Covenant Day

A day of remembrance and renewal of the Covenant of Love

It has to do with a day of remembrance and renewal of the Covenant of Love sealed on the 18th of October 1914, by Father Kentenich with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the old Chapel of St. Michael, in the valley of Schoenstatt. (Something similar to what the 7th of each month is for the devotees of St. Cayetan, or the 13th for those connected to Fatima).

A day of remembrance. It is so necessary to "stop," periodically in our daily comings and goings to raise our spirits above the daily problems and remember the great works of the Lord in our favor. A great day in the history of the 20th century was October 18, 1914, when the Most Blessed Virgin, responding to the desire and petition of Father Kentenich, wanted to attach Herself to that little chapel - then semi-abandoned - in the valley of Schoenstatt. If we contemplate what took place on that day from that place in Germany, we will understand how certain were the words which Father Kentenich wrote for October 18, 1939: "She is simply the gift which God in his wisdom, kindness, and omnipotence gave to our family in a special way on October 18, 1914, and through our family in a new way to the world."

A day of remembrance, but, likewise, a day of renewal. Who does not understand that, in this world, all which is not renewed constantly, in time, tends to decay under the influence of an inexorable law of "spiritual gravity?" Every 18th, we want to renew the Covenant of Love which we once sealed with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. We offer Her all we were able to do during the passed month to her "Treasury of Grace," and we place into her hands and heart the following month. Upon doing this, Mary also renews the Covenant She has sealed with us, since this covenant has, as we have seen, a mutual and reciprocal character.

A day of pilgrimage to the Shrine

On that day, the 18th, we try to go on pilgrimage to the Shrine to which we are attached. If we cannot do it physically, we at least try to do it spiritually. In this way we want to advance, on the way of our earthly pilgrimage.....month by month.....year by year. The Covenant of Love we have sealed with the Blessed Virgin Mary should become more and more the fundamental axis of our life.

For us, nothing happens by chance. Nothing exists which does not have some meaning. We surrender it all - especially that which is most difficult, that which costs us more - for the Shrine's "Treasury of Grace." We also know that Blessed Mary is faithful to the Covenant which She has sealed with us. This leads us to experience a profound feeling of being sheltered in her Immaculate Heart, in the heart of God. "I firmly believe that no one who remains faithful to his/her Covenant of Love will perish."

Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA

More