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 the meditation for the eighth week.
Where peace reigns and happiness laughs
because God’s angel keeps diligent watch
WEEK EIGHT – MY HOME SHRINE – UNENDING FLAME
Prayer –
Just as the bird never abandons its nest,
Our love always circles around the sacred heights.
Where the sanctuary light glows without dying
Is where our souls burn to be espoused to you.
We reflect on St. Michael in the Shrine
“(St. Michael) is, to the last threads of his being, perfectly surrendered to the eternal Father-God. His task consisted in and still always consists in this, that with spear in his hand, he cares that all who come near him, bow more and more before the eternal, the unending God.”
(Father Joseph Kentenich, excerpt of the spoken word at the dedication of a Living Shrine – 2/24/1963)
We want to use all means to draw the world
and human hearts heavenwards to the Father.
Just as bread and wine in sacrifice have consecrated
themselves to you, the offering shall re-echo in all things.
Questions for reflection:
Day 1 – Like St. Michael in his perfect surrender to God, how can I protect those I love? Can I draw them into my home shrine through prayer or through some action today?
Day 2 – Knowing the love of our Mother and her Son will always lift me up, then why do I still fall so often? How can I stand firm and lift those I love to the sacred heights? Can I take someone to Holy Mass spiritually or physically?
Day 3 – St. Michael, as defender of heaven and earth, please show me how God wants me to join your efforts today. Can I be particularly aware to defend the small, the weak and the helpless?
Day 4 – What means can I use to draw human hearts to the Father? Can I choose one thing to do today for one person in my family, or a co-worker or a friend?
Day 5 – How can I be like St. Michael in today’s world? Can I bring peace and happiness to someone through a kind word or deed?
Day 6 – St. Michael is perfectly surrendered to God. What is still lacking for me to be perfectly surrendered? What is one thing the Father is asking me to do today? Is it difficult? Is it a joy?
Day 7 – How does our home shrine make us warriors for the re-birth of the family? Can I take special time out this week for my family? Can I take time to do something fun and celebrate our lives together? Can we make a special dedication in our home shrine?
