Fr. Javier Arteaga. We are only 61 days away from October 18th, the day on which we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Covenant of Love sealed by Father Kentenich and the young sodalists with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the old Schoenstatt chapel on October 18, 1914. We will celebrate and we will give thanks because through that consecration, Mary “took possession of and established herself in” that little chapel in the Schoenstatt Valley, transforming the chapel into her Shrine. Beginning with that Covenant of Love between the sodalists and the Blessed Virgin, “a Family, a new spiritual way of life in the Church and a charism for our times” emerged (Pilgrimage Prayer 2014).
For that reason, on the next October 18th, thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the world will gather around the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt. There, in the morning, Holy Mass will be celebrated and in the afternoon, the central act will take place, the renewal of the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother with a missionary perspective. Symbols of this Covenant for the new Schoenstatt century will be: 1) the reentering of the MTA picture into the Original Shrine, 2) placing the symbol of God the Father which our Father and Founder gave to the Original Shrine – important gesture for the Schoenstatt Family from Argentina, heirs of Father’s mission, and 3) the offering of the parchment with the Founding Document signed by all the pilgrims present as a symbol of the “nothing without us.” We can all be united spiritually from our respective cities in these Jubilee celebrations by means of EWTN’s direct transmission.
As in all great celebrations, the preparations have also been great: for 3 years we have been on “spiritual pilgrimage” united with Father Kentenich and renewing ourselves in his charism (2011) so that the Shrine of the Blessed Mother may be a home for the world(2012), united with Her and like Her, afire for the mission(2013), proclaiming the Covenant of Love and building Covenant culture since that is our mission (2014).
Two months are left and already can be felt the climate of festivity, work and joy. For example, while I write this letter, taking place in New Schoenstatt is the Pedagogical Conference which gathers teachers, professors, priests and leaders of educational institutions. This taking place under the motto “We celebrate 100 years of pedagogical experience.” At the same time, in Córdoba, the “Madrugadores (Dawn Breakers)” have gathered. These are some 80 men faithful to the Blessed Mother from different parts of the country. They gather to consecrate themselves to Her and to work for her kingdom where they live and work.
Also on this weekend, some 100 youths are doing the “Schoenstatt 100K.” This is a 100 kilometer pilgrimage which takes 3 days. This unites the Shrines of San Isidro, Villa Ballester, Belgrano, Confidentia, Sión, Nuevo Schoenstatt and La Plata. This is how they explain it: “There was a Father Kentenich, their was a first Shrine, there was a group of youths who for 100 years strenthened and grew. There were wars, crosses, joys, Consecrations, Covenants. There were heroes, there were saints. There were great ideals, men convinced of what they were doing, what they were and what they were called to be. All this that was transformed into what all is today, and all this there is, is all what we are. Today we live it, we enjoy it, we take it, we embrace it. We want to honor our origin. It was a 100 years journey and we want it to contnue. Schoenstatt 100K is a pilgrimage with all that this means. From the symbolic, we want to demonstrate that the legacy we received is more alive than ever before and that the YES which we give to the Covenant which we give to God and Mary continues being so powerful and sincere like that which They give to us” (See https://www.schoenstatt.org/en/news/1966/142/Schoenstatt-100k-100-Years-100-Km.htm)
A few days ago, I saw photos of the Sion Shrine of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Schoenstatt. It was surrounded by scaffolding, painters and in full renovation, preparing it for the coming festivities. This and each one of these activities which I tell you about seem to me to be a very good symbol of what our attitude should be in these days: preparation for a great event.
The man from Montevideo
And You, how are you preparing? Is your heart afire for sealing or renewing the Covenant of Love with the Virgin Mary for this new time? Do you unite with all the pilgrims world wide by praying daily the “Pilgrimage 2014 Prayer?” Where will you be on October 18th? Are you going to participate in the celebration in your diocesan Shrine, Wayside Shrine, Cathedral, parish or Home Shrine? Better yet, how are you helping to prepare for these celebrations? What will be your gift of love to the Blessed Mother on the day of the Covenant? Our Father and Founder said in this regard:
“A few days ago, a man from Montevideo came to the Shrine with a large bouquet of flowers. I asked him why he came here. As a response, he told me that he wanted to seal the Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable. In this man I see symbolized you and thousands of persons who in the course of time will come on pilgrimage to this Shrine. All come with their bouquets of flowers. They do not come with empty hands. Their hands are filled for if every Covenant presupposes two persons, it corresponds that everyone contributes something. (…..)(…)
All of us who are here should feel united by the attachment of the Covenant of Love; I would almost say that we ourselves should be “the bouquet of flowers” for the Virgin. (…..) In conclusion, let us think once again in the bouquet of flowers. The spiritual bouquet which we offer Mary should be formed by a great and invincible confidence, by the profound desire of being sheltered in God, by the disposition of being transformed interiorly and by the serious effort to be defenders of good and noble things” (Father Kentenich, Nueva Helvecia, 1948)..
Dear brothers and sisters, during these weeks left before the celebration of the great Jubilee of the Covenat, let us prepare ourselves! Yes, and let us participate with much joy, desire and availability. We want to say “YES” anew to the Blessed Mother. We want to live as her partners. We want to be builders of the culture of the Covenant in this new Schoenstatt century which we are going to begin. There is great need and much to do in our families, environments and in each corner of our Country. Today like yesterday and always: Mother, Nothing Without You, Nothing Without Us!
Happy Covenant Day!
From the Shrine I send you a cordial greeting and God’s blessing.
Fr. José Javier Arteaga
Original Spanish: Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA
