mev. On the first day of every month there is a special night blessing in the Original Shrine. On February 1st, the youths, who are presently participating in “Time at Schoenstatt,” were in charge of the preparation, music and prayers.
Many youths from several Latin American countries gathered around the Shrine during the first days of this month as if it had been planned. This is how the night blessing had a very youthful touch and participation…Without knowing the information about the suspension of the negotiations …the youths had already begun to go on pilgrimage to the Shrine, in covenant solidarity.
Father Marmann began the prayer by greeting everyone in German and Spanish and he invited all the youths who were in the Shrine to mention their country of origin: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Spain. He made them smile when he said, “Some are German.”
Especially united to Father Kentenich
The night blessing was a preparation for the feast that would be celebrated the following day: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The reading of the Gospel for the following day that was read in three languages helped everyone to deepen in the mystery of the feast. “Tomorrow’s feast has a special importance for the Schoenstatt Family” – Father Marmann said – “Just as Simeon and Anna experienced the Candlemas vision when they welcomed Jesus and his parents in the Temple, on the 2nd of February, Father had the clarity of seeing that he would be free again. Today we have a great joy because we know that we are not alone; rather, today we are here especially united with Father Kentenich.”
“Send your light…”
The youths sang in Spanish, and they made petitions in German, English and Spanish. They prayed for the Church, the Pope, Bishops and priests; for the nations and their governments, for peace and unity and for the entire Schoenstatt Family worldwide. After each petition they lit a little candle on the altar of the Shrine and they prayed: “Send your light over your Church, your people, your Family.”
As every night, everyone prayed the Pilgrimage Prayer 2014, and they renewed the Covenant of Love – each one in his/her language. The Shrine felt like a true Cenacle, where despite coming from so many different countries, they felt united in the MTA’s love and in the Schoenstatt mission for the Church and the world.
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English translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Texas
