If Today

If today, if you listen to His Voice, do not harden your heart.  This is a song we usually sing at the start of morning prayer.  This song is also often sung at the start of every Beginning of the Year retreat.  The song is from Psalm 95. 

The Hierarchy of the Way

The Statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way was approved by the Vatican.  In it, it defines and describes the role of everyone involved.  According to the Statutes (Title 1 Article 2): 

In conformity with the desire of Pope John Paul II: "It is therefore my wish that the brothers in the episcope - together with their presbyters - value and help this work for the new evangelization, so that it may be implemented according to the lines proposed by the initiators, in the spirit of serve to the local ordinary and in communion with him and in the context of the unity of the local Church and the universal Church," the Neocatechuenal Way is implemented in the dioceses:

1. under the jurisdiction, the direction of the diocesan bishop and with the assistance, the guidance of the International Responsible Team of the Way, or the delegated responsible team, as indicated in art. 3, 7th;
2. according "to the lines proposed by its initiators" contained in the present Statue and in the Orientations for the Teams of Catechists. 

In no way is the above saying that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church changed. In no way is the above also putting the Team Catechist above the Archbishop. In the first place, the Statutes was NEVER referring to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, but the opponents of the Way mislead others into thinking that it does.  According to the Statutes, the Way is under the jurisdiction and direction of the Archbishop, and he is assisted and guided by Team Catechists.  The term "direction" in here is understood "as the jurisdiction proper to ordained ministers", while the term "guidance" is understood to mean "as the technical knowledge of the Way according to the lines proposed by the initiators." ( These quotes in blue were taken from the Statutes.) 


The International Responsible Team of the Way is Kiko Arguello, Carmen Hernandez, and Father Mario.  Their role was also clearly spelled out in the Statutes, which was approved by the Vatican.  According to the Statutes, one of Kiko's role defined in the Statutes stated that he is: "to maintain regular relations with the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the dicastery to which the Holy Father has entrusted the responsibility of accompanying the Neocatechumenal Way,  as well as with the other dicasteries of the Holy See within the scope of their respective competence, keeping the Pontifical Council of the Laity informed (Article 1, Article 3).

Just because Kiko (who is part of the International Responsible Team) reports to the Vatican does not mean that Kiko was replacing the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.  Again, this is what the opponents of the Way wants everyone to believe.  The hierarchy of the Catholic Church still remains the same.  In the first place, what was written in the Statutes was never about the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.  I repeat.......the Statues were already approved by the Vatican, and these Statutes have nothing to do with the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.  It defines the roles of the International  Responsible Team, the Team Catechists, the Bishop (or Archbishop), the priests, and even the neocatechumens to ensure unity between all those in the Way and unity between the Way and the Holy See.

Those who oppose the Way spread the false rumor that the Way goes against the Pope-Bishop-priest hierarchy of the Catholic Church when in fact, we follow what the Vatican approved in the Statutes.  When Kiko speaks to the Pope or the Vatican, he was never taking the place of the Bishop, but simply following his duty as defined in the Statutes approved by Rome.  And the fact that he reports to the Vatican says more about his obedience to the Pope and the Catholic Church. 

Those who oppose the Way spread the false rumor that we disobey and disrespect the Pope.....but then again, what else can I expect from someone who show no obedience or respect to the Archbishop anyway.  So, no surprise there.  

Oral Tradition

Protestants would often say "where is this or that in Scripture?"  Sacred Scripture is their sole authority.  The slogan of the Protestants are "If it is not in scripture, then it was made up by men."  Catholics, on the other hand, believe in Sacred Tradition.  There are things that were handed down to the Church that were never written down by the Apostles.  These traditional beliefs and practices that the Church have kept are just as valid as Scripture.  For example, the belief of the Immaculate Conception is a belief that was held for thousands of years despite that it was not written in the Holy Bible.  Whatever the Apostles spoke about was put into practice and faithfully kept by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has always believed in both Sacred Scripture and the Apostolic Tradition.   

 Keeping in touch with the Pope ensures that one is in communion with the Pope, the Vicar of Christ.   Communion with the Pope is extremely important, which is why Kiko Arguello does not avoid the Pope. The Neocatechumenal Way has the blessings of five popes.  Our Statutes and Catechetical Directory have been approved by the Holy See. 

Problems that existed in the past have been corrected.  The older communities walking in the Way already knew that at one time, the members received the Body of Christ sitting down.  Later, we were told by the Team Catechists to receive the Body of Christ standing up.   And of course, everyone knows from the media that Kiko Arguello (the Founder of the Way) consistently meet and corresponds with the Pope, which ensures the communion between the Pope and the Neocatechumenal Way. Communion with the Pope, who is the Vicar of Christ and Successor of the Apostle Peter, is the most important.  If one is in communion with the Pope, one is then in communion with the entire Catholic Church, which also includes the Bishops, priests, deacons, and teaching Magisterium.

Former Pope Benedict XVI did request an investigation on alleged abuses of the Way.  Nothing ever came from those investigations.  By the time Francis I took over as Pope, he finally ceased the investigations.  Could it be because the alleged abuses were determined to be unfounded afterall?  

   

God's Miracles Still Exist

Most people are familiar with the story of the widow's mite, which appears in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. 

Mark 12:41-44   And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny.  And He called Jos disciples to Him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.  For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living." 

The amazing thing about scripture is the amount that is said despite it is said with so few words.  First, we are told that Jesus "sat down opposite the treasury, watching the multitude.  This alone says something.  Jesus didn't just happen to wander by and happen to catch the widow making her gift.  He "sat down opposite the treasury, " as if to deliberately study human behavior.  Since He watched the multitude make their gifts, Jesus must have been there for a while.  Obviously, Jesus had an interest in money, but it wasn't in whether the temple raised enough to meet its expenses.  His concern centered on the donor, and what was happening in the heart of the person contributing to the treasury. 

Secondly, a second lesson nestled within the parable of the widow's mite.  Notice what Jesus did not do.  When He saw the widow donate the two coins, He did not run over to her and say, "Excuse me.  What are you doing?  Surely, you are not thinking of putting your last two coins in the treasury!  What will you eat tonight?" 

Rather, He did the opposite.  He called together His disciples and praised her behavior, telling us that the rich is not the only ones called to be generous.  Even the widow was called to generosity.  Focusing on the amount, large or small, misses the point of the story. Jesus was not concerned with how much people give, only how much they trust in God.  The gift is a reflection of trust.  In making her gift, the widow was trusting in God's providence completely, while the rich had enough in reserve to still rely on their own wherewithal. 

The widow believed and trusted that God will provide for her despite that she gave up everything.  And God does provide.  Miracles are abundant in the Bible: The splitting of the Red Sea, manna and meat from Heaven, water from a rock, the healing of the blind and the lame, the resurrection of the dead, etc.  God provides. 

A few years ago, some of the RMS priests and seminarians went on a two by two mission for two weeks in the United States.  The priests and seminarians were told not to bring any money.  All they had with them were their passports and Bibles.  For those two weeks, they did not starve.  God provided.  And although some of them slept on the streets, no harm came to them.  Some of these priests have spoken of the miracles they witnessed on their two by two mission.  

God's miracles exist today just as it does during biblical times.  Just look at Mother Teresa.  In her diary, Mother Teresa wrote that she was able to hear the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ.  At the time of her death, the Missionaries of Charity (which was founded by Mother Teresa) had an estimated number of over 4000 sisters and an associated brotherhood of 300 members, operating 610 missions in 123 different countries.  These included hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, counseling centers, orphanages, and school.  The media were attracted to Mother Teresa because like many people they were astounded at the accomplishment of one woman who had no money to begin with, but lived in poverty.  As Catholics we know that only the Holy Spirit can carry out such an accomplishment.  It is unreasonable and illogical to think that one human woman living in poverty could accomplish so much.  

Christopher Hitchens was an atheist who wrote a lot of negative remarks about Mother Teresa.  He accused her of stealing money for herself; yet, he was unable to produce any evidence of it.  Mother Teresa did not live in a mansion nor owned a car, but Christopher Hitchens accused her of theft, misuse of funds, and other offenses.  He even demanded that Mother Teresa show documents of how and where the funds are spent.  Christopher Hitchens was so focused on where the money went that he could not see God's miracle before him. 

For him, there was no such thing as a miracle because he did not believe in God.  True Christians, on the other hand, believe in God's miracles (such as getting a seminary for free, and God providing food for priests and seminarians who went on a mission without money for two weeks).  After all, how can a Christian say they don't believe in God's miracle?  To believe in God's miracles means that one also believes in God and trust that He will provide just like the widow in the Gospels.  

