The Controversial Liturgy of the Way

One of the controversy surrounding the Way is the Liturgy.  The members of the Way have been accused of disobeying the liturgy found in the GIRM.  Actually, the members have been following it, but the Latin traditional Catholics insist that they should follow the conventional Mass rather than the concelebrant Mass, which is found in the GIRM.  Nevertheless, it appears that they oppose everything in the Neocatechumenal Way.  

They most likely would prefer to put an end to the Way and simply have the people attend their Latin traditional Mass, which they feel is more reverent than even the conventional regular Mass. It would not surprise me if they oppose our receiving the Body of Christ by our hands.  Some Latin traditional Catholics feel that receiving the Body of Christ by tongue is more reverent. They feel that receiving it by hand is less reverent. However, almost all liturgical scholars believe that receiving Holy Communion in the hand was the earliest form of practice (See the weblink below):  

Liturgy and Sacrament  


Despite that some Latin traditional Catholics view communion by hand as less reverent, it is a legitimate practice nonetheless as the above article stated.  As a matter of fact, below is a photo of Pope Benedict XVI giving communion by hand on November 7, 2010.




Furthermore, according to an article I found on the Internet (weblink is provided below):  

The liturgy has evolved over the last 2,000 years, especially in different geographical areas.  Currently there are seven Eastern rites in full communion with the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church.  According to the Catholic News Agency "These rites so listed: Latin, Byzantine, Alexandrian, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean, are actually families of liturgical expression.  These rites are the descendants of the liturgical practices that originated in centers of Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria."  Since communication was limited, each region developed their own style; the Byzantine liturgy was formed by St. james, and then modified by St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom in the fourth century.  

The Byzantine liturgy includes churches that are Russian, Ukrainian, Slovak, Greek, Ruthenian, Hungarian and Albanian; the Alexandrian Rite, now known as Coptic, is Egyptian, and the Syrian rite is from Syria.  I find these different rites, all approved by the Roman Catholic Church, to be fascinating because there is so much controversy today about the liturgy. 


http://maryscatholicgarden.com/2013/06/13/worship-in-the-early-church/


The focus of every Catholic should always be on the Body and Blood of Christ. Unfortunately, some people look at where the candles are located, where the crucifix is placed, and how the flowers look on the altar.  As I've said before, one of the goals of the Neocatechumenal Way is to celebrate in small communities as the Early Christians did.  After being kicked out of the synagogues, the Early Christians celebrated in the homes of people, and their altar was a table.  After all, what family has an "altar" sitting around in their house at that time?  The high altar would be found in the synagogues. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia:  

50.  The sacred liturgy does, in fact, include divine as well as human elements.  The former, instituted as they have been by God, cannot be changed in any way by men.  But the human components admit of various modifications, as the needs of the age, circumstance and the good of souls may require, and as the ecclesiastical hierarchy, under guidance of the Holy Spirit, may have authorized,  This will explain the marvelous variety of Eastern and Western rites.  here is the reason for the gradual addition, through successive development, of particular religious customs and practices of piety only faintly discernible in earlier times.  Hence likewise it happens from time to time that certain devotions long since forgotten are revived and practiced anew.  All these developments attest the abiding life of the immaculate Spouse of Jesus Christ through these many centuries.  They are the sacred language she uses, as the ages run their course, to profess to her divine Spouse her own faith along with that of the nations committed to her charge, and her own unfailing love.  They furnish proof, besides, of the wisdom of the teaching committed to her charge, and her own unfailing love.  They furnish proof, besides, of the wisdom of the teaching method she employs to arouse and nourish constantly the "Christian instinct."  

61.  The same reasoning holds in the case of some persons who are bent on the restoration of all the ancient rites and ceremonies indiscriminately.  The liturgy of the early ages is most certainly worthy of all veneration.  But ancient usage must not be esteemed more suitable and proper, either in its own right or in its significance for later times and new situations on the simple ground that it carries the savor and aroma of antiquity.  The more recent liturgical rites likewise deserve reverence and respect.  They, too, owe their inspiration to the Holy Spirit, who assists the church in every age even to the consummation of the world.  They are equally the resources used by the majestic Spouse of Jesus Christ to promote and procure the sanctity of man.

Catholic Encyclopedia