Resistance is futile

Just Give In Already, or something, from Fr Luis Garza:

I GIVE UP AND I GIVE IN

"Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and gives everything" I give up and I give in! The phrase goes against some of my most cherished principles. When I was a child, my mother would often recite a poem that ended with the verse that loosely translated says “give yourself a break, but never give up”. But now, I have no choice but to yield to undeniable, overwhelming evidence and simply give up and give
in.

God is all-knowing, all-just, all-powerful and all-loving. He holds the reins of history and of our personal lives, guiding each of us to the fulfillment of his loving plan of salvation.  It’s not easy to say, but I realize it’s time to give in, to accept that neither our brightest ideas nor our loftiest human hopes will shed light on our path. Only God’s Providence can do this.

For these past three years, I’ve been complaining to God, struggling with his silence like the psalmist: “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps 10:1)

God’s path for the Legion and Regnum Christi has been neither understandable nor appealing. The suffering has been immeasurable. The breakdown of trust has damaged many. The natural human reaction is to run away and to look for other opportunities.

However, the spiritual family of Regnum Christi and the Legion is not just hanging on, but growing. It is blessed with faith-filled and generous young men and women following Christ’s call.  This year, twenty-one candidates will join our novitiates in North America.
Twenty-three young men are entering different apostolic schools. Eighteen girls now form part of the discernment program in Oxford, Michigan and twelve young women will join Mater Ecclesiae.

As well, visiting our Legionary communities, I see a new-found peace and enthusiasm in following Christ. They have rekindled the zeal to go out and share in the mission of the New Evangelization in North America, discovering the beauty of our foundational charism.

We have learned a lot over the past few years and have made strides in our service to the local churches, while fostering our charism.  We have been offered and have accepted opportunities to serve in parishes in New York, Atlanta, Montreal and Hamilton, Ontario. Consecrated men and women of Regnum Christi are working in parishes as youth ministers and directors of Religious Education.  A consecrated woman is serving in a formation team of a seminary and a Legionary as spiritual director in another diocesan seminary. There are myriads of examples of greater understanding and collaboration between Regnum Christi and the dioceses.

Our process of renewal and reform continues and we will soon begin a broad discussion with lay members in the quest to express the core of the charism we share and cherish as one spiritual family.

Lay members of Regnum Christi give me and our priests a lesson in enthusiasm, resolve and dedication. They want to serve their church, bishops and pastors by sharing the gift they have received as part of this great movement of the New Evangelization. As Pope Benedict reminded us in his words to the American bishops on their ad limina visit : The preparation of committed lay leaders and the presentation of a convincing articulation of the Christian vision of man and society remain a primary task of the Church in your country. (January 9th, 2012)

Why does the Pope underline this preparation? The current cultural trends, as pointed out by Pope Benedict in this discourse, threaten the Christian faith and, ultimately, humanity itself. But the Church’s committed members bring a new promise: in faith we can take heart from… the promise offered by a new generation of Catholics whose experience and convictions will have a decisive role in renewing the Church’s presence and witness in American society.

The New Evangelization requires commitment and effort. I am certain that these times will be remembered as a turning point in the life of the Church. As history tells us, the difficult and scandalous 10th century, when corruption was the order of the day, gave way to the reform lead by monasteries like Cluny. Then the great saints Bernard, Francis, Dominic and Catherine led their world to a deep evangelical transformation that lasted several centuries. Another great moment of renewal of spirituality, formation of priests, discipline and liturgy took place after the Reformation in the 16th century with St. Theresa, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Charles Borromeo and many others. Today, we have incredible witnesses of Christian faith like Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, saints that we have seen and met. We are in great company for announcing the Good News to our world!

We all want to be part of God’s present undertaking, but at times we are enslaved by our fears. We tremble when called by the Holy Spirit to row out into the deep, leaving behind the security of own well-known shores. We forget that belonging to God is simple and safe. "Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and gives everything", as Pope Benedict XVI said in the mass for the inauguration of his Pontificate. Belonging to God, remaining in his love, means letting Christ act in us through prayer and his sacraments, forgetting what lies in the past, and stretching out to what lies ahead, (Phil 3:13) move forward to establish the Kingdom of Christ in the world with enthusiasm. And the word enthusiasm in its origin is precisely "en-Theos", filled with God.

