USA, Milwaukee Home Shrine Jubilee Commission/Joseph Yank. The Schoenstatt Family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, the place of Father Kentenich`s exile, is praying a novena for the perpetuation and perfection of the home shrine stream in the Schoenstatt Family and in the Church. They have put together, from Father Kentenich`s words, a nine week novena with meditations from the Home Song, Mass of God’s instruments and words Father Kentenich prayed at various home shrine blessings in Milwaukee. They want to pray this novena two times during the year of the missionary current which coincides with the 50th Jubilee year of Father Kentenich’s proclamation of the home shrine as a third order of shrine for the Schoenstatt Family. Today we publish (with delay due to the activities of last week) the meditation for the second week.
There he transforms my entire being
into the Trinity’s most beloved shrine
WEEK TWO — MY HOME SHRINE — PURITY
Prayer —
Do you know the land so rich and pure, the reflection of Eternal Beauty:
Where noble, stalwart souls espouse themselves to the Lamb of God;
Where bright eyes radiate warmth and kind hands ease hurt and pain;
Where they, untainted, are always folded in prayer to banish the power of Satan?
We reflect on the Father Symbol in the Shrine —
“A Father eye is an unselfish, caring and foreseeing eye. So we ask you dear Mother Thrice Admirable and Queen of Schoenstatt, take care that (this child) writes – in his own way – deep into his heart all of the interests of the little family and gives his entire life’s strength for it … (The eye of the father) … takes care that all the difficulties of the individuals turn out for their best.”
(Father Joseph Kentenich, excerpt from the spoken word at the dedication of a Living Shrine – 2/2/1964)
This wonderland is known to me – It is the meadow radiantly lit by Tabor’s sun, where our Three timesAdmirable Lady reigns in the midst of her favorite children, loyally rewarding each gift of love with themanifestation of her glory and immeasurably abundant fruitfulness: It is my home, my Schoenstatt Land!
Questions for reflection:
Day 1 – 1st protective tower of purity: Outstanding and tender love of God. Was my love of God outstanding and/or tender today? Why or why not?
Day 2 – 2nd protective tower of purity: Deep humility. Correct humility is the ability to see oneself small and great before God. What could be an example of my smallness and/or greatness before God today?
Day 3 – 3rd protective tower of purity: Enlightened and effective mortification. Purity cannot exist without a constant and prudent application of self-denial. How will I practice prudent and effective self-denial starting today?
Day 4 – 4th protective tower of purity: Creative zeal for one’s work. Was my work creative and/or diligent today? Why or why not?
Day 5 – 5th protective tower of purity: Spontaneous and noble joy. Did I contribute to my surrounding with spontaneous and noble joy? How?
Day 6 – Did I see or discover the need of others today? Of whom in particular?
Day 7 – Did I see or discover the suffering of others today? Of whom in particular?
Download of the entire novena
