Fr. Andrew Pastore. On the 13th October 2013 Pope Francis invited Shrines around the world to join him to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As a Schoenstatt Family we know the power of consecration and as we journey on our great Pilgrimage 2014, we soon will renew our consecration on the 18th of October. In a short message Fr. Heinrich Walter, President of the General Presidium invites us to take part fully in that Pilgrimage, to give thanks for the gifts on our 100 year journey, to be renewed, and as a renewed family in the Covenant of love to ever more fully join in the missionary life to the Church.
Video
Message for the opening of the jubilee year
Dear Schoenstatt family!
In a simple celebration on the 22nd of September the Pallotines transferred the responsibility for the Original Shrine to the Schoenstatt Family. The Founding Document of our Father and Founder has again to be written with the ink of our life and our faith. It was an hour of profound gratitude and joy. “The time has now come”, said the Provincial of the Pallotines, Father Scharler, in his sermon. I received the key from his hands. I did this on your behalf and with humility, because who could say he or she is really worthy to take on responsibility for the Shrine? During the last decades we have matured as a Family. The love of the MTA has taught us integrity and fraternity between communities, Branches and peoples. Her love has helped us to mature toward a new missionary spirit in our service to the Church. So we approach the threshold of the Shrine. The hour of grace when the Original Shrine was given to us invites us to stop for a while and ask ourselves whether there is still something we have to do for our interior preparation, and whether the mercy of God must still make up for the times when the love of our covenants has been too half-hearted. We want to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit with generosity.
Through this gift our Mother and Queen has been the first to show her love for us. She has come to meet us with her gift for the entire Family. She wants nothing else than to awaken selfless love and generosity in us, so that the 18 October 2014 can bring about a breakthrough of our first love –love of God, for each member of our Family and for the Church.
That is the reason above all reasons for us to set out on the great pilgrimage so we can be at the Shrine and in Rome in 2014.
Four simple reasons to participate have become evident to me.
+ Mary awaits me
Mary tells me, as you can hear in Latin America, “mi casa es su casa” (my home is your home). If people are so hospitable, Mary is a thousand times more so. She invites me into her home to meet me personally on her jubilee day. On the 18th October I may have only three minutes in which her gaze can rest on me, but on such a day a single moment is enough. Transformation will take place, small and big miracles, and that’s why I want to be there. Mary longs for my presence and yours.
+ To be in contact with a holy place
I will never forget a Palm Sunday I spent in Jerusalem. It’s a special grace to be able to be at a holy place on a day of commemoration and renewal. We can live from it for a long time. I remember the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims that waited for hours in St. Peter’s Basilica to file past John Paul II’s coffin. This is not the same as visiting his grave any other day. I want to be there at the Shrine. I want to formulate my gratitude in the long queue waiting to get into the Shrine and prepare to give her my heart completely.
+ To be part of the family
When someone is getting married friends are there. We move appointments, we travel long distances, because we belong and we don’t want to miss it. I want to be there when the pilgrims from all over the world arrive; I may not understand their language, but their shining eyes will convince me: we are one heart and one soul as though we have always known each other. We are a big Family, we need each other and we belong to each other.
+ To show the Holy Father our solidarity
He has given us a wake up call with his gestures, his simple and honest words. He has awakened in many the joy of being a Christian today. He challenges us to forget ourselves, to go out to meet the people and those on the margins of society. He courageously leads the way. I want to live in these current of the Church and make my contribution. For love of the Church I want to support the Pope in Rome with my solidarity.
I am sure you all have some other reasons that motivate your heart to set out on this pilgrimage. I invite you to share these reasons with the Team 2014. Life creates life. This way the thrill of anticipation will be greater and more profound, and some who have not yet made up their minds might then set off.
E-Mail: motivation@schoenstatt2014.org
A warm welcome, mi casa es su casa,
You can participate fully….
International opening of the Jubilee Year, 18 October 2013 at 20.00 CET
International Opening of the Jubilee Year
Live Coverage
English, German & Spanish: www.ewtn.com – choose your geographical area.
For details of transmission in Portuguese see local websites.
Video Stream
The celebration will be available to stream on www.schoenstatt-tv.de on Saturday.
FotoStream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sico2014/
