Maria Elena Vilches. April 1 was truly a feast day for the International Schoenstatt Family. This day was the beginning of a new phase that opens doors to new dialogs and negotiations now from a new perspective. The capital of grace offered by generations throughout the years now becomes a gift for which the Family gives constant thanks.
The day began with Palm Sunday Mass in the Shrine and ended with the “first” evening prayer and blessing from the Original Shrine. Many were present to participate in this moment of grace. It was a “Shrine day”!
A family united around our great treasure, our Shrine
Fr. Michael Marmann- new rector of the Shrine -led Evening Prayer. The European seminarians of the Schoenstatt Fathers were in charge of the music, readings, and petitions. They prepared everything in various languages, and thus they contributed to the internationality of the celebration. Everyone present participated with songs and prayers, and a family atmosphere was sensed: “we are one family united around our great treasure, our Shrine.”
Nos cum prole pia
After the Reading and prayers of the faithful in different languages, Fr. Marmann invited everyone present to renew the Covenant of Love each in their own language. Before the final blessing, he recalled how – almost 100 years ago – Fr. Kentenich greeted the young sodalists for the first time with the words “Nos cum prole pia…” Fr. Marmann used the same words to conclude Evening Prayer.
We praise you, oh Lord, in your Shrine
The words of the closing hymn took on a new meaning. All the participants sung as one voice: “We worship you, oh Lord in your Shrine. We praise you, oh Lord for your great gifts, for everything you give to us in the Covenant of Love, we give you thanks.”
Translation: Maria Elena Vilches, Melissa Janknegt, schoenstatt.org
