María Elena Vilches. The day began very early, while it was still dark and very cold. At 6:00 a.m. there was movement in the Shrine and the celebratory spirit of a great day was felt. This Palm Sunday marked a milestone in the history of the Schoenstatt Family throughout the world. After many negotiations, the step was finally taken! As of today, April 1, 2012, the administration of the Original Shrine has passed into the hands of the Schoenstatt Fathers. It was a heavenly moment: Our cradle, our original source of graces was placed into the hands of the Schoenstatt Fathers, with everything that this implies for all of us. From it – even stronger torrents and torrents of graces will spring from it translated into deeds. We have recuperated our beloved Shrine of which our MTA took possession on that October 18, 1914, at the request of the Founder and Father and the group of youth who joined our Father’s “secret favorite idea”.
The Holy Mass began at 7:00 a.m.; the new Rector of the Original Shrine, Father Michael Marmann, celebrated along with Father Egon Zillikens and seven priests from several countries of the world who con-celebrated this Eucharistic celebration. Father Marmann addressed those in attendance with a brief introduction in German, which was translated to English and Spanish so that everyone who participated could understand.
The joy that we felt at this moment reminded us of the founding hour
At the beginning of the Eucharist, Father Marmann greeted those present and also those who united to the Holy Mass from their homes through Schoenstatt-TV. He took this opportunity to introduce the Felhofer couple from Austria, who were to be the sacristans of the Shrine as of Saturday. “The joy that we feel at this moment reminds us of the founding hour,” he said.
An expression of gratitude was made…First to the God of life and history of the Mother of God. However he also mentioned the Pallottine Brothers who have been at the service of this Shrine for such a long time and to the many priests, who have celebrated the Holy Mass here. He expressed his desire that this place of grace will also be transformed into the place of a new friendship with the Pallottines as brothers in the Lord.
An important new beginning
The new rector mentioned that on this day a new stage in the history of the holy place begins, and that the entire Schoenstatt Family unites to this moment and to the place of origin from the daughter shrines, training centers, as well as the homeshrines and heart shrines.
The internationality of the Family was experienced during the Mass. The readings, songs, and the petitions were made in several languages: German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish. Everyone, who attended united regardless of where they were from, the only thing that was important at this time was the idea that “The Shrine is Ours!”
We cannot believe that we are here
After the celebration, everyone attending, greeted and congratulated each other for this great celebration day. Outside of the Shrine (from where many participated in the Holy Mass in spite of the intense cold) joyful comments were heard about what they had experienced. “We cannot believe that we are here PRECISELY at this moment,” a couple from Argentina said.
As of today, the Original Shrine will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., at that hour, a blessing will be imparted. During this Year of the Shrine current, the Schoenstatt Family from allover the world will be able to unite at this moment every day.
“Truly, I cannot imagine how heaven will be since this is what we feel in the shrine…our little piece of heaven, and now we can say OURS!”
Video of the Mass: http://schoenstatt-tv.de/DE/Mediathek.html?film=2012-014
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, USA
