GERMANY, Sister M. Hanna-Lucia Hechinger. At the end of July, it became a reality: the pilgrimage from the “Shrine of the Merciful Love of God” in Borken (Germany) to the Original Shrine was carried out. The first two stages took place in the year 2013 from Borken to Bottrop and then from Bergisch Gladbach. And in July of this year, the last stage was carried out from Bergisch Gladback to Rösrath, Bon, Bad Honnef, and Waldbreitbach ending in Schoenstatt.
Twelve pilgrims experienced being guided by the God of Life. “We had the experience of having Mary among us,” a pilgrim said one night. SHE was among them – visible in the picture of the Pilgrim MTA and with HER they experienced the highs and lows that such a pilgrimage brings. Be it a pause supported by a tree, surrounded by walking canes or in the dangerous descent of a steep hill, She was the center of attention! This also happened at one of the inns, where a woman saw the Pilgrim MTA and was “enamored” by the Most Holy Virgin’s gaze and prompting the group to loan her the picture until the following day. She was present, in the mornings and at noon, when each pilgrim took out a new petition for prayer that people had entrusted to them for the pilgrimage.
Experiences on the road
The experiences that each one of the pilgrims had on this road were very varied and colorful. But, there were experiences that created a common atmosphere that impressed and which was “savored” not only in the 150 kilometers of the last stage.
Some of these experiences of the road are highlighted below.
There was a dike that was closed because of construction. It was not possible to return, so they had to continue forward. Beneath a burning sun and no shade, they walked in silence, this saved energy. It seemed that an thunderstorm was forming. “Hopefully, we can arrive on time”, was the thought of one of the pilgrims. Finally they were able to complete this stretch! And what unexpectedly awaited them at the end of the road? A MTA wayside shrine. A road experience that impressed everyone. In real life, there are also roads under construction and roads without shade. But we do no walk alone, although at the beginning it seems that way. There is someone who is waiting for us and who tells us: “I am here, I go with you.”
It is good to have a goal
The last stretch, to reach the youth hostel in Bonn that is on Mount Venusberg, was traveled by bus because of the distance. On the way, we conversed with a young, Muslim, divorced lady with two children. “I can accompany you to the hostel,” she offered. “Ah, you are pilgrims. I have already been to Mecca twice,” she said, while we waited for the second bus. When we offered to take her spiritually to Schoenstatt, she began to cry. She was speechless and later she told us in the bus: “I do not know how things will be when I am older. I cannot simply travel on the bus.” This woman was also a pilgrim but without a goal. She gratefully and emotionally received several small MTA pictures for herself and her children. The pilgrimage roads touch the reality of life. These pilgrimage roads unite the most diverse people, beyond their profession of faith, and we realized: “we are on a march with a task” and “it is good to have a goal.”
Small signs
There was the small chapel at Röhndorf, where we would celebrate Holy Mass. Suddenly there was loud noise. A totally unexpected storm had formed. But we were protected. The lightening, the thunder and the rain can be enjoyed when one is secure. It was another experience of the pilgrimage that was lived and for this reason it is unforgettable: it does matter how your road of life is, he who seeks shelter in God is secure even if the storms of life make us tremble.
We had to change the planned route to Schoenstatt to another road, because of the deactivation of a bomb. Instead of “Rheinsteig” it was called “Limes-way.” We had to change from the planned routes and go via a new road. In the last stage of the road, we realized what it meant to go with the help of a map (which we did not have for this stretch) or to be oriented once and again advancing from sign to sign. Once more, the route became a living sign that spoke to us of our own road of life and it taught us: that it does not depend on the general situation. If we attentively perceive the small signs that God gives us, we will reach our destination, even if we do not know beforehand how the road will be.
To enter beneath the threshold of the Original Shrine
The last kilometers to the Original Shrine were a very special experience and here are some of the highlights: Someone wrote: “finally after six day of walking, we arrived to the end of our pilgrimage. We decided to walk the last stretch of our pilgrimage in silence and to also to consciously enter beneath the threshold of the Original Shrine in silence. This was a very touching moment. As a group, but also personally, we felt greeted and warmly welcomed by Mary. It was truly a homecoming, where the mother is waiting. It was one of those moments when you have to pinch yourself to not cry…And we showed this singing the hymn “Great God, we praise you”. It was a very touching and unforgettable moment.
R.B. described the last kilometers this ways:
“When they asked who would carry the picture of the Most Holy Virgin to the Original Shrine, I asked to do it. I quickly gave up one of my walking canes in order to carry the picture of our Mother strongly held in my arms…when the first buildings came into view, I was overcome by a feeling of being alone with the Most Holy Virgin on the road home to the little chapel. The long road and some of the really difficult stages were almost over, and I was so grateful for the experience of sharing my thoughts only with the Most Holy Virgin and at the same time looking at Her in the eyes.”
At night, one of the pilgrims described his experience in the following way: “When I arrived at the Original Shrine, I had a feeling: here the Most Holy Virgin is taking me in her arms.”
The pilgrimage begins after the pilgrimage
At the end of the road, someone said: “I thought while we walked: is this our last pilgrimage?”
Absolutely not! They all agreed about this. The pilgrimage begins after the pilgrimage. “I am not going on vacation,” Mr. S. opined. “I am moving with a mission.” And because Schoenstatt’s mission is far from being accomplished, surely the next pilgrimage will arrive.
Editor’s note:
The Schoenstatt Movement in Germany assumed the theme of pilgrimage and encouragement to go on pilgrimage from the different places to the Original Shrine as preparation for the Jubilee.
Original German: Translation Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
