USA, Jesse Cortes. A mother walks into the little Schoenstatt chapel to spend some time in prayer with her son. At a glance, she looks around to see a group of young men pray a rosary as the sun penetrates gloriously through the stained glass windows. Sweet melodies fill the air as music is softly played by a young woman and her guitar. She glances up at the image of the Blessed Mother and immediately feels the grace of home. She crouches beside her son, his little hand in hers, and teaches him the Sign of the Cross. As they kneel down in front of the altar, she runs her hand across the dark wood, silently thinking of everything that has led to this moment. She thinks to herself, “Nothing without you, nothing without us, Blessed Mother.” She closes her eyes and remembers a rainy day. Just a couple of months ago, the Shrine still seemed like a dream to her. Searching back within her memories, she remembers how everything culminated that day in September—September 13th, Dedication Day.
Preparing for Dedication Day
Although everyone had prayed otherwise, the rain fell fiercely that day. It was as if the Almighty Father had wished to baptize the land and renew it again, to prepare it for all the graces of the new Shrine. Days, weeks, and months had gone into preparations, and everyone was busy hustling back and forth, tending to this and that, preparing the flowers, outlining the music, setting up tents, bringing out chairs. There was an incredibly zealous attitude about the air—everything had to be perfect for the Blessed Mother. And yet, the rain seemed to remind everyone to rely on God’s providence. There would be nothing without her cooperation, either. A few things present in everyone’s mind were all the changes needing to be made. As Marcela Pinto, the Dedication Day organizer said, “I had to trust that God and the Blessed Mother had a plan and I was merely the instrument needed to help pull it all together.” And the plan was truly evident. In the midst of human worries, the Blessed Mother was there, and everything seemed to find a place.
The Holy Mass
Despite the weather, the altar servers led the way for the first time to the Shrine. Through the din of the rain, Bishop Joe Vazquez confidently began Mass. Songs were sung as hearts poured out, and the joy of the people seemed to overcome the overcast day. At the moment the Bishop hoisted the image of the Blessed Mother, the bells tolled and were heard across the valleys and hills around the Shrine. It was an overwhelming image. The Blessed Mother had finally found a home inside the Shrine—the tears of the people said it all. The exultant cries of happiness reverberated across the land, and it was for many the most memorable moment of the Mass. It was as if despite the rain, the Blessed Mother had victoriously conquered another land of hearts with her love. The moment lasted only a few minutes, but is sure to live on eternally in the hearts of those who were there.
The Legacy of Those Invested
At the end of the day there stood the people that had been there from the very beginning. These men and women had invested themselves entirely, and the Shrine was a visible testament to the goodness of God’s plan. And yet, they knew that it was just the beginning. They could only dream that mothers would daily come to bring their children, that young men would heroically offer their day through a rosary, that music would fill the tiny little chapel on a hill and fill it with the warmth of home. They could only dream that the Blessed Mother would take hearts and transform them, that a new generation of saints would arise in answer to the 100 years of Schoenstatt history. And yet, there they stood, themselves the saints and martyrs of these new times. What is the legacy we want to leave behind? The work ahead of us remains unfinished, and the Lord is always looking for laborers in this task of harvest. In a time of trial Father Kentenich once asked his closest confrere, Father Alex Menningen, “Gehst du mit?”— “Do you come along with me?” In this new Shrine of Bethlehem, Cradle of Sanctity, we want to respond to the Blessed Mother, “Yes, Mother, we go with you.”
It was a heroic day – planned by the people for weeks and months – but the Blessed Mother and her heavenly court directed and perfected every moment of the day and made her presence known among her folks in an unforgettable way to all present.
It is an honor to serve Her and being part of a group of loyalists that had the once in a lifetime opportunity to actually built a new shrine for her is a highlight and milestone
in my life. I came from: Hessen-Spessart – Germany – shrine of the Every Day Sanctity – with a youthful heart to the Confidencia Shrine in Lamar Texas and 31 years later I was able to take part in building the Bethlehem Cradle of Sanctity Shrine as the wife of a Texan Schoenstatt Man. Thank you Father Kentenich for the Covenant of Love with our Lady of Schoenstatt – our heavenly mother – yes we will continue to follow along .
Mater Perfectam Habebit Curam.