New definitive statutes for the Neo-Catechumenal Way approved by the Holy See prohibit the taking of communion seated around a table - a traditional practice in the community. Chiesa reports the new statutes also prohibit passing the chalice from hand to hand.
Homilies in dialogue form are also forbidden.
The new statutes were approved by the Vatican authorities last month and officially handed down ten days ago by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, to the international leadership group of the Way, made up of Francisco José (Kiko) Gómez Argüello, Carmen Hernández, and Fr Mario Pezzi.
The previous statutes, dated June 29, 2002, were experimental and valid for only five years. So they had expired nearly a year before when the new statutes were approv
Article 13 of the Statutes concerns the celebration of the Mass. For the Neocatechumenals, this has always been the source of the sharpest contrasts with the rest of the Catholic Church, Chiesa says.
The Neocatechumenals typically celebrate their Masses not on Sunday, but on Saturday evening, in small groups, separated from the rest of the parish community.
Because each Neocatechumenal group corresponds to a particular stage of the Way, each group has its own Mass, in different places.
The Neocatechumenals typically celebrate the Mass in the form of a banquet, around a large square table, taking communion seated and passing the chalice from hand to hand. Moreover, together with the homily, a great deal of latitude is provided for the spontaneous comments of those present.
However, this is to change under the new statutes.
On December 1, 2005, Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the congregation for divine worship, sent them a letter, in the name of the pope, to call them back to faithful observance of the liturgical regulations. And the following January 12, Benedict XVI in person urged them to obey. But in practice, this twofold reminder fell on deaf ears almost everywhere.
On February 22, 2007, in an audience with the clergy of Rome, Benedict XVI made it clear that the new statutes would not be approved if they did not follow these instructions.
As a result, the new statutes approved last May 11 require the Neocatechumenals to celebrate the Mass following the general liturgical regulations of the Roman rite. They must receive communion standing.
The homily can no longer be replaced with a variety of comments.
Their Masses on Saturday evening will be "part of the Sunday liturgical service of the parish," and will be "open to other members of the faithful as well."
The only concessions is that community members can receive communion "while remaining in their places," and they can exchange the sign of peace before the offertory instead of before communion.
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