Agathe Hug. It was Sunday, September 19,1971, Hurricane Irene-Olivia brought devastation to Nicaragua. Ninety-six houses were destroyed and 1,200 people were left homeless. Jackie Stewart won the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park. Norman Higgins won the second marathon of New York City with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 54 seconds. But who is interested in this on September 18, 2011, 40 years afterwards? There is only one thing that the entire world remembers and is interested in on this day: the blessing of the Shrine of Families in Schoenstatt.
Approximately 250 computers were on from South America to the Czech Republic and also in Germany to be present during the Holy Mass, which was celebrated in the Shrine for this occasion as it was transmitted by schoenstatt-tv.
Homily carrying the “ever present brown bag”
Father Jonathan Niehaus, the main celebrant, gave those in attendance as well as all the spectators connected through the Internet, one of his incomparable homilies in three languages. It is not only worthy to be heard or read, but rather, it is worthy to be seen. Without the ingredients of the “brown bag” it is not so illustrative. Father Jonathan Niehaus first explained this through a fantasy story that happened when one gives up essential elements or roots in favor of excessive external occupations that seems to bring more life, but in reality it minimizes the spirituality.
Fortunately, this did not happen with the Shrine of Families. During the forty years of its existence, it grew in richness and originality in its being and in its mission for marriage and the family.
Now, it has been forty years
If one converses with people, who were present forty years ago at the blessing of the Shrine, they always repeat: “For us it was like a dream that was something grandiose at that time. We simply stood and thought: we have the opportunity to experience this…”
Many suffered, fought, prayed and struggled for this Shrine, and then finally the moment arrived. The capital of grace for this Shrine was complete. A place of grace emerged for the Virgin built over the offerings of life.
At that time 1,200 people were expected, but approximately 2,200 people arrived. At 9:30 a.m. Mr. Bremer, who belonged to the Family Federation, greeted the families in the classroom of the Marian School. (He died many years ago). He especially greeted Father Tick, as well the representative of the Schoenstatt Movement in the United States, Chile, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
Father Tick gave the inaugural talk.
Greetings of congratulations from the entire world
Greetings and congratulations arrived from many parts of the world:
Father Irineu Trevisan from Brazil, Director of the Movement at that time
From Santa Maria and Londrina
Father Gilberto Cavani and Father Victor Trevisan, from Sao Paulo
The Suter family from Canada
From Argentina and Uruguay, and from Sister M. Ursula
The leaders of the Council of the Laity, from Chile, Bellavista
A telegram arrived from Australia
From the Family Branch of Texas
From the representatives of the Family Work of Minnesota
From Sister Thomasine of Wisconsin
From the “Pioneer Couple” of Milwaukee and
From the Couples Branch of South Africa.
Blessing ceremony led by Father Alex Menningen
The blessing ceremony was finally held at 1:00 p.m. A total of eleven priests were present led by Father Alex Menningen, who began the blessing with the prayer: “Heavenly Father, through the intercession of Mary, the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, we pray. May our actions be inspired by you, and accompany this work with your blessing for all of our prayers so that all our prayers and work have its beginning in you and through you find its perfection through Christ our Lord. Visit this place with your grace! Make this place effective through the intercessory power of the Most Holy Mary! Bless this Shrine and this altar erected in your honor and with the name Mater, Regina et Victress ter admirabilis!”
Father Menningen also gave the homily that day.
At the conclusion of the blessing, the Blessed Sacrament was brought to the Shrine accompanied by the peal of the bells. After the final prayer that took place at 3:00 p.m., Father Menningen celebrated the first Holy Mass in the recently blessed Shrine along with a large group, who were not in a hurry to return to their respective homes, after the blessing ceremony.
Foundation and crown
Once and again the song of the families was intoned once and again: “You give us blessings in the Shrine, in this way you send us on new roads toward a high ideal: We want to be your work: foundation and crown!”
The mission of the Shrine was read during the blessing ceremony: “Every Schoenstatt Shrine is united to a special mission. According to this mission, the people who feel especially united to this Shrine can expect the grace of the help and of formation. Our Shrine, the Shrine of Families, will have the task of forming Catholic couples and families from its root and to send them as bearers of a new social order from Schoenstatt toward the regions and cities of Germany. It will also welcome the families of the International Schoenstatt Work and will prepare them for the specific tasks in their countries and nations. We hope that our Mother and Thrice Admirable Queen will establish herself in our Shrine and manifest herself as the great Educator for couples and families. May She accompany married persons in their life situation and help them to carry out their marriage and family life with intact purity. May she form true Schoenstatt families, so that they may be “foundation and crown” for all the Schoenstatt Work, and that they may help the Church to find a new shore through the restlessness of the present crisis.”
Those who pray together also celebrate together
During the Holy Mass to celebrate the 40th Anniversary, there are “only” five con-celebrants and not eleven, and the number of guests was less than the 2.200 that participated at that time. But it was also international. And it was also joyful. They also prayed. And there was a birthday cake with 40 candles. After the Holy Mass everyone was cordially invited to have a drink at the Family House. Those who pray together also celebrate together, as was the custom when Father Kentenich was in Milwaukee, and it should also continue today.
Video of the Holy Mass
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English Translation Melissa Peña-Janknegt: English edit
