They did not count on the power of prayer from thousands of Schoenstatters

PARAGUAY, mkf. “After listening to the report about Fidel and learning of the details of his captivity, I haven’t the slightest doubt that it was the Blessed Mother who freed him from a sure death…..just as it sounds, death. But these criminals did not count on the power of prayer from thousands of Schoenstatters and others, who ‘gently pulled’ on the heart of Mary to secure the freedom of her son, Fidel.” On January 20, 2010, Marucha and Freddy Ratti, members of the Family Federation in Paraguay, sent thank you messages to all those who in Paraguay and throughout the world prayed for the miracle of liberation for their son-in-law, Fidel Zavala, who was kidnapped on October 15th. He was freed on the eve of January 18th.

The solidarity of the Covenant of Love once again showed its face during the months of captivity. Fidel Zavala, a cattleman in Paraguay and son-in-law to one of the first Schoenstatt families in Paraguay, was kidnapped on October 15th. On October 18th, the 60,000 pilgrims in Tuparenda prayed for his liberation….. The news traveled the world through the Schoenstatt webs. It was published on Schoenstatt.de. They prayed for him at the international Rosaries in the Original Shrine, at Masses in Schoenstatt, and since the beginning of Advent, his name was written on a star which was taken in total faith to the Original Shrine on Christmas Eve where Fr. Egon Zillekens sent a special blessing to him and his family.

“We have no doubt that the one who liberated him was the Mother Thrice Admirable. Not only did She free him from captivity, but also from a sure death. Thus our heart is flooded with an enormous feeling of gratitude to the Blessed Trinity, Blessed Mother, and for all those intercessors to whom we did not cease asking for help. Our thanksgiving goes to all the international Schoenstatt Family who accompanied us from the beginning of this painful situation,” thus writes the Ratti family to the Schoenstatt Press Office. Thank you to all who prayed and made contributions to the Treasury of Grace.

This is the mystery of the Covenant of Love.