It is that time again. We had the Lenten announcement announced to us in preparation for Lent, which is already here, and for Easter. During the announcement, we were told how to prepare for Lent and Easter. Our Easter is about 6 hours long. After the Easter celebration will be agape with the brothers in the community. Some will be holding the Easter celebration at a hotel and will also have their agape at a hotel. Others will have their agape in a brother's home. The communities were also informed that the Catechist team met with Archbishop Byrnes last week. They explained to him how we receive Holy Communion. Archbishop Byrnes then suggested a very tiny change, which all the communities in Guam will now be following. The tiny change is that after receiving the Body of Christ, the brothers remain standing until everyone receives it. Then together with the priest, we consume the Body of Christ standing, and then we sit down. Everything else in the liturgy remains the same. That was the only slight change that was made, which Archbishop Byrnes recommended to the Catechist team. Perhaps, this slight change will appease the traditionalist Catholics who oppose the Way.
The brothers were also made aware of the battle we face everyday in our daily lives, which has led others astray to commit suicide, abortion, divorce, drug use, etc. Satan attacks Christians in a very subtle way that it is not always easy to detect it as an attack. The devil wishes to separate families. We are reminded that a family that prays together stays together. Only the devil would separate a mother from her 14 year old child, and a husband from his wife. The devil attacks all Christians who seek to be closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, we watched a short video clip of Carmen Hernandez and parts of her personal journal was read to us. We learned that the theology of the Way came from Carmen rather than from Kiko. We also learned that this theology that Carmen gave to the Way came directly from the Jesuits and Dominican priests.
Why would the NCW agree to this tiny change if it had permission as you have stated on this blog for years?
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 10:32 am,
DeleteIf you recall....Pope Francis told the NCW that Communion with the Bishop and the hierarchy of the Church is more important even if it means to give up a certain activity. Also, the change is so small that it really does not cause any major impact on the way we do the Eucharist.
If it was such a "tiny change" and it "really does not cause any major impact on the way we do the Eucharist", then why do it in the first place?
DeleteWhy not just do as you were told by Cardinal Arinze (and Pope Benedict) some ten years ago?
Dear Anonymous at 2:11 pm,
DeleteYour question has already been answered.
Didn't you read the bottom we listen to the archbishop so we had permission so I won't say anything more
DeleteAnd we even follow our statutes in which it says we follow The archbishop which is found on article 1 ss 2 so even though we had the permission of Rome we follow the archbishop so he did a little change it's nothing new
ReplyDeleteIt's only here in Guam where that small change was made rather than the rest of the NCW around the world.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to point out that receiving the Body of Christ at Sunday Mass goes like this, get up from your seat, line up, and after receiving the Body of Christ either by hand or by mouth/tongue, if received by hand you would put it in your mouth, and while walking back to your seat you would consume the body of Christ. Sometimes you get to your seat and sit while still consuming the body of Christ. Most people consume the Body of Christ while they are walking back to their seat.
ReplyDeleteHelp me out guys, I'm a new Catholic...Is it stand and consume the Body of Christ or is it consume the Body of Christ while walking back to your seat? NCW Guam will now stand and consume rather than sit.
What's the bid deal...consuming is the important part right? And what about someone who can not stand, or who is bed ridden, do we make exceptions or are we going to be rigid on the rules?
New Catholic
Dear New Catholic,
DeleteIf you are attending the parish Mass, you get up from your seat, line up, receive the Body of Christ either by hand or tongue (whichever you prefer) and immediately consume His Body after you receive.
In the Way, we follow our APPROVED statutes , which states: "Regarding the distribution of Holy Communion under the two species, the neocatechumens receive it standing, remaining at their place.". In the NCW, we remain in our place standing, and the priest comes to us. We do not consume the Body of Christ immediately after we receive Him in our hands because the priest did not take communion yet.
Its the liturgy. That is what makes us a Church. Of course there are special allowances for those who cannot stand or are bed ridden. That's kinda a non-question. However, there are no other allowances to alter the mass unless it is done in writing.
