Our Blessed Mother

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  We attended the procession at the Agana Cathedral.  Some of the NCW members were there.  Our Blessed Mother is important to all Catholics.  This feast day is also important to the Neocatechumenal Way because it was on December 8th when our Blessed Mother Mary appeared to Kiko Arguello and told him to build small communities.  The Blessed Virgin Mary inspired the Neocatechumenal Way.  Thus began the founding of the Neocatechumenal Way communities.  According to Pope Francis: 

And today I confirm your call, I support your mission and I bless your charism.......... I also make these words my own and I encourage you to go forward, entrusting yourselves to the Holy Virgin Mary, who inspired the Neocatechumenal Way. May she intercede for you before her Divine Son.

The first seminary which ran under the auspices of the Way was established in Rome in 1987.  It coincided with the encyclical of St. Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater promulgated on March 25, 1987 to celebrate the bimillennial anniversary of the birth of our Blessed Mother.  The seminary was named after our Blessed Mother as well.  Redemptoris Mater means "Mother of our Redeemer."  

The icon below was  painted by Kiko Arguello after he received the inspiration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this icon is always used in our celebrations.  The inscription on the icon was written in Spanish:  "HAY QUE HACER COMUNIDADES CRISTIANAS COMO LA SAGRADA FAMILIA DE NAZARET, QUE VIVAN EN HUMILDAD SENCILLEZ Y ALABANZA; EL OTRO ES CRISTO."  This is translated in English as “We have to make Christian Communities like the Holy Family of Nazareth, that live in humility, simplicity and praise; (and where) the other (person) is Christ.”