For those who think that a few kind words from a pope actually mean something, this is a tale of woe NCW-phobes may want to first read before posting anymore examples of papal credits.
In January of 1979, John Paul II greeted members of a particular group with the following words:
“You are, my beloved sons, a young religious family that seeks a growing dynamism to contribute a new, lively energy to today’s Church. Precisely because I know your ideals, I want to invite you, with the words of the gospel that we just heard, to imitate the prudent man that constructed his house on a rock. For you, who share the characteristic feature of a Christ-centered spirituality, constructing your individual and communal building on a rock will symbolize an effort to always grow in a sublime knowledge of Christ, looking to Him in order to make your life an expression of his message, firmly based in faith and in charity, in order to be capable of minding in every instant Christ´s interests.”
Four years later on June 29, 1983, Pope John Paul II (soon to be canonized) gave definitive approval to the Constitutions of this group. He further gave his stamp of approval to the group when in in January of 1991, he personally presided over the priestly ordination of 60 of this group's seminarians.
In December of 1992, the soon to be saint told the leaders of this group:
“You can not doubt the loving providence of God in your lives and in the work you represent. So, you are called to an ever-growing generosity, one that is profoundly motivated by a love for Christ and for man, a love that re-commits you every time you repeat your motto: Adveniat Regnum Tuum!”
In January of 2001, soon to be Saint John Paul II held a special audience with the group in St. Peter's square to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of its foundation.
In 2004, soon to be Saint John Paul II took the additional step to validate this group by approving the Statute of a sister organization within the movement, and on the same day issued a Motu Proprio, a document with the highest papal authority, entrusting the administration of the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem to them.
The following November the soon to be saint again granted the group a private audience and again extended many "expressions of paternal love."
On March 13, 2005, after a tracheotomy, the Pope, barely able to speak, appeared in the window of the hospital, and with great difficulty greeted the members of the group by name. Given that others were also in attendance, but only their group was named, and given the great difficulty the Pope had in speaking, the members of the group took the papal greeting as nothing less than a sign from heaven.
Compared to the Neocatechumenal Way, this group, having merited the ratification of its constitutions and statutes, having had a great number of its priests personally ordained by the soon to be saint, having been personally received by the pope on many occasions, having been the the subject of a papal Motu Proprio, having been named administrator of an important Pontifical Institute, having been greeted and loved and promoted and encouraged on so many occasions by the Pope who will soon be a saint, compared to the the Neocatechumenal Way, this much esteemed and accredited group makes the NCW, in terms of status and treatment, look like a wilted wallflower.
Yet this group is Pope Francis' problem now!
Interestingly enough, just last night we watched "Secrets of the Vatican," which focused on the how long it took for the Vatican to deal with the problems of the Legionaries of Christ on PBS Frontline. Truly, the Vatican moves very slowly in addressing problems, particularly when there are Cardinals who support the movement in question. *Sigh*
ReplyDeletehttp://video.pbs.org/video/2365187642/
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/neocatechumenal-way-initiator-named-consultor-for-pontifical-council-for-the-laity
ReplyDeleteKeep your enemies closer. But really? Only a consultor? The Legionaires were give a whole Pontifical Institute.
DeleteWho is behind zenit news service? NCW always hot news.
DeleteSorry, you have to admit this is over the top affirmation! It just is.
DeleteIt is unfair to generalize all movements to the the Legion of Christ. That would be like generalizing all Catholic priests as sex abusers.
ReplyDeleteNot a movement, an itinery
DeleteNo one is generalizing. The NEO are foaming at the mouth to validate themselves with every papal word and pic. What happened to the Legionaires just goes to show that papal favors and even validation at the highest level means nothing if something is rotten at the root. And KIKO"S demonstrated refusal to obey is the thing that is rotten. It will be known. This is why the neo-phobes spend so much time here. Evil hates the light.
DeleteCall it what you want. You are officially a "movement":
DeleteSome examples of contemporary
ecclesial movements that exist to a
greater or lesser extent in the United
States are Catholic Charismatic Renewal,
Cursillo, Christian Life Communities,
Christian Family Movement,
Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, Focolare,
Neocatechumenal Way, Marriage
Encounter, Communion and Liberation,
and L’Arche.
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/new-evangelization/upload/ecclesial-movements-mccord.pdf
Rome wasn't built in one day, it is said! True, the Vatican will be slow because it will be a solid and informed decision, once made. Look, right now, the neos themselves aren't all even sure what they all believe? How can Rome formally sanction a community so confused about what they believe, what era of Christians they want to follow and pattern their practices from, and whether they want to be called a movement, a community or what?? We also still have very many more non-neos and former neos submitting their written testimonies about this division and confusion on Guam.
ReplyDeleteThe Vatican, understandably, will take the time to acquire as much accurate information; and the fact that Rome continues observing shows there must be grave reasons for Rome's continued "watchful eye" !
Heard not a few are dropping out. True?
ReplyDeleteNeos! Where is the document.? Call Fr. Pius, Pat, Kiko or pope Francis but produce it. That is all that was requested initially. So just do it.
ReplyDeleteAnswered by Diana:
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous.
First of all, to answer your SECOND question, New Jersey is NOT the seat of the Neocatechumenal Way. The Neocatechumenal Way doesn't have a seat or capital....not even in Spain where it begun.
Secondly, to answer your FIRST question, the Carmelite nuns in Guam are of advanced age. In other words, they are elderly. One of the reasons they were relocated to Tamuning was due to their small numbers and their frequent visits to doctors and health services. Over the years, the number of religious sisters has been declining. This is true not only for Guam, but worldwide. Today, it's fortunate that we have at least one or two young girls in Guam who have answered God's call to join the Carmelite Order even if they are walking in the Neocatechumenal Way.
In the Carmelite Order, the young girl would be trained in following the ideal life established by St. Teresa of Avilla. She would be trained as a nun to lead a contemplative life of prayer, spiritual readings, and manual work. Now that Guam's Carmelite nuns are so advance in their age and take frequent visits to the doctor or health clinic because some of them are ill, would they be capable of teaching an aspiring young girl this religious life, or would she be more of a caregiver? I am looking at this from a logical and reasonable perspective. Thus, I would think that it would be logical and beneficial if Guam's girls be sent off-island to a Carmelite monastary where they can be trained in living the ideal life of St. Teresa of Avilla. But I would also hope that someday, they would return to the island and take over the Carmelite Monastary here to be inspiring role models for Guam's women who hear God's calling.
Finally, I would appreciate if the thread of this post is not derailed too much or too far off. This post is about God's calling and deals with the letters written by Mr. Aaron Quituga and Father Adrian. As I said in my post, I don't think Mr. Quitugua is ready for the priesthood yet. The seminary is not a place to discern whether one should become a priest or not. It is a place to prepare men for the priesthood. A person doesn't enroll into law school to discern whether he wants to become a lawyer or not. The purpose of law school is to prepare students into the field of Law. In a similar manner, a Seminary is a place to prepare candidates for the priesthood. And I also believe that every candidate should be screened before entering any Seminary.
Hey "Diana", I gave you your own post. No need to thank me.
DeleteHey Religious Sisters, the Archdiocese of Agana wants to close you down due to your age bracket. You are no longer mentally capable of leading girls into the right formation of serving The Lord! You all better start making reservations for room and board at St. Dominic 's!
ReplyDeleteIf this is what the Archbishop is in favor for, then I have lost respect for the man. He is not a true leader but a follower of the NCW statutes!
...but we got photos of the Pope(s) doesn't that account for anything?
ReplyDelete