mev/mda. The entire Schoenstatt world expectantly awaited September 22nd, the day on which the Pallottine Fathers’ community would formally present the Original Shrine to the Schoenstatt Family. The ceremony itself was carried out in private; meanwhile, throughout the world, Schoenstatters went on pilgrimage to Shrines to pray and express gratitude for the gift that had been desired for generations. In the Original Shrine itself, the great gift that was received on the threshold of the opening of the centennial year was celebrated in family.
The celebration was united to the night blessing. On this occasion, it began at 8:30 p.m. and was carried by Schoenstatt-TV. According to the statistics of the last transmissions, Sunday night markedly superceded those of the rest of the month. Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States, South Africa, Austria and many other countries were present at the blessing through chat, where everyone’s emotion and joy could be felt.
International presence
There were also pilgrims from many countries in the Shrine. “It was a coincidence; we did not know that the presentation would be today. What a joy to be here on this day!” expressed Beatriz Arredondo and Camilo Rios from Chile, who were both in Schoenstatt for a couple of days.
Mónica and Gustavo Barbieri, from Mendoza, Argentina, had been in Europe for work since September 15tth “They had decided to go to Schoenstatt exactly on Sunday, the 22nd, for which the entire family from Mendoza was happy and excited to be represented in this beloved homeland and at an event which after Conference 2014 will undoubtedly mark another milestone in Schoenstatt history around October 18, 2014,” Iris Ricciardi commented.
Let us thank the Lord for all His gifts
The opening song began with these words. It was not difficult to identify with them since everyone wanted to express gratitude for this moment and for the gift. Father Heinrich Walter, President of the General Presidency and Father Michael Marmann, the present rector of the Original Shrine presided at this celebration. The emotion at this hour of grace was revealed in Father Walter’s words that greeted those who were – physically and virtually present – in German, Spanish and English.
Father Walter expressed his gratitude to the community of the Pallottine Fathers in the name of the entire Schoenstatt Family. He showed everyone the tabernacle key of the Original Shrine that he had received from the hands of the Pallottine Provincial Superior as a symbol of the presentation of the Original Shrine. In a moment of silence, he presented it to the Blessed Mother in the name of the entire Schoenstatt Family with the promise that every Schoenstatt child and every community would do everything in their power so that the gift of the Original Shrine would not be wasted.
Among other things, Father Walter invited everyone to meditate on the significance of this moment. Citing Pope Francis -he spoke about mercy and about the importance of living it as a Schoenstatt Family, as well as in unity and solidarity.
In this spirit of solidarity, the blessing was also offered for the young camera operator, who fainted before the celebration ended. She has returned to her home and is in better health.
Songs, encounters and chocolates
After the final blessing, there truly was a celebration around the Original Shrine. “We are family! There were Sisters playing the guitar, youths praying, priests laughing, and older people expressing gratitude. This is how the joy of the presentation of the Shrine was experienced. “#Toward2014,” whose administrator was present in Schoenstatt for the celebration and who wanted to keep the Family in his country informed, commented on one of the Schoenstatt pages on Facebook.
After the blessing, several people distributed chocolates as a “gift from the Blessed Mother”, in this way; the supernatural joy for the gift of the Original Shrine was complemented with the natural joy of the encounter and candies.
Something is still desired
There were two simple celebrations on this historic day, Father Egon Zillekens commented, although they were somewhat reserved and austere. On the eve, part of the living hedge that surrounds the Original Shrine had been cut. Now the view is clear…but there is still something missing, Father Egon continued. It is such a great gift that it cannot only be celebrated on a dark night…How many generations have desired this moment, in which the door of the Original Shrine is opened wide!…how many people have offered their lives so that this moment would arrive! It is too large to only celebrate it with a few people and for such a short while. We need thousands of pilgrims from allover the world to arrive offering their presence, their emotion, their commitment, their joy…their “nothing without us” so that this place, the holiest in Schoenstatt, can strongly feel the eruption of the grace of a new October 18th for Schoenstatt. We count on the grace of 2014. It will be offered at this place on October 18th, since: “It was clearly evident from the various countries’ contribution that the MTA is inviting us to go on pilgrimage to the Original Shrine on 18 October 2014. The place and time hold sacramental value for us.” (Message 2014)
Translation: Celina M. Garza San Antonio, Texas USA