God is patiently teaching me to GIVE UP my doubts, fears, complaints and my fighting against him. I am slowly learning to GIVE IN to his wisdom, power and loving providence so HE can act in my life and in the life of the Legion and Regnum Christi. A beautiful dawn is
breaking for us. We all can be the saints and apostles that the New Evangelization needs: GIVE UP the fears and GIVE IN to God’s loving Providence and power.

Notice that LC/RC = the New Evangelisation, which is hard, challenging. There is no mention of reform, only getting to work. There is no mention of why the last three years have been hard, only an exhortation to GIVE IN. There is no mention of the enormous difference between the Legion and the examples offered:

...the great saints Bernard, Francis, Dominic and Catherine led their world to a deep evangelical transformation that lasted several centuries...

Yes, they were founders and leaders to whom the Holy Spirit entrusted legitimate charisms to lead. Legionaries are told to be leaders without a plan, without a charism (no  matter what he posits here -- that the "new evangelisation" has always been the charism], without a mission, and without a founder--almost sounds like "leading from behind," in the political jargon of the day.

Where is the reform? How can they jump into this work without the necessary adjustments that should follow the crisis, the investigation, and the rewriting of constitutions? A pep rally without the prior formation is an exercise in futility. And yet resisting it is just as futile -- what a mess.

Comments

[Fr John]

I don't know. I alway had hope that Fr Garza would see the light. He seemed to me someone that was not afraid of the truth. But in the end he succumbed to another truth, the numerous mass of faithful followers who have had the wool pulled over their eyes. He is basically saying he finds strength in those who have remained faithful to the LC/RC. He sees God's providence in those who remain in darkness, mostly because he and others have kept them in darkness, feeding them lies and twisting the truth. What a terrible catch 22. Manipulate the truth and find consolation in those who are blinded by this manipulation.

I, like Luis Garza, make these words my own - I GIVE UP. I GIVE IN. THERE IS NO LONGER ANY HOPE FOR THE LEGION OR THE REGNUM CHRISTI.

[LAN]

Why go to the point and be clear and honest when you can produce such pathetic drivel?
Where did you find this gem, Giselle? Links?

[Polish Pilgrim]

It's still all about growth and numbers.

And he made a cutting comment toward those who leave ("The natural human reaction is to run away" but WOA, look how much we are growing. Translation: You who left are big losers.)

[hauler]

Father John, are you for real? Perhaps you drink some wine in between Masses? Oh C'mon???

You must be out of your f_cking mind?

[Aaron]

The problem with Garza, Fr. John, is that he would have to ADMIT to his complicity and then ask forgiveness, and possibly face police and canonical investigation...

He is an accomplice to Maciel, a protector of paedophiles, a silencer of victims and a lot more I am sure.

You betcha that he knew everything that was presented to the vatican investigation and then some more.

His conscience is corrupt, he only knows right and wrong in the subjective sense of how something benefits (right) or hurts (wrong) the legion.

I think he is a good example of a scoundrel.

[Scipio's Buddy]

Garza wants that we give up his silences (do not expect real and concrete explanations from him) and give in to his words. This is more than faith....

[happy in diocesan life]

"Twenty-three young men are entering different apostolic schools. Eighteen girls now form part of the discernment program in Oxford, Michigan and twelve young women will join Mater Ecclesiae." I am sure that since these numbers are so small than what they were, he and the legion are going to make some asinine comparison to the early Church, its persecution and how growth began with some numbers...when I opened up and read this post, I smelled it before I read it, practically, that I was next to a pig farm!
"The suffering has been immeasurable. The breakdown of trust has damaged many. The natural human reaction is to run away and to look for other opportunities." Looking at Aaron's post, Garza can only answer in the complete and total asinine way because he is corrupted... Natural reaction, Fr Luis? How about for our salvation that we ran away, how about for our sanity? How about because you are just as much as a false prophet as all the rest... blood type for Garza... not AB, not O... it's KA.. Kool-aid like you wouldn't believe...what a prolonged Jonestown this is... Holy Spirit cleanse the Vatican of the devil's presence in all these lies.

