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 seventh week.
Where the spirit of the world cannot enter
as in the eternal city of Sion
WEEK SEVEN — MY HOME SHRINE — VICTORIOUS
Prayer –
Do you know the land prepared to fight, accustomed to victory in every battle:
Where God espouses himself with the weak and chooses them as his instruments;
Where none build on their own strength but all heroically trust in God;
Where out of love they are ready to rejoicingly offer blood and life?
We reflect on the Door and Lock & Key in the Shrine:
“(This child) has a two-fold task to fulfill in life: she must open the door and she must close the door. She must open the door wide, so that all who want to come in can find entrance. But she must also close the door. What does this mean? She must care that all those who once found their way into the shrine will never spiritually leave the shrine. That means that through this symbolic closing of the door, the grace of perseverance will be mediated for all Schoenstatt Children.”
(Father Joseph Kentenich, excerpt from the spoken word at a house blessing and Living Shrine dedication – 10/4/1964)
This wonderland is known to me – It is the meadow radiantly lit by Tabor’s sun, where our Three times
Admirable Lady reigns in the midst of her favorite children, loyally rewarding each gift of love with the
manifestation of her glory and immeasurably abundant fruitfulness: It is my home, my Schoenstatt Land!
Questions for reflection:
Day 1 – Am I prepared to fight the battle today? Can I start my day by opening the door of my heart shrine to my Mother and her Divine Son?
Day 2 – Do I really believe that the Blessed Mother will be victorious in the battles of this day? I may be wounded and have to die to self along the way. Am I ready to give myself even in the smallest things for the victory of the Queen?
Day 3 – Am I ready to be espoused to God in my weakness? In my smallness, can I find some way to be his instrument today? Can I use a talent for someone else?
Day 4 – Am I capable of entering the eternal city, Zion, the Shrine, my home shrine, my heart shrine and remain safe and sheltered there throughout the day no matter where I go?
Day 5 – Can I stand firm and strong like a door in order to guard my heart? Who can I draw into my home shrine or heart shrine today?
Day 6 – How can I be like a lock that remains open to all that our dear Mother wants to draw to herself and keeps out all that is opposed to the love of her Son?
Day 7 – How can I be like a key that opens the kingdom of heaven for each of those whom God has entrusted to my care? How can I foster my conversation with my dear Mother, with the Heavenly Father today? Is this the Key?
Download of the entire novena here:
