BRAZIL, Ruy Kaercher •
On Sunday, June 18, a large number of faithful gathered in and around the shrine (or capela, chapel) of Santa Cruz do Sul for the Mass of renewal of the Covenant of Love and for a long-awaited moment: the enthronement and blessing of the statue of St. Michael by our ecclesial advisor, Fr. Leão Gomes da Silva. —
Bendición de la imagen de San Miguel
Recall that the original shrine of Santa Cruz do Sul remained empty after the Sisters of Mary decided to abandon the shrine for which they were legally responsible and to take all the elements of the shrine with them to a new shrine to be built in a “better place.” Empty of its images, statues, benches, symbols, windows, door, bell tower and even the flowers that surrounded it, but full of pilgrims, love and “capital of grace”.
Step by step, the love of Schoenstatters and pilgrims for the Shrine has filled this holy place, this dwelling place of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt with a makeshift picture and altar, with a jar, with the Unity Cross, and, on Pentecost 2023, with the symbol of the Holy Spirit.
On June 18th, the Shrine experienced the blessing of the statue of St. Michael the Archangel and before that, the solemn unveiling by the couple, Cecilia and Rodolfo Etges, who had witnessed and supported the construction of the Shrine in 1977.
It was a moment of gratitude and great joy!
Original: Spanish. Translation: Maria Fischer @schoenstatt.org
