the authority of the Pope?

 

[BarbaraTherese]

thistle:

Thanks. It works now.
By the way until this thread I had never heard of this movement of Neocatechumenates so my question might seem naive to you but anyway does this group accept all the teachings of the Catholic Church and submit to the authority of the Pope?

Hi Thistle…I am not at all aufait on NeoCatechumanism - it is rather new to me too but I have been reading anything that crops up about them. It does seem to me from my limited knowledge that they are Catholic and many from NC have followed priestly vocations apparently. They do accept all teachings of The Church and submit to Papal Authority - well at least technically speaking. It seems to me that liturgically they are somewhat out of line however…and being called into line liturgically by The Vatican and they apparently accept this regulating of Rome of some of their liturgical practises…but I am sure the better informed than I can make a clearer statement than me.

Regards and Happy New Year…Barb

 

[thistle]

BarbaraTherese:

Hi Thistle…I am not at all aufait on NeoCatechumanism - it is rather new to me too but I have been reading anything that crops up about them. It does seem to me from my limited knowledge that they are Catholic and many from NC have followed priestly vocations apparently. They do accept all teachings of The Church and submit to Papal Authority - well at least technically speaking. It seems to me that liturgically they are somewhat out of line however…and being called into line liturgically by The Vatican and they apparently accept this regulating of Rome of some of their liturgical practises…but I am sure the better informed than I can make a clearer statement than me.

Regards and Happy New Year…Barb

Thanks and Happy New Year to you too.

 

[the_phoenix]

oat soda:

further, they do not let outsiders in on the liturgy. for instance, you couldn’t bring your friend normally who hasn’t went though the catechesis program.

I’m an outsider, and they let me in on the liturgy … or should I say, they “peer pressured” me in. That’s because a few years ago, I stumbled upon their liturgy by accident. I was quite innocently going to make a visit to Our Eucharistic Lord in the parish’s public Perpetual Adoration Chapel from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to ring in the New Year.

When I walked in the door, I was surprised to see a Mass going on. Someone noticed me, escorted me right up to the front, and had me sit in their small circle. The priest then distributed Communion to everybody seated right there in their chairs. This led to the highly embarrassing moment where I had to publicly refuse Communion in front of everybody because since I had not expected to be attending Mass just then, I had not fasted.

Here’s hoping this sort of thing will be avoided in the future.

~~ the phoenix