Vatican newspaper underlines Pope's caution on liturgies of Neocatechumenal Way

March 14, 2012

In a January 20 address to members of the Neocatechumenal Way, Pope Benedict XVI offered “a liturgical theology valid and useful for the Way and for the whole Church,” notes a reflection in L’Osservatore Romano.

Pope Benedict strongly affirmed “the value of missionary and evangelical commitment of the Way,” the Vatican newspaper observed. In his address he encouraged members and praised their missionary activity. However the article also notes that the Pope insisted that the Neocatechumenal Way should pursue its work “in profound communion with the Apostolic See and with the Pastors of the particular Churches.”

Regarding the unique liturgical practices of the Neocatechumenal Way, the Pope approved those celebrations that “are not strictly speaking liturgical but are part of the itinerary of growth in faith,” L’Osservatore Romano said. The Pope’s address, the paper continued, was a reminder that liturgical celebrations follow the forms approved by the universal Church. The Vatican newspaper underlines the Pope’s cautionary note:

The Pope points out how the approval of celebrations in the Catechetical Directory of the Neocatechumenal Way must be read strictly bound to the Sensus Ecclesiae and in harmony with the needs of the building of the Corpus Ecclesiae.

 

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Further information:

• In the life of the great ecclesial community (L'Osservatore Romano)