Sunday, March 30, 2014

ONE HELLUVA HAIRCUT....JUST SAYIN'

This is the lectern cover, designed, of course, by Kiko, and the first step, (the camel's nose in the tent) of the conversion of the Agat church to Kiko's Way.


Aside from the terribly strange haircut for a first century Jewish boy, what's with the "deer caught in the headlights" expression on his face? Certainly not very becoming for the Word Made Flesh. Perhaps Kiko is one of those who subscribes to the belief that the young Jesus didn't know he was God. How interesting that this is how Jesus is presented on Neocatechumenal lecterns everywhere.

But beyond that, what's with the just as terribly strange Marian title: "Mary Little One - Earthly Dwelling of the Humble" HUH?

Mary may have been "little" when she said "May it be done unto me according to thy word." But from then on, in the eyes of the Church - the Catholic one - she became great, glorious, the first among the saints, Blessed, Heavenly Queen, Mother of God.

In fact, the idea that Mary is still a "little one" is how non-Catholic Christians see her. They acknowledge her only as an earthly conduit for the birth of Jesus, but that's it. For them, she remains just another human, a sinful creature like the rest of us, a simple woman, a "little one". 

33 comments:

  1. What a horrible cheap image of the mother and child. It looks like the work of a retard mind. There is no style, no class, no work of art, no culture. Just horrible. People of agat you deserve better do not sell your souls to the NCW and the standards of Anthony Apuron.

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    1. I am allowing this comment to go through even though I object to your use of the word "retard". Please refrain from using it in the future.

      That aside, your comment affords an opportunity for a necessary observation.

      The uglification of our churches began long before Kiko showed up. In the 70's we began erecting barns and circus tents and called them churches. The square box that is the model for the neocatechumenary already has an architectural precedent in box churches like Mongmong. (No slight to the current parishioners. It wasn't your fault it was built that way.)

      The flying saucer that is the main auditorium of the neocat headquarters in Israel, the Domus Galilee, is not much different than Santa Barbara or Barrigada (again no slight to current parishioners.)

      There is a reason the traditional form of our churches, for centuries, has been cruciform. And we ignore that at our own peril.

      Having lived with decades of ugliness and sterility in most of our churches, even the addition of Kiko's adolescent scratchings could be considered an improvement. Too bad we didn't care sooner.

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    2. Love the comments appearing on these pages. The other evening I heard someone else make reference to the ugly churches on Guam and these paintings appearing. So I see a connection. He went onto say that when he sees anything ugly he comes out in a rash. Although the statements are funny,make us smile, they do have truth Tim.

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  2. O, querida, cuanto es eso, Kiko?

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    1. Oh dear, how much is that, Kiko?

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    2. $1,100 USD, but looks like the one in Agat is a knockoff. Kiko's original is a bit better.

      http://www.tiendadelcamino.com/shop/article_89/Cubre-atril---La-zarza-ardiente.html?sessid=Sv6JaqfRs4WBx4D2gmfWTNpPMcD7aHUiQkKnMfyUEH4NGBrKRoXS4b5RmkDcX4Ns&shop_param=cid%3D6%26aid%3D89%26

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  3. Note to Oleg. I won't be posting your comment on this. If you would like to know why, please send me an email.

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  4. "Mary Little One"
    A reminder to us of the humility of Mary and how even in her "littleness" God had chosen her to be an
    "earthly Dwelling of the Humble One"

    The paintings of Kiko Arguello are just representations of original Greek Icons. The Icon above depicts the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, where in that moment the Lord comes to us, His chosen ones. This same Lord who was giver of the Law, now submits to the Law, becoming as we are, human.

    Theres no justice in accussing or trying to say that the NCW has a disregard for Mary. In Fact, Mary has been present in the NCW since the beginning, since its formation. You can see this in the many icons that are used in the NCW. Almost every icon used has Mary present there. The teachings are present also, if they were not, I would not have been able to share this with you.
    If what I have shared is not of church teaching, then I open to be corrected.