[Alba]

The Greek etymology of enthusiasm isn´t exactly to be peacefully immersed in God; it´s divine inspiration, in the direction of frenzy and possession. I think it presupposes that the enthusiast loses his independent personhood for the duration of the state. Just a linguistic marginal note, perhaps not without its significance.

[Near Miss]

"We have been offered and have accepted opportunities to serve in parishes in New York, Atlanta, Montreal and Hamilton, Ontario."

These are new? Anyone know which ones? Because I think they deserve a barrage of copies of articles, testimonies, links, facts and warnings. It's the least we can do.

[Dingledore]

Garza and his PR guru, Jim Fair, keep stirring the witches' brew. Compare Garza to priests like Fr Robert Barrons who exudes true love and joy. It is day and night (or light and darkness). The people they trapped will now be lost souls. They will lose their heart and that is the saddest truth. However, on the flip side, they will learn how to count dirty money and manipulate people for Marciel Maciel's kingdom (with a small k).

[Justice]

Garza's perspective on their current circumstances makes me feel like I should put a tutu on, dance on tippy toes, stare into the clouds while little white butterflies fllutter softly around my head.

"...Go ask Alice. When she's ten feet tall...."

[Little Light]

21 entering into novitiate? did they already get their cassocks?

the number before was between 35 & 42 entering the novitiate so at this point growth is a mute point.

A large part of the 21 are from the precandidacy. probably 16 PCs and 5 from CLC. They had about 11 candidates so that's 50%. If anyone could confirm the stats it would be helpful.

So if there are 16 novices who are 17 or 18 yrs old, imagine getting the guilty conscience complex of "you can't leave the legion b/c you are abandoning Christ and his new evangelization. Imagine what they go through psychologically.

I think the most concerned individuals should be the parents of the incoming novices (and young ladies) who see not even a smoke signal of reform.

this is the same guy who said he didn't have nuestro padre's cell phone number and he was number 2 in the organization. he was the pitbull for fr maciel. talk about short memories...

[Fr John]

Yes, hauler, I do like a little wine between Masses, and not just on first class feast days.

I am not out of my f'n mind. I still believe all can be redeemed, that no one is a slave to lies and can see the truth. By hoping this way does not mean I am still drinking the cool-aid. I would love to see all, from Corcuera to the newest boys and girls entering, admit the truth and be freed.

I believe Aaron's assessment is: to publicly admit the truth would incriminate him. There is no 5th amendment in the legion.

[Happy Girl]

"We have been offered and have accepted opportunities to serve in parishes in New York, Atlanta, Montreal and Hamilton, Ontario. Consecrated men and women of Regnum Christi are working in parishes as youth ministers and directors of Religious Education. "

This is a true statement and it is freaking me out! I feel like my parish in Atlanta is quietly being infiltrated and no one has any idea. I am watching it happen and no one seems to care. I don't know how to convince my fellow parishioners that this is NOT A GOOD THING!

[Little Light]

Happy Girl,

here is the modus operandi of the legion. find a series of projects that sound nice on paper. step 2 is to develop a person in charge and get the program budgeted. step 3 is to prepare a huge splash PR campaign with 5 color promotional pieces. step 4 is to impress others with the PR campaign, a money flow and some initial impressive results. step 5 is the lc need to keep financing these programs monthly so buyers remorse enters in. step 6 is to pull back on transfers from the DT to the organization and force them to fundraise locally while forcing them to let go of most of their personnel due to lack of funding. step 7 is to pull almost all funding and the program starts to fizzle out. step 8 the legion drops all of those people who were helping out like a rock b/c costs exceeds benefits. step 9 program attempts to run solo with no luck since it was never well thought out from the beginning step 10 program fails leaving their helpers up the creek w/o a paddle. Now if the parish is willing to take over the funding of the program that might give them a future lifeline.