   

In Reply to Anonymous Poster

In my comment to an anonymous poster, I told him/her that I would get back to his/her question and put it in a post rather than in a comment.  Anonymous poster asked the following question under this thread here.  According to his/her comment, he/she asked (which is in red): 

Yes, can you please clarify the following, with respect to the reception of communion in the communities.

When the Body of Christ enters your body, are you sitting or standing? Thanks

Also, what is the difference between a "saint", and a "holy saint"?

In the Neocatechumenal Way, the members receive the Body of Christ by hand standing up.  After receiving the Body of Christ by hand standing up, we sit down still holding the Body of Christ.  We do not consume the Body of Christ because the priest did not receive Holy Communion yet. 

For those who do not believe what I just stated above or do not find my statement above credible, you are always welcome to go to the Eucharist of the Way this Saturday and see for yourself. 

At any rate, we do not consume the Body of Christ immediately because the priest did not receive Holy Communion yet.  Before consuming the Body of Christ, the priest proceeds to say "Behold the Body of Christ........" Then the members say, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof....." Then, we consume the Body of Christ together after the priest receives Holy Communion.  And we consume the Body of Christ, sitting down. 

If your next question is 'why we consume the Body of Christ sitting down, ' the answer is because we are told to do so by the Team Catechists.  The members are obedient to the Team Catechists who is in communion with Kiko Arguello who is in communion with the Pope.  According to the Team Catechists, these instructions came from Kiko who in turn received the same instructions from the Pope. 

To answer your second question, the word "saint" refers to the members of the Church, and I will quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support what I just stated here:  

CCC 823  "The Church.... is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy.  This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God."  The Church, then, is "the holy People of God," and her members are called "saints."  

"Holy Saints", on the other hand, are those who are already in Heaven and canonized by the Catholic Church. They are the ones whom we would pray to for intercession such as St. Anthony, St. Paul, St. Theresa, etc. And again, I will refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support what I said here:  

CCC 828  By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors.......    

I hope that this answers your questions. 

To Those Wanting To Know My Identiy.

I will put this very simply.  I go by the name Diana.  That is my name whether you like it or not.  I walk in the Neocatechumenal Way for 8 years.  And that is all you need to know.  This is a blogsite, not a courtroom.  A blog site is an online journal.  

Because everything is online and I cannot see your facial expression, sometimes clarification is needed.  Therefore, if you need something clarified, I would appreciate if you simply asked for clarification.  If you are going to proclaim something as hearsay or heresy, I would appreciate it even more if you would point out exactly which statement you consider a hearsay or heresy and explain why so I can provide you with the source or evidence.  If you feel that I have made an error, I do not mind being corrected.  Everyone makes mistakes and yes...I do have the courage to admit my errors.  On the other hand, slanderous remarks such as calling me a liar is uncalled for and uncivilized.  

The theme of my blogsite is Neocatechumenal Way, An Insider's View.  Thus, any topics directly or indirectly regarding the Way would be in this blogsite.    

As to my identity, it is not necessary for you to know where I work, if I work, if I'm retired, where I live, or even how many children I have.  It is not necessary for anyone to know my real name.     

Annual Gala Dinner

To the Brothers and Sisters walking in the Way and all interested persons: 

The Seminary is once again holding their annual Gala Dinner.  In addition to the auctions held during the St. Patrick's festival and yearly Christmas concert, the annual Gala dinner helps to keep the seminary in operation.  Many brothers who have been to a three or four day convivience in a hotel know that we spend approximately $200 per person.  And these monies are being spent for the use of the hotel facilities and services.  

The Seminarians, on the other hand, need your support especially in the face of persecution.  As Father Pius used to say, "The seminarians need to eat."  God has given us a seminary for free, and from this seminary many priests were ordained for Guam. The Gala dinner is on Sunday, May 25th.   

Resolving Simple Disputes Within The Church

There will always be disputes within the Catholic Church.  History shows that sometimes a council or synod is needed to resolve the disputes.  Other times, one would simply turn to the priest or the Holy See to resolve the issue.   