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    1. Then why not use a copy of the original icon? Why Kiko's interpretation of it? Why a title composed by Kiko? Why not one of Mary's many church authorized titles? You say that the "teachings are present also". Please provide a copy of your catechetical directory showing those teachings. I wait.

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    2. The belittling icon of Mary reminds me of a Protestant woman coming to my door here on Guam many years ago trying to convince me to join her church. She said Mary was "just a body." What an insult to Mary and to all women as well.

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    3. If this picture is suppose be a symbolism of the presentation in the temple, then the image of the Christ child seems to put him at a much older age. Presentations in the temple takes place when a child is 40 days old.

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    4. Tell me where it says he can't. He's an artist, artist have different styles, artist have different ways of drawing. Why is other artist drawings "ok"?

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    5. Then why not use a local artist? Why use the "drawings" of an obscure Spanish painter, who outside the NCW would have little market for his "art". And since the church is named Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, then why not an image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel? Of course we know why, don't we.

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    6. Correct. If the catholic parishes of Guam want to use oil paintings than I suggest we use local artists from Guam. In particular mr. Chico santos is a highly gifted artist to help with this. There are others. There are also well known artists in the Philippines who are painting beautiful images with class and style of the mother and child.

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  5. keep waiting! because you're asking the wrong person for a copy. Cant help you there. I personally dont need a copy, I have ears to hear.

    I will take the paintings of Kiko any day rather than the other stuff circulating around. The icons in the NCW have even encouraged me to have a stronger liking for Greek Icons.

    PS- So you dont wait too long....Have you thought about approaching catechists in the NCW for a copy of the directory? Not too long ago, there was a post that listed "catechists" for each parish, call them.

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    1. Oh. I'm sorry. I thought I was dealing with someone with integrity. I should have known. People with integrity usually don't witness anonymously. It's a contradiction in terms. Silly me.

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  6. All these horrible paintings I keep seeing over Guam churches reminds me of horrible finds in flea markets and junkyards. Can you please show us a church on Guam that has art work that is beautiful and worthy of being in a collection. The most beautiful church on Guam is perhaps inarajan but how much longer till NCW destroy inarajan. We have allowed these people to come into Guam and destroy life and culture. These horrible paintings I keep seeing have no culture, no value, and plain ugly. How can you pray before such a cheap image of mother and child. Please let's have some dignity, some class, beauty in our churches. Thank you Tim.

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  7. AnonymousMarch 30, 2014 at 7:59 PM really??? Is that why Pius said he hates the rosary??? come on

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    1. It appears to have been known that Kiko was not big on the rosary which is probably why Rome felt it necessary to include the following in the Statute:

      Art. 14 § 4. The neocatechumens are also instructed gradually in Eucharistic devotion outside Mass,
      in nocturnal adoration, in the recitation of the Holy Rosary and in other practices of piety of
      Catholic tradition.

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    2. Catechists do not encourage the community to pray the Rosary Tim. The attention is on reflection on the word for meditation. Catholic piety and traditional catholic spirituality, is not encouraged in the community.

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    3. Note: Kiko wears rosary on his belt now....saw with my own eyes. In front of all the Cardinals and Bishops who sat behind him while he proclaimed on and on and on, and on, and on.

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  8. Unfortunately all the lectern covers in the Way must be Kiko inspired and not to take away from the gravity of the situation, but some artists renditions of his icons aren't very good like the one shown in the picture. Not to condone using his icon because you are right in saying that they could very well use the original painting which inspired it.

    But to put a little perceptive the Way (at least on Guam) does put great emphasis on Mary and I'm not sure if it's a translation error but it's supposed to read Little Mary, Earthly Dwelling of the Humble One. There are many songs in honor of Mary and we would have many celebrations in honor of her. And we did pray the Rosary while I was walking. Again not trying to condone the Way, but to state my experience as a former Neocat to provide some insight to the conversation.