My point is that the Legion is like the seed thrown on good soil. the sun comes up and the plant withers and dies. Most legion programs die out after they worked hard to get people excited and working. The deception that they spread is painful. If they open their arms to legion programs and legion people, all that awaits them is pain. I have seen it in too many people and too many places. It is a story that just repeats itself over and over. Do they want their faith to be put through a buzz saw? You wouldn't think so.

[les]

@LAN who asked for a link - this is from Regnum Christi Live.

http://live.regnumchristi.org/2012/09/i-give-up-and-i-give-in/

[Another ex-LC]

Random thoughts:
Little Light's breakdown and gospel reflection is spot-on. The great majority of the Legion's US apostolates have been one flaming burn-out after another, and the parable of the seed that fell in rocky, shallow soil is probably the best explanation.
Parishes by their nature tend to be quiet, long term work. I've seen parish work have a good spiritual impact on LC priests. A pessimist can see it as the Legion spreading its tentacles, but this can also be an opportunity for many LCs to mature. Anyway, cannon law is pretty clear on the lines of authority when a religious order takes on a diocesan parish.
Off the top of my head, the vocation numbers Fr Luis quotes are higher than average for the last seven or eight years or so. Don't know if this means anything.
Finally, while I am also annoyed by the pep-talk style of the letter, it is good to keep in mind that the letter is not directed to the world at large but to sympathizers who are expecting a pep talk. Of course it would be nice to see acts of self-flagellation every time an LC opens his mouth but that is not realistic, and would also get old after a while, like Germans always beating themselves up about The War.
I guess my point is that while everyone would like a moment of transparency and an effort at reparation on the part of the Legion, you should not expect that in little letters like this, and should not expect it while LCs are so confused about their own situation.

[mary quant]

"the mission of the New Evangelization in North America, discovering the beauty of our foundational charism" ????? what foundational charism?? he should not mention the word foundation......

[LAN]

...or charism, indeed!
(And thanks to Les for the link.)

[Dingledore]

I think we need more people to join the real militia, not militia Christi. With today's news, I'm afraid we need more soldiers and fewer priests. I have always been a pacifist but these priests, instead of praying for peace, have instead wasted their time on love bombing and betrayal of brethren. We need to find common ground and fight the real enemy - non Christians, Muslim terrorists.

[PWC]

The more times I read this article by Garza Medina (fighting nausia more each time), the more I think that is was prompted by the "give up" part of the phrase. It seems plausible that Garza Medina is finding the "giving up" syndrome more and more in priests, seminarians, consecrated, and RC members every day.

We can hope.

Remember, real numbers of those leaving are as manipulated as other Legion numbers.

[Jane]

The numbers he gives, and labels "growth" are pitiably small compared to the heyday. There is a diminishing rate of growth. Furthermore, he doesn't get into the numbers who have left since 2009, or are in the process of leaving or discerning leaving. The Legion still claims "800 priests, 70,000 RC members" and I simply do not believe it.

And I agree with PWC, this is Garza's way of addressing the potential quitters.

[hauler]

I was incarnated in RC in the spring of 1983. I did not attend the retreat using studying as an excuse. I hated LC retreats:sleeping on floors, eating shit food, while the priest stayed in the rectory. Perhaps I'm still considered 1 of the 70,000 RC members?
I hope I am, because I put this on my resume along with being a member of the National Geographic Society.

[HonestyPlease]

This Garza statement would be funny if it were not so sad -- it's ludicrous in its unabashed hypocrisy and lies -- but since the only LS standard is "Can we get away with it and make money?" -- it passes muster in LS.

[Frank I]

Apologies for the thread jack, but there's a great post today over at Rod Dreher's blog that touches on LC.

The National Catholic Register (owned by EWTN) fired John Berger, the staff member at the NC Register who conducted the controversial interview with Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Rod discusses his past interaction with the NC Register, when it was owned by LC.

Rod also refers to an LC priest who is the former editor over at the NCR. That priest is Owen Kearns.

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/shooting-the-messenger/#post-comments

On a personal note, I have financially supported EWTN since the 80s, when I was a high school kid working part time sacking groceries. Sadly, this once-great apostolate is beginning to look more and more like another self-promoting, self-interested business enterprise.