mkf. Since that September 15th, 1968, each September15th morning is something special in Schoenstatt; there is something mystical associated with the carpet of white flowers – lilies, carnations – that replace the red carpet usually marking the place where Father Joseph Kentenich died forty-one years ago. Celebrating Holy Mass and gathering all the Schoenstatt Family at the hour of his death in the place where he celebrated his last Holy Mass is touching the eternal through the memories of that day when Father Kentenich finished his earthly life to continue guiding and accompanying his family each and everyone in a new way.
During the course of the years, the fundamental tone of this day has changed from sorrow to joy, the feeling of Father’s physical absence to the certainty of finding him in his Family in each one of his spiritual sons and daughters. What does not change is everyone’s desire to be present at this dawn Mass, united as a family around him. This September 15th, 2009 was also like this, and it was highlighted by the presence of the Schoenstatt Fathers gathered from the all parts the globe for their conference of superiors.
Precious moments in which one does not feel like a visitor; but welcomed as a guest in the home of the Schoenstatt Family
Among the participants was a large group of pilgrims from Argentina accompanied by Father Guillermo Carmon. “The most beautiful thing was when Father Heinrich Walter, the main celebrant, greeted us as a group in Spanish at the beginning of the Mass,” commented Inés de Modesta from Mendoza, an area leader of the Mothers Federation in Argentina. “These are precious moments in which one does not feel like a visitor; but welcomed as a guest in the home of the Schoenstatt Family.” Others who were present included the youth from the Girls’ Youth from several Latin American countries who are spending some time in Schoenstatt and, for the joy of many, sixteen postulants of the Sisters of Mary -from Germany and other countries such as: Kenya, Mexico, Hungary, and Czechoslavkia, as well as the Beebes from England, who were celebrating their Golden Anniversary.
Father Kentenich as a father
Celebrating around Father Kentenich’s paternal house at the beginning of the Year for Priests and in the preparation for the Centennial Jubilee of Father’s priestly ordination, in his homily, Father Hans Schnocks, Rector of Mount Moria, 
invited us to look at Father Kentenich as a priest: “The priest, who acts in the person of Christ and is there not only to administer the sacraments and to announce the Gospel, but his life has to be fully priestly, his whole being represents Christ. Just like in the Basilica in Assisi, Giotto painted the life of Saint Francis as a parallel to the life of Jesus, we also can contemplate marked similarities -speaking with an interior authority or mastering the tension that is so often experienced by those who are attached and given to many people at great personal cost: The multitudes followed Jesus to hear him, and at the same time he draws nearer to each man. Our Father and Founder also reached multitudes; he was all ears. His entire person was directed to the person he was with as if they were the only one that existed in the world. How many did he lead and inspire to discover their own vocation, and how many did he encourage to follow the will of the Father?”
What is more easily recognized in the comparison with Jesus is the intimate bond with the Father. Jesus is not only united to the Father, he announces the Father to us, and the Father is in Him. Whoever sees him, sees the Father. It seems especially easy for us to experience the Father in our Founder. He has always announced God the Father, the merciful and loving God the Father; he assumed this image in his life. This is why for our Founder the word “father” sounded like an experience of paternity.” “It was a simple homily,” commented Ana Capezio, who followed it thanks to the translation that was distributed to those who did not understand German. “It touched my heart.”
Just like on the 15th of each month, we prayed for everyone who sent his or her petitions to Father Kentenich. The choir of the Sisters of Mary enlivened the Mass with songs, organ, and flute thereby adding a very solemn touch.
A personal encounter
After Mass, all the priests went to Father’s tomb, and in a semi-circle, they prayed for his canonization. It was beautiful to see all the participants arrive afterwards for a moment of personal encounter with Father. The last ones were the pilgrims from Argentina, literally loaded with bags, letters, photos, pictures, holy cards, rosaries, crosses – gifts for Father, letters addressed to him, photos of relatives that would stay on his tomb, the other things would be “filled” with graces from this place and this special day…
Father Alberto Eronti’s testimony, which was published yesterday on schoenstatt.de about the grace of September 15, 1968, resonated with many: “it was no longer necessary to ask for an audience to see him or to speak with him; now he was mine, intensely mine and without barriers. He was completely mine as well as each one of his sons and daughters. Now he would not have barriers to accompany each one, to guide and to protect, to bless and to send forth the Family, he belonged completely to each and everyone. Now we had to find him in the heart shrine, to learn to be with him, and to listen to him in a new way.”
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
Video taken during Holy Mass (sermon)
