PORTUGAL, Fr. José Melo. Schoenstatt’s Jubilee is starting! THE DOOR TO THE SHRINE will be opened on 18 October, as a symbol of the start of the Jubilee year which will culminate on 18 October 2014. The opening of the door symbolises a holy year, an act most often seen in Rome, when the Holy Father opens the holy door of the four basilicas during jubilee years. It is a sign of God’s abundant mercy, offering his salvation to everyone because a jubilee is a time of reconciliation, mercy and freedom.
The door is always open but this October 18tth as we cross the threshold of the Shrine, we want to renew our faith in the mystery of Our Lady’s presence, and open the doors of our hearts even wider to allow God to enter.
2014 Pilgrimage Prayer and the three questions as our daily gift
Another symbol for this year will be THE JAR FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CAPITAL OF GRACE, present in Portugal’s four shrines, as a symbol of our commitment for the entire year: Nothing without you, nothing without us. We can, therefore, see the 2014 pilgrimage prayer and the three questions in it as our daily gift.
This 18 October, we want to be united as one large family. We can follow the live transmission from the Original Shrine and we will be united with our communities where we normally celebrate the 18th or in our home shrines, but above all, at our shrines to revive the FIRE OF THE COVENANT OF LOVE.
Mutually thank, forgive and ask forgiveness, renew the love and mission that unites us
Pilgrimage 2014. As an International Schoenstatt Family, we are on the way to the Original Shrine to renew the Covenant of Love. Throughout the year, we go on pilgrimage to our shrines where the Blessed Mother welcomes us and sends us out. This implies that we always allow her to transform us to radiate Christ’s light.
During every Jubilee, Fr. Kentenich invited people to adopt three attitudes: give thanks, ask for forgiveness and renew the Covenant. We can do this before God and our Blessed Mother. We can also do this among ourselves, in our communities and groups, and in our personal lives with those who live alongside us. This is a true challenge during a time of jubilee: We want to mutually thank, forgive and ask forgiveness, and renew the love and mission that unites us.
If you go to the shrine on the 18th, don’t forget to wear your jubilee t-shirts.
Fr. José Melo
Source: www.schoenstatt.pt
Original: Portuguese – Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, South Africa
Draga moja Gospo,
hvala Ti što nas čuvaš i štitiš, hvala Ti što si pomogla da pronađem put spasenja i obraćenja. Hvala Ti što si mi dala Nevenu da me nauči Tvojoj krunici. Pomozi mi draga Majko, da pronađem mir i smirenje u duši, daj mi snage da sa više radosti i strpljenja odgajam djecu i da se nosim sa svime što život nosi. pomozi mi da uspijem u ovom novom poslu, a ako ipak nije za mene, molim Te otvori i pokaži mi moj put. Molim Te za posao mojem mužu i njegov put, molim Te i za moju sestru…molim Te da i ona pronađe svoj put i sreću kroz tebe i Krista, molim Te za pomoć u našoj kući.Amen. Budi uvijek tu, naša snaga, naša zagovarateljica i milost naša. Majko naša.