DeleteDear Diana, the priest is in error to not have his own communion prior to the distribution of the communion of the faithful. The faithful are in error when they receive the sacrament but do not consume it. If the reason is that they cannot legitimately consume the sacrament because the priest hasn't yet, then you are obliged to tell the priest he is in error. And you should really think twice about what you have gotten yourself into.
DeleteThere is no justification for these novelties in the Mass. Pay attention, because every breath you use to defend these illicit practices will need to be accounted for. And you will not be able to blame ignorance or someone else for the error.
Dear Anonymous at 5:34 pm,
DeleteThe things you pointed out have already been addressed in Rome. In fact, it led the Vatican to conduct an investigation into the NCW in 2012. The allegations were later discovered to be unfounded and Pope Francis ceased all investigations in the NCW. However, if you still feel that the NCW is in error, you can always write to Rome.
Dear anon at 5:34 pm, please do not be so frightened. It is absolutely okay to do it the way we do it in the NCW communities. If you have any doubt, please pray to the Lord Jesus and He will ease your pain. Trust Him. Cheers!
DeleteDear new Catholic, if you are in doubt, please pray to the Lord! He is merciful and He will erase your worry from you mind. Please, know that a worrisome person cannot be a good Christian! Cheers!
DeleteDear Anon @ 5:34 pm
DeleteIt is interesting that when it comes to the NCW, all catholics with no education seem to be expert liturgists and feel they can criticize what the church has carefully examined for years and approved.
I believe and I'm taught/reminded by my catechists that what I hold in my hands IS the Body of Christ, who for my sake was crucified, died and rose again. No one, no action nor posture can change what is in my heart.
ReplyDeleteYour post Diana has been dragged onto jw and they are again demanding Archbishop Michael an explanation. They are a moralistic people.
My contacts have shared that the jw folk are not to be worried about. They have paved their own destruction. They cite national coverage but those interested in jw news and those whom jw does publicize are all anti Catholic. Indeed Rome is aware of their narcissism. They complained about everyone that Rome has sent to Guam. Rome is not worried about them.
The evangelization continues.
Pas!
-Jokers Wild
Dear Jokers Wild,
DeleteThe Way have always been open about how we celebrate the Eucharist. We never hid it. And the fact that we never hid it is only living proof that we have nothing to lie about regarding the Eucharistic celebration.
Thanks Diana for the Lenten communties announcement. will be home to Join Agana Community for Easter.
ReplyDeleteWatched a great faith filled movie here in US " When We rise again." A story of faith in communties bringing Jesus to the world. The way leads to Jesus when we rise again.
God Bless Archbishop Anthony
Come home soon when we rise again.
"a very tiny change" just became a total overhaul. All this time you were told to follow the GIRM and all this time your arrogance betrayed you. Now that Archbishop Byrnes has invoked the GIRM, are you going to comply or are you going to continue to twist the liturgy to your pleasure?
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 1:46 pm,
DeleteIt was not arrogance when we tell you how we celebrate the Eucharist. We were telling you the truth about how we celebrate it. We never hid it from you or anyone else. See the weblink below:
http://neocatechemunal.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-errors-of-our-adversaries.html
And with the latest pastoral letter issued by AB Byrnes, what do you all say now? And no, Diana, not just a "tiny" change.
ReplyDeleteWill you conform? That is to say: have your celebrations in the Churches, consume the host as soon as you get it, and your presbyter doing likewise.
WHOA Diana! Did you see the letter from Archbishop Byrnes on PDN? That's not a very tiny change to how the communities receive communion. It's a HUGE CHANGE and everyone in the jungle will be able to read it!! They're going to say that you lied. Byrnes says that the priest has to receive the Body & Blood FIRST before he distributes the Body to the community AND members have to consume as soon as they receive!!
ReplyDeleteIt's all here:
http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/03/15/byrnes-sets-norms-mass/99238776/
Dear Anonymous at 2:46 pm,
DeleteSee the weblink below:
http://neocatechemunal.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-errors-of-our-adversaries.html