The Neocatechumenal Way Mass

In the past, those in the Way were receiving the Body of Christ sitting down. This has changed.  The celebrants now receive the Body of Christ standing up. Those who vehemently oppose the Way cites GIRM 161 as evidence that the Neocatechumenal Way is abusing the liturgies of the Mass.  This is what GIRM 161 states: 

GIRM 161:  If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ).  The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue, or where this is allowed and if the communicant chooses, in the hand.  As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes it entirely.    

What the critics did not mentioned is that Chapter IV in GIRM lists several forms of the Mass. 

Section I describes the Mass with the Congregation.  Section II describes the Concelebrated Mass.  Section III describes Mass in which only one minister participates, and Section IV describes the General Norms of All Forms of Mass. See the weblink below on the different forms of Mass described in GIRM of Chapter IV, which is taken from the Vatican website: 


http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html#CHAPTER_IV_



So, which form of Mass is the Neocatechumenal Way following?  It appears that it follows the second one (the Concelebrated Mass).  This is how the Concelebrated Mass is conducted regarding the way the Body of Christ is distributed: 


GIRM 242  When this prayer before Communion is finished, the principal celebrant genuflects and steps back a little. Then one after another the concelebrants come to the middle of the altar, genuflect, and reverently take the Body of Christ from the altar.  Then holding it in their right hand, with the left hand placed below, they return to their places.  The concelebrants may, however, remain in their places and take the Body of Christ from the paten presented to them by the principal celebrant or by one or more of the concelebrants, or by passing the paten one to another.  

GIRM 243  Then the principal celebrant takes a host consecrated in the same Mass, holds it slightly raised above the paten or the chalice, and, facing the people, says the Ecce Agnus Dei (This is the Lamb of God).  With the concelebrants and the people he continues, saying the Domine, non sum dignus (Lord, I am not worthy).  

GIRM 244  Then the principal celebrant, facing the altar, says quietly, Corpus Christi custodiat me ad vitam aeternam (May the body of Christ bring me to everlasting life), and reverently receives the Body of Christ.  The concelebrants do likewise, communicating themselves.  After them the deacon receives the Body and Blood of the Lord from the principal celebrant.

Notice that in the Concelebrated Mass, the Body of Christ is not consumed immediately.  The concelebrants receive the Body of Christ and do not consume it until after the priest consumes the Body of Christ first.  Then the rest of the concelebrants do the same. This is how the Neocatechumenal Way celebrates its Mass.  So, is the Neocatechumenal Way in obedience to the liturgies of the Mass as is written in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)?  The answer is yes.   

Last year during Pentecost Mass, Pope Francis stated:  "Only the Spirit can awaken diversity, plurality and multiplicity, while at the same time building unity.  Here too, when we are the ones who try to create diversity and close ourselves up in what makes us different and other, we bring division.  When we are the ones who want to build unity in accordance with our human plans, we end up creating uniformity, standardization.  But if let ourselves be guided by the Spirit, richness, variety and diversity never become a source of conflict, because he impels us to experience variety within the communion of the Church."