May my name be a star in this new Bethlehem, may my life be of service to many

mkf. “This Christmas I want to approach the manger with the humility of the shepherds and to express gratitude for all the good things and also bad things that have occurred during this year that is ending. I entrust my husband, my daughters, their husbands, all my family, and loved ones into the arms of our Mother. I also entrust our beloved country full of tribulations, misunderstandings, material and moral poverty of all kinds,” reads a ‘star’ sent from Bahia Blanca, Argentina – one of the more than a thousand people who sent their messages to the Original Shrine via schoenstatt.de in order to be present in the manger of the new Bethlehem.

It was a rainy afternoon, at 4:30 p.m. on December 24th, when Michelle and Jackie Adriaanse, from South Africa, Diego Asili and Francisco Grondona, from Argentina, Fabian Bodota from Betzdorf, Germany (the young man who helped to re-discover the almost forgotten Shrine in Betzdorf, Eieg), some other pilgrims from Bendorf, Rector Egon Zillekens, Sister Kornelia, and a family from Peru went to the Original Shrine for a Christmas hour, which had never been experienced.

For the first time, the presentation of the stars sent throughout Advent was carried out “as a family” by a live transmission through schoenstatt.de. Some visitors who did not know what was going to happen were present (and they stayed) in the Original Shrine; they were witnesses of a demonstration of faith, confidence, and attachment to the Original Shrine that was “worthy of being documented and sent to the bishops so that they can see that there is much faith in the world,” commented one man.

How exciting it is to be there!

“May my name be a star in this new Bethlehem, may my life be very useful,” wrote Roberto from Miramar on his star. Victor de San Lorenzo, Paraguay, wrote: “I want to add a mound of STARS (names) to this beautiful traditional ceremony. Firstly- for my family, our brothers and sisters of the Movement, the MATER FILIUS (2008) Group- so that the birth of JESUS will bring PEACE AND LOVE to our homes. Also those of all of my friends and acquaintances, and all the people of my COUNTRY hit by economic and politic problems, so that this star will guide us through 2010 with more progress and prosperity. Thank you FATHER JOSEPH for lighting the flame of love in us and for teaching us about the love of the MOTHER THRICE ADMIRABLE OF SCHOENSTATT. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE ENTIRE WORLD…”

At 4:30 p.m. German time, many people around the world, sometimes entire families turned on their PCs and connected live to the Original Shrine. “How exciting it is to be there,” commented Silvia Losada from Tucumán, Argentina. “What a great joy to experience this holy hour for all the Schoenstatt Family through schoenstatt.tv!!! Since I sent the first star, I was prepared to transport myself in heart and spirit to our Original Shrine, but we did not expect this gift from heaven! When the star with my name, those of my loved ones, my nation, and everyone who needs to be sheltered in the manger reach the Original Shrine, I will be able to feel and see that I am truly there, and that Jesus takes possession of my heart, while the Blessed Mother cuddles me in her arms. Thank you to all the schoenstatt.de team that makes it possible for life to enkindle life.

A shower of stars!

Father Egon Zillekens opened the hour of simple prayer with touching words about the “shower of stars” that arrives at the Original Shrine year after year; this year they came from twenty-nine countries, even Lebanon, Dubai, Syria and Japan… The countries that sent the most stars were Argentina, Germany, and Brazil. The first “star” arrived from Germany, three minutes after the webpage about the star from Bethlehem opened, and it was necessary to take a PC to the Original Shrine because the last stars continued to arrive minute by minute… Some stars did not arrive via the Internet, but rather in an envelope: they were sent from Stuttgart, Germany from the Shrine in Freiberg, from the Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt. A missionary from Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina, shared the idea of the stars with about thirty little Campaign missionaries, who wrote the names of their friends, siblings, and parents on paper stars…The missionary then copied everything and sent it via the Internet to Schoenstatt.

After the Christmas carols in Spanish and German, and Cardinal Pironio’s prayer “Lady of Christmas Eve” in Italian, Spanish, German and English, the Christmas Gospel was sung and read in the same languages, then the long awaited moment: Jackie and Diego took the stars – wooden stars with the handwritten names that were made at the press office, paper stars, hundreds of sheets with printed messages, stars on the PC that had just arrived – to the altar. Among the names, were kidnapped people, terminally ill people, soldiers at war, men, women, children abandoned by their parents, spouses, governors, bishops, many pastors, engaged couples, sisters, priests, and many unborn children…

The homily about the stars

It was Father Egon’s idea: to have a homily about the stars. The messages that arrived along with the names for the stars were read. Testimonies of faith, of love for Jesus, of commitment with their country, there were also testimonies of a strong attachment to the Original Shrine – they were testimonies that touched us:

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Photo Album

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA/Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA