Wednesday, March 26, 2014

WHAT IS A "LITURGY OF THE WORD"?

Just curious, but what is the "Liturgy of the Word"? Of course I know what it is when it is referred to as part of the Order of the Mass. But in the DECREE ESTABLISHING THE 'BOY'S (sic) CHAPEL' in this past Sunday's U Matuna, there is mentioned, as one of the "sacred celebrations and events permitted in the Boys' Chapel, item (g) "The Liturgy of the Word presided by a priest or deacon."


Is this a Liturgy apart from the Eucharistic Liturgy? Of course there is the Liturgy of the Hours, but there is no confusion between Lauds, Matins, etc. and the celebration of the Mass. The term "Liturgy of the Word" appears only to appear in the Order of the Mass: Introductory Rite - Liturgy of the Word - Liturgy of the Eucharist - Concluding Rite. (USCCB. Order of the Mass)

We know that this "Liturgy of the Word", as termed in this DECREE, cannot be the Mass because the DECREE states that it can be presided over by a priest OR deacon, and deacons cannot preside over the Mass.

Archbishop, this is your DECREE. Can you please clarify? Most of us are not aware that there is such a "sacred celebration", apart from the Mass, as the "Liturgy of the Word presided by a priest or deacon."

UPDATE

One of the neocatechumenal communities is requesting use of the Boys' Chapel for its celebration of the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil includes the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that cannot be counted as merely a "weekday celebration" of the Mass, which is the only Mass that the Decree allows. Sunday and obligatory Masses - such as that celebrated during the Easter Vigil are specifically not permitted. Will the Archbishop make an exception to his DECREE for the Neocatechumenal Way? 

Also, Art. 24 §3 of the Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way states that the sacrament of Baptism is celebrated on this "Paschal Night." However, the Archbishop's DECREE forbids the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism in the Boys' Chapel. (Item 3.a.) Will the Archbishop make an exception to his DECREE for the Neocatechumenal Way?

NOTE: The DECREE as published in the U Matuna is titled incorrectly. It is the Boys' Chapel, not the Boy's Chapel. The request by the neos to use the chapel was received as a message from a concerned alumnus. 




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28 comments:

  1. I believe that this is the Celebration of the Word that the NCW does on Wednesday Nights.

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  2. Glad to be Back to Holy Mother ChurchMarch 26, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    As one who used to walk, and for all those still walking, we immediately recognize this term. The Liturgy of the Word, or breaking of the word, is what is done in the NCW every Wednesday evening when the NCW communities gather all around the island in various places (sometimes Tuesday or Thursdays) and read scripture and discuss a key word and its meaning in our life. If there is no other reference in Church documents re Liturgy of the Word, then the Archbishop has just adopted a NCW word for use to convey what is allowed.

    This seems very sneaky. If you look at section 2 of the decree, it appears that masses and penance services are restricted just to the school community. But other activities such as Liturgy of the Word, catechesis, retreats/convivences, spiritual music, etc are not restricted to the school community. Was it really the Archbishop's intent to have the school build a chapel, restrict use for mass, but allow weekly gatherings of NCW communities to openly use the Chapel? Seems like this is also what happened in Agat, where the people built it and now the NCW has free reign over it.

    I certainly hope this is not the case. That would be a horrible abuse of power by the Chancery. While it would be foolish to expect an explanation by the Church, it would certainly be welcomed.

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  3. Can someone please tell us what is this boys chapel.

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    1. It is the name of the new chapel at Father Duenas High School. Don't know where the name came from.

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  4. I thought ALL the communities get together for the Easter Vigil? No community is to celebrate it alone. They usually have some kind of ceremony at the Asan Church prior to to the Easter Vigil. It has to do with some sort of burning. Burning what I do not know but will find out.

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  5. Abuse of power is what this Archbishop and his Chancellor are famous for. Their greed and hunger for power have placed Guam's people on the bottom of the mud pit, being stomped upon by the members of the Neocatechumenal Way. This is why there is so much division in our local Church. Their entire attitude is "Rome does not matter." It's a very sad situation when the liturgy continues to be abused by the shepherd appointed by Rome. Apuron has forgotten who the true sheep are. But then again, he is a bishop hungry to be a "prince"; a bishop who has sold his soul to the devil for more power and prestige; a bishop whose track record shows he doesn't care about us "Judases" and "second class Catholics". It's even sadder that Apuron doesn't have a conscience. And as long as Apuron wears the mitre, it will always be this: what the neos want, the neos get, no matter who gets stomped on and spit out. Absolutely terrible! To think that it is these same people who are stomped on who raised all this money to build these sacred spaces, and who gets the benefits? neo, neo, neo.....

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  6. Am I right to say that based on the internal iconography, this chapel is just another one built for the neocatecumenary? See these pics very closely what I found on the web, folks:
    http://www.fatherduenas.com/index.cfm?load=photoalbum&album=38

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    1. No. It is deliberately NOT Neo. However, your question is common. Because Kiko art and architecture mimics traditional Catholic art and architecture, it is not always easy to tell. The neocatechumenaries build using a similar square and domed structure, but the difference is the interior where there is not a dedicated altar in a sanctuary, but just a table in the middle of the room.

      This mimicking the faith extends to Kiko's theology and everything else about the Neocatechumenal Way. It's a brilliant tactic, right out of Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, though Kiko probably didn't have to read Alinsky to figure it out.

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  7. Can someone explain what "breaking of the word" means? Is there CCC basis or scriptural basis? Is this why they place a copy of the Gospel book on top of the tabernacle? ????!!!!

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    1. Your question is a good one. There is an equivalency in Kikology of the eucharistic presence to the other presences: in the word, in the community, etc. Kikology does not teach that Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is unique. But to get there, like any good revolutionary, he must co-opt the language.Thus while "regular" Catholics are quite used to hearing "breaking" relative to the Eucharist ("in the breaking of the bread"), Kiko adopts "breaking" to apply to the Word in order to get unsuspecting Catholics to become accustomed to it and thus slip them into his Kikology. Kiko's un-Catholic vision of the "presences" of Christ is concretized in his double decker tabernacles, where the bible and the Blessed Sacrament (he wouldn't call it that) are united in one structure. Dangerous man.

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  8. Mr. Rohr, Would you elaborate on the Easter vigil Mass, specifically, The Easter Candle and Blessed fire? I remember reading somewhere that there is to be only one Paschal Candle per parish. Because the NCW have a separate celebration with their own Paschal Candle, are they not, ipso facto, declaring themselves to be a separate "parish"?
    To intimidated to not be anonymous...

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    1. You are correct about there only being one paschal candle in a parish. But neo-communities consider themselves independent of the parish even though their Statute is emphatic that they are at the service of the parish and that their eucharists are to be a part of the normal parish Sunday celebrations. Also, Kikology teaches essentially that parish-based Catholicism is dead, so they wouldn't like being a called a "parish". But of course, they will do whatever the Archbishop allows...and, as we also heard, even what he doesn't allow.

      http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur125.htm

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  9. I am pretty sure that the Archbishop will make some exceptions to using the chapel at FD for the NCW Easter Vigil celebrations. The problem is he has stated that no Baptism is allowed, etc. Does, this mean that he is bending backwards for the community? If so, then his decree about the FD Chapel is all a lie. It's call DO for ALL, not just SOME!

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  10. Apuron will always bend over backwards for the Neos. And as for lying - he lied to Aaron Quitugua. I highly doubt he will start telling the truth now. Apuron and Cristobal are in the business of lying.

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  11. I want to know why the "Agnus Dei" is omitted in the Eucharistic celebrations of the NCW?

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    1. It's not supposed to be. Maybe someone can ask Diana.

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    2. Well it is. May back to the church can explain it. According to a Neo priest, the mass is still valid because the consecration is the most important aspect of the Maa. From the view point of a non Neo priest, the mass becomes invalid. Who is right?

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    3. Without the Agnus Dei the Mass would still be valid but would be illicit. But then it is already illicit due to how they distribute communion. Deleting any part of the Mass though is of grave concern. If you have witnessed this and you have already spoken to the priest about it, then you need to write a letter to the Archbishop stating this and copy the Nuncio. Did the priest give you a reason for why he eliminated it?

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    4. The Agnus Dei(Lamb of God) is present in the Mass within the small communities. Please check your sources.

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    5. Because the Neos don't believe that Christ sacrificed himself for our sins; so, they don't accept the idea of Christ as the Agnus Dei. All of the Neos' aberrations have theological import. The omission of the Agnus Dei at Mass is one of them. However, I thought that I read that the Neos begrudgingly added it to their Mass a couple of years back at the request of Rome. Perhaps old habits -- and deeply held heretical theology -- die hard.

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    6. I am trying to determine if,in fact, the Kiko teaches the sacrificial nature of Christ's passion.

      One thing is for sure: A significant number of NCW academics have latched onto the teaching of Rene Girard who posited that Christ's death was an anti-Sacrifice and that all ritual sacrifice has its origin in violence. One priest recently ordained for Guam told the Hawaii Catholic Herald that Girard was his favorite philosopher, so we can assume that Girard's thought is presented to seminarians at our RMS seminary here on Guam.

      Of course, to completely ascribe to Girard's original theories, one would have to ignore the entire Letter to the Hebrews and huge swaths of the inspired Old Testament.

      Anyway, we'll see. It will take more study.

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    7. Chuck why don't you attend the celebration instead of speculating the outside. You drive yourself mad trying to figuring how things are celebrated.

      Man - Chalan Pago Parish

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    8. Sure. Please publish the time and place. We'll be there.

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  12. To be or not to be, this is the question...is this true or not regarding the Eucharistic celebration

    Agnus Dei. Has been omitted.

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  13. Is it true that during their liturgical celebration the following still applies or have they conformed to making changes.

    1. Credo is omitted
    2. Washing of hand by presbyter is not done
    3. Word to the mystery of faith is totally different
    4. Crumbs from the consecrated bread is left unattended or just shoved aside.

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  14. According to Diana's post as written by some Msgr.

    'Regarding the distribution of Holy Communion under the two species, the neocatechumens receive standing, remaining at their place.'[42] The faithful receive the precious body while standing, take seat and wait until all have received. Then the celebrant says 'Body of Christ, bring us everlasting life!' and the whole congregation consumes immediately after the priest consumes the host." (...)

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  15. And to continue with Diana's post. My understanding is you stand to receive the sacred bread, then sit until all have received it, then wait for the presbyter to say.....then you consume the sacred bread. Do you consume sitting or standing?

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    1. It appears to vary by community. One ex-Neo confirmed that after the Statute required them to stand to receive they sat to consume. However, given that all the neo communities separate receiving from consuming, unless it can be confirmed otherwise, we can assume that all sit to consume.

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