CHILE, Fr. Mariano Irurreta. On February 11th, feastday of Our Lady of Lourdes, we heard of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. We are experiencing a special moment at this time of the Church. This happens in the “Year of Faith” where the figure of Peter is essential for the believers of the Church and for the existence of our Christian life.
He and John Paul II have been the only two Popes who have been on pilgrimage to a Schoenstatt Shrine. Furthermore, we treasure that in some of the decisive moments of our short history, Benedict XVI understood important dimensions of Father’s charism for the Church of today. Likewise, he was able to give creative and adequate stimuli for the revitalization of the Church on our continent, especially at Aparecida.
This February of 2013
Providence has foreseen that February of 2013 would open with the difficult news regarding the Original Shrine and that it would close with the resignation of Benedict XVI effective on the 28th. Both events, which occur in the “Year of the Missionary Stream,” manifest that on our journey toward 2014, we should aspire to be – to a greater extent – a Marian Family…vigilant, prayerful, prudent, missionary, and faithful to Father’s charism.
We enter a Cenacle moment
In spite of understanding the step taken by Benedict XVI, the withdrawal of this Pope who lived his pontificate with humility, courage and bravery – facing the truth and concerned about the faith of his people – is still painful.
We enter a Cenacle moment in which the Cardinals will have the mission of electing a successor to Benedict XVI. Therefore, this time calls us to congregate in our Cenacle so that along with Mary in our Shrines during the next few weeks, we may implore the Holy Spirit who guides the Church, who in her Cardinals will have to elect the new successor of Peter.
Submitted by Rafael Mascayano
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 02222013 cantu_carlos@hotmail.com
