MARY’S CRUSADE, Father José María Iturrería/Octavio Augusto Coria/mda. “We are at Puente de Inca. We have arrived to the Company of Hunters N° 8 of the Argentinean Army. We were welcomed very well by the soldiers and officers, who offered the amenities of the place. Today we had an easier day, with time for personal prayer and an evaluation of what Mary’s Crusade has been as of now”, Father José María Uturrería wrote via cell phone. “Meanwhile we are preparing for the final ascent to the Las Cuevas and then to Christ Redeemer. There we will experience an historic moment that we are already yearning…to bless the Wayside Shrine of the MTA in the Andes!”. It is truly a walk in covenant solidarity, which is reflected in the photos and the testimonies that were sent, in the written chronicle that was published on the Crusade web page for the entire Schoenstatt Family and in the greetings sent to these one hundred fifty “crusaders”, who are accompanied by so many that go on spiritual and “virtual” pilgrimage with them.
“Schoenstatt 2014 is a Missionary Generation”
“They take all of us to Christ the Redeemer. All of Schoenstatt follows and walks with you. Schoenstatt 2014 is a “MissionaryGeneration”, commented Luigi Polit, from Ecuador, on schoenstatt.org.
“Dear Schoenstatt youths: I have offered to pray the Holy Rosary for you and I am fulfilling it every day accompanied by my mother and my sister, until you reach the goal and the Blessed Mother’s Wayside Shrine is blessed. My petitions, my desires, my capital of grace, my offerings, and my joy are also in your backpacks.
Today, the 20th of January, the date that our Founder and Father freely sacrificed himself for his Family, I am happy to know that in this time there are youths who do similar things; because that weariness, that cold, that heat, that hunger, that dream, that memory, that longing for the family and of the loved one, that lack of water for a good bath, the lack of your bed, those blisters on the feet, the dryness of your lips, the joy of your song while walking, of the prayers in common, and that you celebrate the Holy Eucharist every day in the most unusual places, is telling the Blessed Mother: we have learned it from our Founder and Father. We love you and we do this madness of love for you. Continue walking without looking back, the goal deserves it”, Queca Espinoza from Lima, Peru encourages them.
The gift of a rainbow
In the chronicle they relate: There were rainy days, a great challenge. There is heat, there is wind, there is dust, there is weariness…there is encouragement and joyful commitment.
“We were on the way at 6:50 AM, as always prioritizing the first hour of silence to get into an atmosphere of prayer and to work on the spirit. This time the road was uphill, we ventured to take a road that constantly goes upward, toward our destiny: Los Potrerillos. The journey was very extensive and hot, four stops were necessary to regain strength, to hydrate ourselves and in this way accomplish the objective. Always upward, the rosaries, songs and encouragement did not cease. And when the road seemed endless, we saw the beautiful dike that invites us to continue, and it was awesome to our sight. It was possible to continue or walk for the new road of Perilago. The sun departed from the earth. But we arrived.
We arrived to the Training Center School, for Work Nº 6054. Here we were able to have lunch, bathe, and to share happy moment in community during the afternoon.
Since it could not be any other way, we concluded with a beautiful Eucharist; the guitars, the voices resounded. Upon leaving the chapel, we joyfully discovered a beautiful rainbow as a gift.”
The message from the “crusaders of solidarity”
On Tuesday, the 21st, they made the largest stretch of the Crusade, approximately 32 kilometers uphill, from Piheuta to Punta de Vacas.
“It was a difficult stretch, we also walked on railroad tracks and through unused bridges, but everyone arrived well. The Argentinean National Guard supports us with a mobile unit and stops traffic so that we can cross the tunnels easily.
Many automobiles and trucks greet us when they pass.
Yesterday the Brazilian crusaders prepared the Mass, reminding us of World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. On the way, we could already see the Andes peaks.”
“Thank you for everyone’s prayers and the capital of grace that has accompanied us. The day before yesterday after Mass, we read several of the messages and the boys were surprised, excited and they applauded, Father José María Iturrería wrote. “We continue to entrust ourselves to your prayers!”
Original: Spanish – Translation: Celina M. Garza San Antonio, TX USA
