GERMANY, fma. A hundred years ago, at the start of the First World War, Fr Joseph Kentenich founded the Schoenstatt Movement as “a counterpoint of love to all the hatred and inhumanity in the world”. These were the words of Bernhard Seidenath, German MP, on 6 April 2014 at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. Fr Kentenich spent more than three years as a prisoner of the Nazi regime in the Dachau concentration camp, and, as Mr Seidenath said, he brought his “fellow prisoners consolation, hope and love”. In the midst of a surrounding that was hostile to humanity and life, which still gets under his skin every time he visits Dachau, where its brutal atrocities surpass human understanding, flickers of hope and small miracles could still be found. He considered Fr Kentenich’s activities at this place to be part of these until his release precisely on this 6 April 69 years ago.
The Schoenstatt Movement in Bavaria deliberately chose the 6 April as the day on which the Father Symbol for the Original Shrine should be brought to Dachau on its pilgrimage round the world in preparation for the Jubilee of the covenant of love. The idea originated in the Diocese of Eichstadt, but it was soon clear that all the dioceses in Bavaria would have to be invited, as Maria Kraus of the core team explained. Not only pilgrims from the dioceses in Bavaria arrived on this warm and sunny day, but also from Schoenstatt, the Ruhr and Lower Rhine. Through the young people working in Schoenstatt for the 2014 jubilee, and the students of the Schoenstatt Fathers from India, the day took on an international character. Together with representatives from politics, society and the Church – among them Bernhard Seidenath MP and Rev Thomas Roemer, Christian youth leader from Munich – more than 400 members and friends of the Schoenstatt Movement gathered at the Dachau memorial to commemorate the hundred years of Schoenstatt’s history at this place.
God entered the hell of Dachau
Bernhard Seidenath MP thanked the Schoenstatt Movement for making it possible for people to pause here and remember what had happened on this day here in Dachau. His words struck the right note for the half-hour opening in the film hall of the memorial, which was led by Martina Kraus and Fr Elmar Busse. Musical accompaniment was provided by Gertraud Wackerbauer. In his introduction to the packed film hall, Fr Busse recalled the deaf Jewish artist, David Ludwig Bloch, who entered the Dachau concentration camp in November 1938 – one of the 10.911 Jewish men incarcerated here following the “Night of Broken Glass”. He only returned to Germany in 1976. After his release from Dachau he emigrated to China and then the USA, and visited the Dachau Memorial on his return. He digested his personal experiences of the Holocaust and Dachau through painting; one of his pictures in the memorial shows a typically humiliating situation in Dachau, the roll call on the camp square. It shows grey, anonymous rows of men watched by sharply outlined triangular cones of light. And in the grey-green sky about Dachau he suggests the presence of a triangular symbol. It is a symbol that in the Jewish and Christian traditions stands as a sign of God’s presence and action. Also here at this place where inhumanity still cries to heaven for vengeance. This picture by David Ludwig Bloch can be seen at the invitation of the Schoenstatt Family in the dioceses of Bavaria.
The “symbol of God the Father”, which was put up in one of the rooms in the Memorial during the day, and which has been on its travels to all the continents for almost five years, stands for a reality: God entered the hell of Dachau. He was present in the midst of this “hell” of lawlessness, infamy and defencelessness in people who gave others food, procured vaccines, listened and encouraged, who hid people from the attacks of the guards, who told stories to help people forget their hunger, gave out tasks and hope for the moment and later, and sometimes even managed to evoke a smile or hearty laughter. They showed that there is human dignity even when people are clothed in rags and despite beatings, a dignity no one can take from us. The motto for the day: “You are valuable!” summarised the message as an admonition and challenge to us not to allow ourselves to be robbed of our own dignity, and to do all we personally can to defend the dignity of every human being.
