mkf. After several cloudy and gray days, the sun finally came out in the early morning of November 18th at Schoenstatt, giving everyone who was close to the Original Shrine a sunny day while a strong storm hit other parts of Germany.
“The Queen’s children were happy and they went on pilgrimage to their Shrine, and as a song says: ‘Mother, may I say yes at every moment; may I express what I am feeling; Yes, Mother, yes until the end’…let us go with the confidence of children renewing our covenant and giving ourselves into the arms of the Mother who is all love,” wrote Viviana and Maria Torres Vera from Ecuador in their greeting, the greeting that they send to their friends in the Schoenstatt Family from Ecuador on every 18th.
Every 18th is a day of pilgrimage to the Shrines and wayside shrines and spiritually to the Original Shrine. What a joy it is to see how multitudes of the Blessed Mother’s allies come spiritually from all the continents to visit her in her Original Shrine, the common home of the entire Schoenstatt Family!
The Covenant of Love is the force that unites us
The Movement’s Covenant Mass in Germany was celebrated at the Pilgrims’ Church; Father Alejandro Martinez, General Director of the Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, preached – based on recent celebrations throughout the world and on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall falling- about how many people and countries desire unity. In Schoenstatt the desire for a more profound unity as a family is also desired.
The Covenant of Love, lived in depth, is the source of unity, solidarity, and co-responsibility. “If we can live -our charism to create family – in the Covenant of Love, many people will once more find a home in the Church,” Father Alejandro concluded. Towards 2014 as Father’s Family, we want to show that the Covenant of Love is a force that unites us and impels us to be apostolic.
“Unity without uniformity – Father Kentenich’s great ideal, commits us as a Schoenstatt Family. We are family thanks to him, whose birthday we celebrated throughout the world on Monday, November 16th” – Father Martinez continued.
Accompanying the Father Symbol in it worldwide pilgrimage
The Father Symbol, symbolizing that desire for an increased unity, is still in the United States visiting the Lamar and San Antonio Shrines and the dioceses of Texas; next it will continue its pilgrimage to Puerto Rico, where it will arrive on December 8th. “For all the Puerto Rican Schoenstatters, it is a great event and blessing to welcome the Father Symbol at this time,” Solmarie Sotelo writes.
Very soon schoenstatt.de will publish the itinerary of the Symbol for the coming months. After Puerto Rico, it will return to Schoenstatt in February 2010 and go out to some European countries before going back to America to Colombia once again.
Renewal of the Covenant of Love
The milestone of this November 18th in Schoenstatt was the renewal of the Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine…
After Mass, everyone went in procession to the Original Shrine, where after a moment of silence, those who had the privilege of being here in this very important place for Schoenstatt, united themselves spiritually with everyone who was renewing their Covenant of Love in some Shrine, Wayside Shrine, or Homeshrine somewhere in the world, each one praying the Consecration Prayer, “My Queen, my Mother, in their own language…”
The only light that filtered into the Original Shrine was the one that came through the windows, making them shine in the darkness of the night.
While many went to the Shrine to pray, others went to the bonfire, where the sheets with contributions to the Capital of Grace were burned, while they sang songs. At this moment, you could see that there were several representatives from other countries. When Francisca Urrutia, from Mendoza sang “Who is this Lady,” many people sang with her! The Sisters of Mary were outstanding in their singing an African song – there is a young girl from Kenya in their course.
We are family…
On this same 18th, a prayer petition from Paraguay to join them in prayer for the return of Fidel Zavalo, a member of one of the Schoenstatt families, who has been kidnapped for several weeks, and for peace in Paraguay was sent.
Their request was to pray the Holy Rosary at 8:30 p.m. in the Shrine or wherever we are, and after every Mystery to pray the following prayer:
“Oh Blessed Mother Mary,
Intercessor for the displaced, the missing, and the kidnapped!
We entrust to you, those who suffer the yoke of captivity,
Comfort them in their time of desolation, give them courage…
Enlarge the hearts of the captors.
Holy Army of God, Angels and Archangels,
Fly to their help and return them safe and sound to their homes.
Protect the authorities and the Church.
Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede before your Divine Son, for Fidel.
And be our refuge, hope and victory. AMEN.
They also prayed for Fidel Zavala and his Family in the Original Shrine. The Covenant of Love makes us a family.
>> Videos of November 18th in Schoenstatt
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA /Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
