What I am and what I have…

GERMANY, mkf. What characterizes a Covenant Day- that monthly renewal of the Covenant of Love on the 18th of every month? It is the life that comes from the Covenant of Love created in different Shrines in a multitude of ways expressing this experience. However it is also about a double “fusion of love” as Father Kentenich said in 1945, with the Blessed Mother who lives and reigns with others and obviously also with Father Kentenich. So month after month, this all happens in the Original Shrine, in the 200 daughter Shrines spread throughout the entire world, the many wayside shrines and chapels dedicated to the MTA, as well as the countless home shrines, and also since last March 18th, in the Shrine of Memhölz, Germany. The climax came on March 18th with the presentation of the first “most precious 110 square centimeters in the Year of the Father Current” as well as the premiere of the Father Phrases!

Close to 7:30 p.m., approximately twenty-five people gathered in the Memhölz Shrine. Margit and Albert Reich took a short vacation in the company of their eight children. Until Covenant Day, a group who had been meeting for two days discussing the Communication Concept for the Schoenstatt Center in Memhölz presented the results of those days of work and beyond during the Covenant celebration, and several members from the different Branches of the Movement as well as pilgrims also attended. It was a very simple celebration that with certain softness jointly united the fundamental elements of the renewal of the Covenant: a reading from the Founding Documents, a short motivational talk presented by Father Leonhard Erhard, a time for prayer of thanksgiving and personal prayers (the Covenant celebration lives out of the life of the Family). Then there were the contributions to the Capital of Grace, the 2014 Pilgrimage Prayer, news about the family and the Schoenstatt Center, the burning of the Capital of Grace, and then a short family gathering in the Movement House.

My hand in your hand

Sister Ingrid Maria said: “Month after month, we continuously read parts of the Founding Documents.” And she continued, “It always fits…” During this night of celebration of the Covenant and at this time, attention was paid to the reading of the Pre-founding Document, “…learning to walk, by walking and to love, by loving.” Until the year 2014, the three founding documents will be read. It is about a singular experience, since no particular passage had been chosen, because the participants allowed themselves to be guided by these texts. The motivation given by Father Leonhard Erhard was based in the light of the Morning Consecration from Heavenwards. “What I am and what I have”…Three words that have much to say. I place what I have in the hands of Our Lady takes on a different meaning: what I have- I give, I place the hand in the hands of Our Lady like a child who learns to take his or her first steps. All that I have, I place in the hands of Our Lady. In the secure and strong hands of Our Lady, and above all, when situations arise in my day to day life that cannot be solved through my own strength. The immaculate nature of Our Lady fills all the depths and uncertainties that are within me. And when these types of situations arise, I follow with my own vigor and responsibility, but I am not alone, because someone is at my side helping me and seeing everything, in the true sense of the word; what I am undertaking, everything that I am and that I have. And that someone is Holy Mary.

The time of thanksgiving and prayers are the “uniqueness” of the Covenant celebration. Franciska Jehle gave thanks for the success graduating from the Academy of Design in Berlin. Are you the girl from the last celebration of Covenant Day? One of the usual participants of the celebration, who was profoundly touched, asked. Yes, on February 18, 2011, prayers were said during the Covenant celebration for success on her exam – and now it is time to acknowledge this answered prayer. Prayers were also offered: for the Japanese people, for Libya, for the situation of the workers in Fukushima, for the neighbor- who suddenly became ill, for the new place of work…in a word, anything and everything that touches people’s hearts is included in the prayers and in thanksgiving from the 18th to 18th of each month.

Then all the participants wrote their personal contributions and placed them in the jar, and they renewed the Covenant of Love united to everyone who also renewed it on this day throughout the entire world.

The most precious 110 square centimeters during the Year of the Father Current

At the end of the Covenant Mass as usual, the most recent information about projects and events was presented. After this, there was however, something new: on the eve of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph and Father Kentenich’s name day, Norbert Jehle showed the most precious 110 square centimeters in the “Year of the Father Current”: small cards in the shape of the Father Symbol – from a photo that was taken during the visit of the Father Symbol to Memhölz in November of last year. It has a great design and Father Kentenich’s signature. However, the unique thing is: with this small card, each person – yes, even if you do not belong to the Schoenstatt Family from Augsburg, you can do so – can place his or her name in the foundation of the future statue of Father Kentenich in Memhölz, where it will remain forever. In this base, there are also spaces for others whom one wants to assure a place very close to the Father and Prophet…” For five Euros, you can be part of this foundation forever”…And the first cards – eagerly awaited – already departed for Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, and several of these small cards are already in Switzerland and Schoenstatt…In any case, the first small cards have already been written. And me, what will I tell Father Kentenich? What will I request? What will I offer?

Father Phrases

And what does he say to me? And what does he say to many others? After the burning of the Capital of Grace, the majority of the loyal participants gathered in the vestibule, where Franziska Jehle was waiting with different rolls in several sizes with a tempting and mysterious title: Father Phrases. It is new brand, an innovation to take Father Kentenich to the living room, your office, the parish hall, or place of business. While working on her degree at the Academy of Design in Berlin, Franziska Jehle (22) developed an idea that no one had thought about before: phrases of Father Kentenich in the “Wall prints” technique. Wall prints – a method of printing pictures or text to place on walls – is a decorative technique brought from the United States that has recently arrived in Europe. Instead of applying a decorative motif – as usual- in frames, the image is placed directly on the wall after it has been printed on a special self-adhesive, easy to position and remove decal. The images remain on the wall itself giving a delicate effect; it is different and interesting. And while this technique to print pictures on the wall has been in use for a pretty long time, the printing of phrases on the wall using this method of scanning is very recent…And now there are also phrases of Father Kentenich that can be applied to the walls: “Be what you are. But, be it in the best way possible” this is the saying that is on the wall of the entrance hall in the Schoenstatt Retreat Center in Memhölz. This saying is also on the wall of the Academy of Design in Berlin… The quotes and phrases of Father Kentenich are becoming known in Berlin… And now, they are also in Schoenstatt and beyond.

Sayings of famous personalities such as Albert Einstein or Mark Twain have their words printed on walls; the wall prints technique also provides the power of imagination for the home. These phrases and quotes are appropriate for use in waiting rooms and entryways, and very often they are also used by businesses and can be read in the public areas. The wall prints technique comes with phrases from Einstein, Jean Paul, Oscar Wilde… quotes that are already known by everyone.

But now there are also the quotes of Father Kentenich: new ones at everyone’s reach, through this decorative technique of wall prints.

This can also be used for the walls of my house…

Margit Reich liked the phrases very much. “This could be in our living room or the parish hall…” she said. And while others in the cafeteria were still thinking about which of the phrases would be appropriate for their house, Margit Reich formed a friendship pact with Francisca and she obtained one of the models that, strictly speaking, are not for sale.

Beginning at Easter, the phrases of Father Kentenich will be on sale (in German) – distribution will be via: Schoenstatt Center of Memhölz Germany

Note: They are also thinking about writing “Father’s Phrases” in English.