INTERNATIONAL, mda. January 16th is finally almost here: 145 boys from eight countries – members of the Schoenstatt Boys Youth, diocesan priests, Schoenstatt Fathers and seminarians – will start out on the Jubilee edition of the Cruzada de Maria (Mary’s Crusade), walking 400km across the Andes and uniting the shrines in Mendoza (Argentina) and Bellavista (Chile) during their pilgrimage. They feel motivated by Pope Francis’ call to go out on pilgrimage as living witnesses of the joy of the gospel, to BE the joy of the gospel. The highlight of their pilgrimage will be the construction of a wayside shrine to the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt next to the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Building the wayside shrine, however, is secondary, more importantly will be the erection of a living shrine in this isolated part of the world, which proclaims loudly: it is possible! It is possible to change this world for the better through the covenant of love. It is possible to change this world and convert it into a tent of covenant culture. As a symbol of this, they will bury their contributions to the capital of grace – every pain, striving, joy, encounter with God and one another during this pilgrimage – at the base of the wayside shrine. But the greatest news is this: it is open to everybody. Yes, everybody. Everyone can be a part of this living shrine at 4,000m above sea level. Just last October contributions were sealed into the open wall of the Original Shrine, everything that is sent by15 January (the date of their departure) will be placed on a flashdrive….
“It’s a great idea that people want to accompany us through their contributions to the capital of grace from all over the world. We can symbolically take these with us and hand them to the Blessed Mother during the blessing of the wayside shrine. It would be a beautiful contribution, making it more international and part of the Jubilee celebrations. A shrine comes to life when there are living contributions to the Capital of Grace. The wayside shrine, above all wants to be a living shrine…built not with stones but with living contributions to the capital of grace. This is what we desire and I think this is what Mario Hiriart dreamt when he spoke about a shrine in the Andes,” writes Fr. José Maria Iturerría, responsible for the Argentinean Boys Youth and one of the organizers of the Cruzada de Maria 2014.
“We can set up an email address on schoenstatt.org to receive all of the intentions and contributions to the capital of grace. We can receive these as Word documents via email and put them on a flashdrive in the wayside shrine,” he promised. A selection of the non-confidential comments that are posted on the website may be printed out and read out at the blessing on 24 January.
(Almost) participating live
“It is our intention to keep readers posted as the pilgrimage unfolds, with online updates by Juan Manuel Cattaneo and other members of the Boys Youth.
We are also thinking of filming a video which could be presented in October 2014 at the Jubilee celebrations.
From Argentina, a covenant solidarity of prayer,” writes Fr. José Maria Iturerría. Schoenstatt.org will follow developments and publish them as they are available.
A last attempt
The Boys’ Youth in Europe, who are preparing the route for the Torch Run (Fackellauf) from Pompeii to Schoenstatt in October 2014 offered one of their torches to accompany the Cruzada de Maria. This is a symbol of international and missionary unity. The first torch, sent with a Schoenstatt Father in November, was seized at the airport because it constituted “dangerous goods.” The second, sent via DHL, arrived at the Santa Fe customs in Argentina where it was seized, on grounds that it was dangerous. We know that the fire of mission is dangerous because it burns and engulfs everything, the entire wait for the morning to arrive when finally we are ready to set out, because it burns all of the excuses and urges us to go out onto the streets as Pope Francis keeps urging his church. But it would be good if the torch could pass through customs and accompany the boys…a call to pray and make contributions…and who knows, maybe do something in covenant solidarity.
The first contribution in covenant solidarity
The first contribution in covenant solidarity with the wayside shrine in the Andes comes from a Pilgrim Mother missionary in Argentina:
“The people of Argentina are going through very difficult times, where there is a lack of authority, morals, education, and security! This afternoon one of my daughters who is 6 months pregnant was returning to work after lunch when two delinquents (just 12 and 14 years old) hijacked her at gunpoint, taking the car. Her husband immediately took her to the doctor where they gave her tranquilizers and tried to stabilise her blood pressure which had shot up (thanks to God and the Blessed Mother she is fine now). But this is not all. My husband was dropping them off at their house, and as he was returning home on a street, which is usually very busy but tonight at 20.30 was unusually quiet. A car turned into the road and hit its brakes very hard. Two other boys got out and started running towards my car with guns in their hands. Thank God my husband was able to escape…for the second time in one day the Blessed Mother worked her miracles. Both my daughter’s car and mine have a picture of the Blessed Mother on the windscreen…today we can only give thanks and more thanks, for my daughter’s life, her baby and my husband. The fear, powerlessness, insecurity, the lack of authority, life! This is the contribution to the capital of grace that I, together with my family, offer today to the Blessed Mother for the wayside shrine in the Andes that she can transform all of these strivings into blessings for many!!!”
Be part of the Living Shrine in the Andes, be part of the Jubilee wayside shrine:
Up until 15 January:
Send an email to: alianzasolidaria@schoenstatt.org
Send via the form below (is encrypted and cannot be read)
{star_form email=”alianzasolidaria@schoenstatt.org”}
Post your contribution below the photo as a comment as an incentive to the youth going on pilgrimage and everyone else.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimental, Cape Town, South Africa
COMMENTS FROM THE SPANISH SITE
• To these courageous pilgrims: I second Lena’s (I know her well and like her very much) and Silvia’s (who I don’t know personally but I have great respect for her and works with me for schoenstatt.org) beautiful comments and I also offer my daily contribution to the capital of grace: all the things that God and the Blessed Mother have planned for me in the next few days, the good and the bad, I give everything for the success of this pilgrimage, that it is filled with graces and will be a blessing for many young people. I wish everyone a blessed Jubilee year 2014!
Greetings from Vienna, Austria Tita (Chilean, mad about Schoenstatt, grateful wife and mother)
• January 12, 2014, 12:26 pm – Lena Castro Valente
Dear pilgrims, I am Portuguese and for many years have gone on pilgrimage from Lisbon to the Marian Shrine at Fatima for the 13 May celebrations. I would have loved to join you on this pilgrimage that you are about to start!!! What a blessing to walk 400km for the Blessed Mother. I will accompany you in each step of your journey with my prayers, my daily work and the strength of our Covenant. United in our dear Mother’s heart and our dear Fr. Kentenich we will fill the world with love and peace!!! May God bless you United in the Covenant of Love Lena Castro Valente
• January 11, 2014, 11:18 pm – Silvia Sibay
What a beautiful and blessed experience, to participate in the Cruzada de Maria! To walk together with her, knowing that every effort is for the capital of grace, which in this jubilee year is offered as a gift for the 100 years of Schoenstatt, and the wayside shrine in the Andes. An oasis of peace, from which our Mother and Queen will attract hearts. 2014 Pilgrims, centenary generation! Thank you for your fervor, enthusiasm and selflessness! Mary, from her living Shrine in the Andes and together with her beloved Son, will be a light on the road for the many people who journey and search for a home in her presence. I pray for each day that you will be on pilgrimage and the much awaited 24 January when our Mother will establish her throne of grace. I will be there with you spiritually.
