mkf. “What has been celebrated here today? An ordination to the priesthood?” a distinguished gentleman asked a journalist at mid-year. It was July 8, 2010, and more than one hundred priests were leaving the Cathedral of Limburg. Spontaneously, a path was opened for the Bishop of Limburg, Bishop Dr. Franz Peter Tebartz-van Elst and Bishop Pawel Cieslik, Auxiliary Bishop of Kosalin, Poland. “Yes, an ordination to the priesthood, but an historic one,” was the immediate response. “Father Joseph Kentenich’s. He is known world-wide, and precisely today, the centennial of his priestly ordination is commemorated here in Limburg. He was a founder.” If the good man knew him or not, he perceived something: “A founder…..then it is an historic day…..” Intuition of an historic day. The founders are closer to the foundation of the Church, they are in contact with the grace of the beginnings. Thus paraphrased Bishop Tebartz van Elst in his homily…..what the casual witness perceived at the door of the Cathedral on that July 8, 2010.
Two hours earlier, the solemn Eucharistic celebration had begun in the Cathedral of Limburg, “the Heaven of stone,” as it was described by the diocesan newspaper on the occasion of its 775th anniversary. The powerful pealing of the cathedral bells accompanied the entrance of some Pallottine Fathers, two bishops and more than one hundred priests – from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, India, Kenya, South Africa, Germany ….. – belonging to the priestly communities founded by him who one hundred years earlier had been ordained a priest in the city, in the shadow of this great cathedral.
The cathedral was teeming with members and friends of the Schoenstatt Movement, and not only from the surrounding areas.
There were two groups of pilgrims from Chile who had arrived in Germany precisely for this date, and youths from Brazil, Argentina, Poland and Paraguay who had traveled from Schoenstatt.
Not only were the leaders of the Schoenstatt priestly communities present, but almost all of the members of the General Presidium and the National Presidium of the Movement also arrived in Limburg. Also present were many representatives from the different branches and other communities.
Also, hundreds of persons from throughout the world followed the ceremony on SchönstattTV.
Father Kentenich’s courage with the mission inspired on Mary’s courage to bring Christ to the world
Following the priests, the five members of a family from the south of Tirol entered the cathedral with the Auxiliary Image of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Virgin. With them, all of the missionary fruitfulness of that priestly life which had begun one hundred years before in Limburg, was presented symbolically. The measure of Father Kentenich’s courage with the mission is inspired by Mary’s courage in bringing Christ to the world, Bishop Tebartz van Elst later affirmed in his homily.
Msgr. Peter Wolf – Rector General of the Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests Institute – greeted Bishop Franz Peter Tebartz van Elst at the beginning of the Holy Mass and expressed his joy for “being able to celebrate with you in the city where our founder was ordained to the priesthood….. the one hundredth anniversary of that event.” He gave thanks for the visit of Bishop Pawel Cieslik, Auxiliary Bishop of Koszalin who is responsible for the Schoenstatt Work before the Polish Episcopal Conference.
“Yes, I have come to Germany precisely for the anniversary of Father Kentenich’s ordination to the priesthood,” he later confirmed in an interview.
Msgr. Wolf cordially thanked Father Possmann, representative of the Provincial Council of the Pallottine Fathers, “in whose community Father Joseph Kentenich began his preparation to the priesthood and in which he worked for many years of his priestly life.” A great and sincere gratitude to the community of the Pallottine Fathers resounded there. Father Kentenich’s priesthood is not humanly imaginable without that community which accepted him and opened the way to priestly ordination which in other places could have been denied.
“His disposition to the apostolate was inspired by the charisma of its founder, St. Vincent Pallotti.
Father Kentenich, who one hundred years ago was consecrated a priest by Bishop Vieter, was formed in his footsteps as a founder,” said Bishop Tebartz van Elst.
The choir of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary enhanced the solemnity of this Holy Mass in the venerable cathedral of Limburg which is built on the rocks next to the River Lahn, “a reflection of Heaven,” with its abundant arcades, galleries and triforiums.
Testimony of a founder figure
From the aspect of the architecture of the “Grunderzeit” (the years of the great German industrial expansion beginning in 1871. Literally: the foundation epoch) of the Mission House of the Pallottine Fathers where Father Kentenich was ordained a priest, Bishop Tebartz van Elst entered into the mission of the founders. It is about “vocation from the depths and goes toward width. The founders are closer to the foundations. This gives their words and their works great firmness….. When the Church seeks to renew itself, it has to return to its foundations. Only the glance toward what has happened and is happening, gives the perspective for looking forward. The founders lived from that contact with the origins and experienced in the difficulties the firmness of the Easter faith.
