mkf. It is only a few days until Christmas. Schoenstatt is covered with snow, there is a touch of Christmas in everything, and “The Blessed Mother convokes us to the manger at the Original Shrine.” By the 18th of December, there were already about 30,000 names sent by more than 2,000 “star emails ” since the beginning of Advent – they arrive day by day from twenty countries – from Lebanon, England, Australia, the Philippines, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and of course from almost all the countries in the Americas.
The website, My star in the manger, is not only found on this page, but, for example, it is also found on the webpages of the Movement in Paraguay and the Campaign in Atiabia, Brasil (www.maepregrina.com.br) or on Facebook, it has become a window to the Original Shrine for many people.
It truly touched my heart when I saw that I could have my name on a star
“It truly touched my heart when I saw that I could place my name (on a star),” writes Maria Luz Feitas from Paraguay. It is truly a pilgrimage from every corner of the world, it demonstrates our attachment to the Original Shrine, and demonstrates the anticipation for the large pilgrimage of October 18, 2014…We do not know yet if we will be at the Original Shrine on October 18, 2014 with 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 or more people. It is certain that on Christmas Eve 2010 at least 20,000 of us will be there!
“It was a wonderful experience to participate, I have participated for several years since this began in 2005, if I am not mistaken. The Blessed Mother convokes us at the manger. Christmas is the encounter of everyone as brothers and sisters!! The blessings of God are felt!!!!” writes Tita Ríos, from Paraná, Argentina. “I have participated in this project since it began, emotionally experiencing my star in the manger at the Original Shrine. To see it on schoenstatt.tv is an unforgettable experience; it is like returning to this beloved place. Thank you for this opportunity!” Silvia Losada, from Tucumán commented.
On December 19th, an email arrived from Cristina and Guillermo Tagle, from Santiago, Chile, “Yesterday (December 18th) we celebrated the 55th Anniversary of a happy marriage in the shadow of the Bellavista Shrine. I want to be at the Original Shrine with my star.” Affectionately, Cristina Tagle, Santiago.
Ana Capezio, from Ituzaingó, Argentina, wrote a star for each one of her grandchildren even the unborn…
When 20.000 people fill the Original Shrine
On December 24th, Christmas Eve afternoon- shortly before 5:00 p.m. German time, we will take all the stars that were sent to the Original Shrine presenting them to the Blessed Mother and her little Child, the small King in the manger. It will be transmitted via www.schoenstatt-tv.de and it can be seen throughout the rest of day on December 24th and December 25th on the livestream window (and then obviously on the mediatech).
How will it be when 20,000 or more people, virtually enter the Original Shrine, all at the same time? Exteriorly, very simple and very quiet. But it is a stellar moment of the Covenant of Love…
A demonstration of faith and attachment to the Original Shrine
Star by star impressive demonstrations of trust and faith can be seen. Three Argentinean sisters pray daily for all the intentions on these stars during Eucharistic Adoration. “This 18th of December we sealed our Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother as a couple. Thank you for bringing us closer to the Original Shrine each day, to the Bethlehem where our movement was born”, a couple from Argentina wrote on their star.. . “On December 18th we will seal our Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother as a couple. Thank you for bringing us closer to the Original Shrine each day, to the Bethlehem where our movement was born”, a couple from Argentina wrote on the eve of December 18th. Many have commented: “Thank you for allowing me to be a star in the manger of this new Bethlehem…”
The last 18th of the year
The last 18th of this year was celebrated with a large Christmas pilgrimage -with the stars – marching forward. It began with Mass in the Original Shrine, in preparation for 2014, celebrated for Estonia, where the Pilgrim MTA is present. In spite of new snow, some brave ones arrived at the Original Shrine!
Just as every 18th, the Covenant Mass of the German Movement was celebrated in the afternoon: the Girls’ Youth from the Diocese of Trier sang the songs. After the Mass, we went on pilgrimage to the Original Shrine. Two young men from Chile proudly carried the flag from their country…The youth from Trier were also in charge of the renewal of the Covenant of Love and they invited everyone to pray the Pilgrimage Prayer for 2014. It is beautiful to imagine that the entire Schoenstatt Family is united in praying this prayer. During the renewal of the Covenant of Love we remembered all of you in the Shrines, wayside shrines and Homeshrines, on their pilgrimage toward October 18, 2014, in this Year of the Father Current.
> {cms_selflink page=”estrella” text=”For sending stars”}
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio/Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