There are times when misunderstandings, arguments, and disputes arise between brothers inside the Catholic Church.  We are all human, and we all make mistakes.  We all sin, and our sin not only offends God, but negatively affects other people.  Sometimes, a brother commits a sin against another brother.  Those who walk in the Neocatechumenal Way understands this very well.  There are times, a person has irked or angered us because of an injustice that was done on us.  The Holy Bible tells us how to resolve these kinds of issues:

Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.  If they listen to you, you have won them over.  But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'  If they refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.   

Simple arguments can be resolved if they follow what is written in the Holy Bible. "Taking it to the Church" means one is to take the problem to the priest or to the Vatican to have the issue resolved so that the brothers and sisters can be reconciled.  Reconciliation is the goal.  Taking your argument to the media only causes division within the Church and ridicule the other person.  How can the media reconcile two parties?   

Furthermore, the Holy Bible says that if the person refuses to listen even to the Church, one is to treat that person as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  And how did Christ treat the pagans and tax collectors??  He treated them with love.  Both Matthew and Zecchaeus were cheating tax collectors.  Jesus chose Matthew as His Apostle and He chose to dine in Zacchaeus' home.  Christ also showed kindness to the pagans and even forgave the pagan Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross. 

We look to the Pope to teach us how to walk the right path.  St. John Paul II once told the Christians in the Middle East not to side with Israel or with the Palestinians.  As Christians, we are to work for peace and reconciliation between the two.

In the same way, unity and reconciliation has always been the goal of the Catholic Church.  I pray for both the Archbishop and for Father Paul. I pray for reconciliation between the two Catholic brothers. 

 

Sacred Scripture And The Apostolic Tradition

The Catholic Church follows both Sacred Scripture and the Apostolic Tradition that has been handed down by the Apostles to the Church through the ages.  Much of the Old Testament foreshadows the things that are in the New Testament.  

It was asked, "Did God give us a book?"  The answer to that question would be a "yes."  God gave us Sacred Scripture, and the first Sacred Scripture He gave was the Ten Commandments.  It was God who wrote the Ten Commandments with fire on stone tablets, which He gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai (See Deuteronomy 9:10).  This is a foreshadow of the Holy Bible, and the Catholic  Church teaches that God was the author of the Old and New Testament books.  

CCC 105  God is the author of Sacred Scripture. "The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit........

CCC 2056  The word "Decalogue" means literally "ten words" God revealed these "ten words" to his people on the holy mountain.  They were written "with the finger of God," unlike the other commandments  written by Moses.  They are pre-eminently the words of God.  They are handed on to us in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy....... 

A person who says that God gave us ONLY the Church and NOT Sacred Scripture is already going against the Church.  The Church teaches that Scripture is the inerrant word of God and the first scripture that God gave was the Ten Commandments.  Jesus and the Apostles used Sacred Scripture of the Old Testament.  The Church follows BOTH Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

God has also given us the Church.  In the Old Testament, Moses and the elders were a foreshadow of the Pope and the teaching Magisterium, which brings us to what Jesus said in the New Testament: 

Matthew 23:2-3  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  So you must be careful to do everything they tell you.  But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 

This "seat of Moses" which Jesus spoke of has been transferred to the "seat of the Apostle Peter."  So, Moses and the elders of the Old Testament was a foreshadow of the Pope and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church while the Ten Commandments written by God with fire on stone tablets was the first sacred scripture.   

Most important of all, Christ instructs His disciples to obey the Pharisees because what they teach is correct, and also because they sit in the chair of Moses.  They are God's chosen ones.  God's chosen ones were not perfect, but Christ tells His disciples to listen to them anyway.  In fact, the Holy Bible tells us to obey the bishops. 

Hebrews 13:17  Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.  Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

In addition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us the same thing, so the teachings of the Church is aligned with Sacred Scripture: 

CCC 1269  Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us.  From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communities of the Church, and to "obey and submit" to the Church leaders, holding them in respect and affection.  Just as Baptism is the source of responsibilities and duties, the baptized person also enjoys rights within the Church, to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church.

In God's plan of salvation, He puts everyone under authority.  Children are placed under the authority of their parents.  Deacons and priests are placed under the authority of the bishops.  Bishops are placed under the authority of the Pope.  Christ, who is God, also submitted Himself to His mother, Mary and God the Father.  Why does God allow this hierarchical structure?  He allowed it so we can learn obedience and humility.  If one cannot obey those whom God sent, how then can one say they obey God?  

The Archbishop was sent by God.  He may not be the perfect Archbishop as some people in Junglewatch have pointed out.......but then again, neither was the Apostle Peter who denied Christ three times.  St. Peter denied Christ three times, and St. Paul was a persecutor of Christians.....but they were still God's chosen ones anyway.  We are all sinners, but there are some who throw stones as though they have never sinned.      

 

Pope Francis And The Old Latin Mass

Some of the catechists of the Neocatechumenal Way have reminded the brothers that the Way is not to be worshipped, and that we are not here to turn the community into a social gathering.  The person should always put God first before anything else.  The love for God should always be first.  Sometimes, members are given a new community when the catechists sees that he/she is attached to their community more than God.  Sometimes, Reponsibles are changed when the catechists also sees that they love their role as Responsibles more than God.

 It was brought to Pope Francis' attention that the Old Latin Mass has caused some division in the Catholic Church especially among the Franciscans,  Pope Francis has instructed the Franciscans of the Immaculate not to celebrate the Old Latin Mass without permission.  There is some concern that some of those Franciscans are leaning toward the radical traditionalists.  These are some of the identifying marks of the radical traditionalists. 

1. The denial of the Jewish holocaust.
2. The outright denial of Vatican 2 as a valid council.
3. Rhetorical style of the Rorate Caeli blog.
4. The embrace of isolationaist sub-culture of Catholicism or "Amish Catholicism."
5. The denial of the charismatic gifts and the charismatic movement.
6. Sympathy for the Bishop Williamson's style of traditionalism.
7. Disdain for Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.
8. The belief that the Latin Mass Catholics are "A Team" and the Novus Ordo Catholics are "B Team."
9. Gnostic ecclesiology - that "traditionalists" form the one true invisible Catholic Church. 

 The Latin Mass and the Franciscan Immaculate

These concepts which radical traditionalists hold are not supported by the Catholic Church.  These radical traditionalists have only caused division between themselves and those who attend the Novus Ordo Mass.  Both the Old Latin Mass and the regular Mass are equally good and come from the Holy Spirit. We come to Mass to love and worship God who is in the Mass.  One should not attend Mass simply because they HAVE to or because of show.  Furthermore, the moment one distinguishes one Mass over another is already putting something first instead of God.  In other words, if a person chooses to go to the Old Latin Mass because they feel that the regular Mass is second best, illicit, or doesn't like the priest is not putting God first.    

On February 14th, Pope Francis also held an audience with the Bishops of the Czech Republic.  During the visit, Archbishop Jan Graubner, of Olomouc, told the Czech section of the Vatican Radio how it went: 

[Abp. Jan Graubner speaks:] When we were discussing those who are fond of the ancient liturgy and wish to return to it, it was evident that the Pope speaks with great affection, attention, and sensitivity for all in order not to hurt anyone. However, he made a quite strong statement when he said that he understands when the old generation returns to what it experienced, but that he cannot understand the younger generation wishing to return to it. “When I search more thoroughly – the Pope said – I find that it is rather a kind of fashion [in Czech: 'móda', Italian 'moda']. And if it is a fashion, therefore it is a matter that does not need that much attention. It is just necessary to show some patience and kindness to people who are addicted to a certain fashion. But I consider greatly important to go deep into things, because if we do not go deep, no liturgical form, this or that one, can save us.”

Pope's visit to Czech Republic


Pope Francis is correct when he stated that no liturgical form can save us.  Only God can save us.  Those who criticize Pope Francis because he did not kneel long enough or he did not do this or that during mass put the performance first before God because their focus was on everything that the Pope did during mass rather than on Christ.  Christ said that the true worshippers are those who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth. 

John 4:23-24  Yet a time is coming and has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father  in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.     

This does not mean that only those who attend a Catholic Mass (whether it be a Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo Mass). are the true worshipers.  As Pope Francis said, no liturgical form can save us. Salvation is also not based on Church attendance although it is a good thing to attend Mass.  

Christ gave us two commandments to follow, which fulfills all the laws and prophets - to love God and to love your neighbor. The second is like the first because in order to love God, one also needs to love their neighbors (including their enemies).  As St. John said "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen (1 John 4:20).

The true worshipers who worship in Spirit and truth are those who love and forgive others.  
 
Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.