On the framework of the present crisis of the Church and the priesthood, Bishop Tebartz van Elst indicated how this is transmitted: “the centennial of Father Joseph Kentenich’s ordination to the priesthood leads us in these stormy times to be grateful for the basis on which the Church of Christ is founded and for which it us supported when public opinion and the means of communication not only question it, but also offend it: it is the attachment to Christ in the Eucharist, the loving relationship with Mary and the commitment to be a living witness of the Church.
From this triple attachment, a feeling with the Church develops, a “feeling with the Church” which produces sensitivity for the wounds, disposition for the return and eagerness for a sincere renewal. On this Easter horizon, the witness of a founder figure like that of Father Joseph Kentenich transmits the courage for resurgence. Not looking at superficially, but attentively; not criticizing, but committing oneself; not lamenting, but motivating. The founder transmits this firmness in the decisions and mobilizes even further beyond his earthly life.”
“An historic day”
After sharing an agape in the gardens of the cathedral parish which was whole heartedly prepared by the Schoenstatt Family of Limburg, the majority of those present took advantage of the opportunity for visiting the historic place of the Mission House of the Pallottine Fathers. The actual room “Bishop Heinrich Vieter” which has multiple uses, was used until 1927 – when the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built – as a house chapel. Joseph Kentenich was consecrated a priest there. In some historic photos, the chapel can be seen as it was then.
A large photo of Father Kentenich on the wall, a replica of the Cross which was a gift from his mother, the chalice he used in his first Holy Mass: nothing else is needed to transmit to the visitors (who come into the room in groups) that this is the place. This is the day. Exactly one hundred years ago, it was precisely here. This is the place, this is the day of the grace. “Jorgelina, I get goose pimples,” sighs Sandra from Paraguay to her Argentine Press Office colleague. “This is an historic day.”
Fr. Alexander Holzbach, rector of the house, greeted each group and expressed his joy because the Schoenstatt Family had arrived “here for an historic reason and in an historic hour.” Here, Frater Joseph Kentenich was transformed into “Father Joseph Kentenich,” a name which is known world-wide, almost an emblem. Here, in this place, it is worthwhile to recall how Father Kentenich struggled so hard to become a priest.
A young priest comments: “if each place has a grace, then this is perhaps the place one must come to when there are obstacles for one’s vocation, when strength is needed to fight for the vocation…..”
Fr. Franz Brugger sketched a spiritual background on the place of the consecration and the anniversary day; a part of the conference which Father Kentenich gave on the occasion of his silver anniversary to the priesthood (August 11, 1935). He highlighted the “nothing without You, nothing without us” on the level of the covenant culture within the Schoenstatt Family: “Whom should I thank? I am grateful for those who have gone on, I am grateful for those who are living, I am grateful for the next generations…..”
Encounter and gratitude
Afterward, the priests and members of the national and general presidiums were invited by the Pallottine Fathers for coffee. The great dining room is also an historic place. The tables and chairs, the rafters, the windows, everything is as it was one hundred years ago, affirms Fr. Holzbach in a conversation with the Schoenstatt Press Office. At that time there were even more tables. Today they were set up for 96 persons, but there is still room for two more. Here the Pallottine Fathers and the Schoenstatters from various countries and generations integrated. They enjoyed the coffee, the cakes, cold drinks and a cordial hospitality. Fr. Holzbach recalled in his greeting that in the earlier times of his pastoral tasks, he received the nickname of “pastor of coffee” because along with the “coffee and cake” in his houses, he spoke with the people about great and important pastoral intentions. In this gathering there was also something of that familiar climate of the guests having coffee on a Sunday afternoon with relatives and dear visitors. “The empresarios and the politicians meet at lunchtime or at supper. Relatives and friends are invited for coffee” someone explained to some of the African priests.
Fr. Heinrich Walter thanked the Pallottine Fathers for this encounter. Here, Father Kentenich “learned his office” and received the essential impulses for his priesthood. Our roots as Schoenstatt Family are related with the Society of the Pallottines and it is good to be aware of this. Father Kentenich chose as an inscription for the memento of his first Mass the petition and the desire that all minds be united in the truth and the hearts in love. It is also valid to see in love and in truth the common history of the Pallottines and Schoenstatt, frequently fertile and often also with many tensions. As a gift, Fr. Walter handed out the document in honor of the centennial of Father Kentenich’s ordination to the priesthood which was prepared under the direction of a professor from the theology faculty of the Pallottines, Fr. Dr. Joachim Schmiedl, a Schoenstatt Father.
In the meantime, there is no hurry to leave. Many groups of Schoenstatters have been here during the last few weeks, but today is July 8th, today is an historic day.
“We have to do something immediately about Limburg for the Internet webpage,” says Sandra Lezcano on the trip home.
“I believe that in the future we must add Limburg, like Gymnich or Dachau, on the program of a visit to Schoenstatt.”
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 072210
Video: on media tech of www.schoenstatt-tv.de, 8-7-10
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