mev. On the occasion of the opening of its General Chapter, the Schoenstatt Institute of Families invited Cardinal Emilio Antonelli to Schoenstatt. Until June, Cardinal Antonelli was President of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
The opening Holy Mass was celebrated in the Adoration Church. Cardinal Antonelli presided at the Mass in Spanish. Several priests concelebrated at the Eucharistic celebration. It was a joyful liturgy in which families from more than ten countries participated. In spite of Spanish being the main language for the celebration, the hymns, readings and petitions were given in more than five languages, thus producing the feeling of being a true international Family.
“Jesus sent them two by two”
In his homily, the Cardinal applied the words of the Gospel for the day – “Jesus sent them two by two” – to the life of the Christian marriages: “They are specifically sent two by two. Sent two by two literally. Their first and fundamental mission is to embrace each day the espousal love of Christ for the Church, to relive it, and manifest it through their reciprocal love.”
A living Church
It was a surprise for many that Cardinal Antonelli – along with Fr. Marmann – would preside at the night blessing in the Original Shrine. Fr. Marmann read part of the Pre-Founding Document, while Fr. Marcel translated the text and the brief homily into Spanish for the Cardinal, who from time to time would open his eyes with great emotion, and strongly assent like one who discovers something important and embraces it with vigorously.
After renewing the Covenant of Love together – in as many varied languages as one can imagine – and after praying the Pilgrimage Prayer united spiritually to the entire Schoenstatt Family, Cardinal Antonelli imparted the blessing to those present. Before leaving the Original Shrine, he spoke to everyone in Italian. “After the conference of families in Milan, the Holy Father approached me and said ‘what joy it is to be surrounded by a living Church'” – said Antonelli and continued, “I can say the same here after experiencing these days, Schoenstatt is a living Church!”
Upon exiting the Shrine, a group of Girls’ Youth from Germany greeted him with a Marian hymn. Cardinal Antonelli listened attentively, thanked them with a great smile for this gesture they had offered him.
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 07202012
