This Pope is Serious

Addressing a group of 200 NeoCatechumenal Way folks who were going off to South America on an evangelization mission, Pope Benedict spoke thus:

The Holy Father stressed how the families will be "humble and joyful witnesses" of Christ, "travelling in simplicity and poverty down the roads of all the continents. "He then went on to emphasize the importance of the liturgy in evangelization: "Your long experience can well confirm how the centrality of the mystery of Christ, celebrated in liturgical rites, constitutes a privileged and indispensable way to build vibrant and lasting Christian communities."

The Pope then referred to norms concerning the celebration of the Eucharist recently emanated, specifically for the Neocatechumenal Way, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. "I am sure," he said, "that you will attentively observe these norms, which are based on liturgical texts approved by the Church. By faithful adherence to all Church directives, you will render your apostolate even more effective, in harmony and full communion with the Pope and the pastors of dioceses."

This Pope reads the newspaper--specifically, the side-skedaddle of the NCWay spokesman who sort of kinda implied that the Office of Divine Worship didn't really mean exactly what they said in their letter.

So a week later, B-16 repeats the message.

Kapische??

HT: Amy Welborn