Today we are reaping the fruits of what was sown here
Rev. Thomas Roemer of the Christian youth movement in Munich, who had come with his wife in response to the invitation of the Schoenstatt Movement, recalled that it was Fr Kentenich’s encounter with married evangelical pastors in Dachau that had provided him with the incentive to found Schoenstatt’s Family Movement. As a result of his work in the movement “Together for Europe”, he had come to value Fr Joseph Kentenich, and especially his organic view of the world, which counteracts the mechanistic aberrations particularly in European thinking, and encourages us to think and live holistically. Today we can reap the fruits of what was sown here in unspeakable suffering, and experience how what Fr Kentenich sowed, did and founded almost 70 years ago, has stood the test of time. Fr Wolfgang Fischer, chaplain to the elderly in the diocese of Munich, spoke about coping with suffering, for which Fr Kentenich’s example in Dachau is an example.
In a very varied programme, all the visitors were able to take in the fruits of what had been sown in Dachau, or follow up the work of God in this place of horror by praying the Stations of the Cross, or taking part in guided tours, films and group discussions. Many used the opportunity to spend some time with the Father Symbol in the exhibition room. As Renate Immler of Kempten put it, “We are bringing all the intentions of our Joseph Kentenich School here.”
A number of Schoenstatt communities had arranged to have conferences or seminars in Munich that weekend, so they were well represented. Members of the women’s Institute of our Lady of Schoenstatt from Schoenstatt, Stuttgart and other places had come to Munich, and the professional women held their weekend meeting in Munich. “We took it for granted that we would visit Dachau when the Father Symbol was there”, Gabriele Sudermann from Dinslaken said.
“I really looked forward to many surprise encounters, ” Hildegard Beck from Schoenstatt remarked. Magdalena Grund confirmed her words, “Many Schoenstatters from various communities, dioceses and generations, whom you hardly see otherwise, met today and obviously enjoyed doing so.”
You are precious in my eyes
Towards 3 p.m. the Father Symbol was taken from the exhibition room to the Carmel chapel for Holy Mass, which formed the climax and closing act of the day. More than ten Schoenstatt priests concelebrated, and the students of “young Schoenstatt” in Munich accompanied the Mass with their singing and the music of Gertraud Wackerbauer. Suitable and simple hymns were chosen so that all could join in; there were moments of silence, or gentle music at the Offertory, at which everyone could bring their Dachau gifts. The words “you are precious in my eyes …” could be followed like a red thread through the celebration. In this way Holy Mass became a moment of encounter with Jesus Christ, who was present in the midst of Dachau in the Eucharist and Blessed Sacrament, and who still today visits every Dachau, the outskirts of every society in this world, in the Blessed Sacrament, or in the hearts of people who are not afraid to go out to the Dacaus of today. Even if this is only the place of work where a colleague is deprived of his or her rights and good name. YOU are there!
Symbol of the Founder’s solidarity with his foundation – today and in the coming century and beyond
The symbol, which Fr Kentenich gave the Schoenstatt Family in 1967, stands for our faith in a God who gives every human being a dignity that cannot be rationalised or discussed away, Fr Elmar Busse said in his sermon. “Even though Fr Kentenich has not yet been officially beatified, I still believe that he is with God, and that in heaven he spends his time, among other things, in interceding with God for us who turn to him. Interestingly enough this process has been connected with this symbol of God the Father on its travels through the world.”
“So, for many people this symbol has also become a symbol of the Founder’s solidarity with his foundation. Fr Kentenich intercedes with God for us, for our redemption, for our healing, for our liberation, for our ability to enter into relationships. Just as in the course of his life God led him out of his unredeemed state, and allowed him to become a living proof of his redemptive love, so he also wants to help us to co-operate in an enlightened way with God’s redemptive grace.” Fr Busse closed his sermon with the words, “In the message of the preparatory conference for our Jubilee Year, the representatives from 40 countries formulated it in these words: ‘With this symbol, which symbolises the loving care and guidance of God the Father through history, all are invited to come to the Original Shrine for the 2014 Jubilee.’ When we leave for home afterwards, we can take as an incentive from this day the motto: Discover and develop you God-willed originality! Allow no one to destroy or rob you of your dignity and self-esteem, because they have been given to you directly by God! Believe in the communion of saints and give the people who are already with God an opportunity to do something for you!”
Original: German – Translation: Mary Cole, England