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  9. If a priest do not have the intention of changing the bread and wine into the real body and blood of christ, is the mass valid? Pls. explain So where do we stand especially among those in neo parishes???

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    1. For the valid celebration of the Eucharist, four things are required:
      1. A validly ordained priest
      2. Intent of the priest
      3. Valid matter
      4. Valid form

      In the matter of the "intent of the priest", it appears that the Church still relies on a prescription from the Council of Trent:

      Council of Trent, Seventh Session, March 3, 1547; Canon 11: " If anyone says that in ministers, when they effect and confer the sacraments, there is not required at least the intention of doing what the Church does, [Eugene IV in the decr. cited.] let him be anathema."

      While the belief of the priest is not required, the priest must have "at least the intention of doing what the Church does."

      The intent of the priest is something we usually cannot fully know, which is why it the responsibility and culpability of the priest is extremely grave.

      In the matter of the neos, we already know that Kiko rejected Pope Benedict's requirement for the distribution of communion. At the root of this rejection is a different view of what the Eucharist really is. What that view is is slowly becoming more clear.

      Whether or not the local neo-priests fully share Kiko's understanding of the Eucharist is something I don't know…yet.

      All this speculation could simply go away if one of them would simply produce Kiko's catechetical directory. But not even average members are allowed to see it. Of course we could always ask the Archbishop.

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    2. But no matter how many times we ask the Archbishop, the response is always silence. After reading this, I'm just not comfortable attending Mass where any Neo priest is the main celebrant. I never knew about the "intent". Thank you for bringing this to awareness.

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  10. Archbishop? Do we still have one of those. I thought he gave up on us poor Catholics many years ago for the parallel church called NCW?

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  11. I believe this topic on the validity of the mass requires a topic on his own. Could you please elaborate on this topic? I am very concern that I am attending mass and don't know or yet will ever know that the mass I attend is truly valid. Could you expound on this topic PLEASE!

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    1. Tim, I think this person is baiting you. Ignore.

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    2. This: http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2009/10/antidote-to-john-calvins-institutes_2849.html

      It is a great read on the validity of Sacraments. Dave Armstrong is a fine Catholic apologist and Bible expert. This article is an excerpt from one of his books and explains validity of Sacraments performed.

      This is my opinion: Our intent and approach in receiving the sacraments is a higher priority. What is it that we have in our hearts? What do we believe? Have we entered the line with a manner worthy to receive Christ? I fear less about the soul of the priest and worry more for those (including myself) who approach Communion without the proper preparations and validity.

      It is not useful to have anxiety of not knowing what is going on in the minds of any priest when performing the Sacraments. The Church has taught us that the graces from the performed sacraments are ex opere operato in that they are bestowed by God's graces alone and not dependent of the level of grace internally of the priest.

      As far as intent goes, that is a tough nut to crack and indeed concerning, but outside of the Mass. We should not be harbouring such doubts while attending Mass; precisley for the fact that we may be jepordizing ourselves to properly receive any graces from Holy Mass including properly receiving the Eucharist!

      In the case of the consecration of the host, I believe if the prayers are performed correctly and as written, then the validity of the Sacrament of Holy Communion is overwhelming present per ex opere operato.

      I would worry first about my intent and worthiness to receive the Sacraments.

      Tim, I am not a theologian or expert by any means, so please add or comment as needed.

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  12. I am not baiting Tim at all. He does excellent research and justifies every comment he makes. I believe the validity of the mass so important as it should be address because it is the highest act of the Catholic Church and needs dire attention.

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    1. Apologies and thank you. It is sometimes difficult to tell. I will post a bit more with sources later.

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  13. The validity of the mass should be concern to everyone. An awareness that should be given attention and not ignored. We are talking about the Real presence of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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  14. The Hair strangely resemble the new do of Steven Seagal....whoaa

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