Spiritual adventure, Schoenstatt adventure

Ana María Mendizábal de Aristi. I have returned from the “HOME” to the everyday home. I am trying to adapt to the new schedule, and I am having trouble connecting to everyday life, since I am still in Schoenstatt mentally and in my heart…The experience of my visit to the Original Shrine, the Blessed Mother, and to Father have been totally different than what is usually experienced on a pilgrimage, which is “organized formally”.

The schedule was organized, day by day, and whichever way we wanted, we had to trust and allow ourselves to be carried along…Two mad Argentineans swarming through Schoenstatt, going everywhere, hitchhiking to go up to the Adoration Church, after going up the correct way through the “original” road and through the “Sisters’ shortcuts” amid the leafy vegetation and steep mountain roads, it was quite an adventure!

But when we were tired, we hitchhiked. And we always got a ride with the same man, who only spoke German, but he stopped, saying Argentina with a big smile! And he would take us in his cute car to our house. I felt very spoiled and sheltered. I felt the confirmation of my personal and course ideals with great joy; that was impressive.

I felt Father Kentenich at my side

At the smallest inconvenience, I CALLED and the Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich were there to solve everything in an impressive way. I felt Father Kentenich at my side. We went through the Covenant House at night, and I felt that at that any moment Father would arrive, and although I did not see him, he was present, he could be felt. This house surrounded me with his paternal presence.

Lito and Rosita Musolino took us; they are a couple from Mendoza, who are taking care of the Family Shrine. Soon they will live in this house that is being prepared for 2014 headquarters, among other things, for the 2014Communication Office.

In preparation for the Year of the Shrine current

Going to the Shrine “everyday became very normal”, and I could stay as long as I wanted, I couldn’t believe it! But it was true.

We went on pilgrimage to the thirteen Shrines in preparation for the Year of the Shrine. The Sisters told us that we could not visit all of them, and one of the most difficult ones to visit was the Adoration Shrine. They suggested that we ask for Sister Trinidad (from Argentina), and the answer was: it is impossible to see her!

They also told us that we could not reach the Shrine of Elderly Ladies outside of Vallendar, “alone and by foot”…

Needless to say, we reached all of them, and we saw Sister Trinidad! When we rang the doorbell of the house, a Polish Sister, who only spoke German, allowed us to enter, she took us to the Shrine, and I saw a Sister’s back. After praying, I asked with gestures who she was. Sister called her, and when she turned…it was Sister Trinidad! I started crying; we conversed for a few minutes, I remember that she would give us communion before every course meeting in Varela, we shared “the reality of our “Nation,” and we bid farewell…I was dazzled by such a gift!

After our conversation, Sister Trinidad took us by the hand, and she took us through the little inner paths of the house’s gardens so that we could go on our way. We came out behind the Adoration Church. I could not believe it, for me it was a great adventure, I remembered Father Esteban, the “great adventurer” very much, and he would tell me: “If the Blessed Mother wants it, anything is possible…”

With Father Ángel through the mountains

We traveled through Zion, Moriah, and Tabor by Father Ángel’s hand, before tea, which he served at his house with red fruit tarts. He would open and close the doors of the car as if he were our chauffer.

At the end of the afternoon, I told him: “I have had a close experience with Father Kentenich and Father Esteban since we spoke about both of them very much and they accompanied us on the tour.” Father Ángel was the transparency of both of them…

Celebrating October 18th with Father Egon

Some words about Father Egon Zillekens, with whom we celebrated the Blessed Mother’s Day and October 18th with a little bit of wine. One day he forgot to ask for a car for us and at night he excused himself, but he said: “I knew these ladies would fix it”…and so it was, the Blessed Mother solved the problem “very well”: we boarded a bus of Brazilian pilgrims.

Father Alex, a priest from India, lives at Marienau, he only speaks German and a little English, but he took care of us like a son. When he found out that he was the same age as my son, Fermin, he called me “Mami”… without words we received so much affection and grace was showered on us.

October 18^th

The night of October 17^th and the 18^th were beautiful! We did not understand anything, everything was in German, but we could “breathe it” the Shrine, family, home. We met Pitty Reiche, who would translate for us, but the important thing was to feel the atmosphere, from the decorations to the songs, everything was united. On the night of the 17^th, the Shrine was lighted with candles and torches were the flames of the love of the Holy Spirit over us. We and the Shrine were on fire with the presence of the Holy Spirit, in spite of the low temperatures.

Lito and Rosita Musolino invited Pitty and us for lunch on the 18^th, what a beautiful family day!

Now I look at the photos and the videos on the Internet and I can situate myself in a different way, I relieve the experiences, I find myself in the place and I go HOME spiritually. What a gift!

After this experience, I still feel I am up “in the air.” I am enjoying what I experienced. I know that the years will pass and all of this will remain in my heart forever.

What a beautiful gift!

Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit